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Party like it's 1996!

The evolution of buy-to-let

This year marks 25 years of buy-to-let and we’ve been getting all nostalgic and reflecting on the incredible decade when it all began – the 90’s.

In the year that saw the Spice Girls storm the charts and football come home (well, sort of!), we were instrumental in pioneering​ a new mortgage product to help increase the number of affordable homes in the UK.

Although we’ve been supporting landlords since 1995, it wasn’t until 1996 that buy-to-let mortgages were officially launched.

As one of the key companies involved in that milestone moment, we’re celebrating the 25th anniversary of buy-to-let and invite you to join us!

We've compiled a report looking at the evolution of buy-to-let, and its impact on the UK private rented sector (PRS).

Download the report below...

Today’s PRS in numbers

There are

4.4 million

households in the PRS in England

54% of tenants

say that renting either suits their current situation or that they enjoy renting

There are

2.65 million

landlords in the UK

The amount of loans written in the UK in H1 2021 was...

£26 billion

Through the years

1996

Housing Act 1996 came into force


1996

The population of the UK was 58.1 million


24 September 1996

Buy-to-let is launched

1997

Number of private renters surpasses 2 million


26 June 1997

The first Harry Potter book is published


31 May 1998

Geri Halliwell leaves the Spice Girls


4 September 1998

The search engine Google is founded

2001

15 January 2001

Wikipedia is launched


22 November 2003

England win the rugby world cup

2004

Housing Act 2004 introduced


4 February 2004

The social network Facebook is launched

15 December 2005

YouTube is officially launched

2006

The population of the UK rises to 60.8 million


24 August 2006

Pluto is re-classified as a dwarf planet


9 March 2007

Wembley Stadium is built

2008

11 August 2008

Airbnb was launched


2008 – 2010

Global Financial Crisis


6 October 2010

Instagram is introduced to the world


29 April 2011

Prince William and Kate Middleton get married

2012

27 July 2012

London hosted the 2012 Olympics


16 December 2013

All blockbuster stores closed


29 March 2014

Same sex marriage is legalised in the UK

2016

The population of the UK reaches 65.4 million


6 July 2016

Pokémon Go became a worldwide phenomenon


10 April 2019

The first picture of a black hole was captured


20 March 2020

Tiger King premiered on Netflix

2021

Paragon Bank PLC is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Registered in England number 05390593. Registered office 51 Homer Road, Solihull, West Midlands B91 3QJ. Paragon Bank PLC is registered on the Financial Services Register under the firm reference number 604551