Europe's Top 20 Places to Buy-to-Let

20. Paris, France. Good: Low rental costs, high yields in Paris, Global political powerhouse. Bad: pro-tenant rental market, moderate-to-high transaction costs.

19. Helsinki, Finland. Good: low to moderate transaction costs, strong economy, moderate yields, tenant-neutral rental market. Bad: high rental income tax.

18. Prague, Czech Republic. Good: pro-landlord rental market. Moderate yields, low transaction costs. Bad: moderate to high rental income tax. Aliens can't buy land directly.

17. Sophia, Bulgaria. Good: pro-landlord rental market. Bad: yields not great, high transaction costs, moderate rental income tax, corruption and crime problems. 

16. Brussels, Belgium. Good: strong rental demand. Bad: moderate to high transaction costs, tiresome tenancy length limits, moderate to high taxes. 

15. Vienna, Austria. Good: stable political system, moderate transaction costs, moderate yields for new units. Bad: complicated pro-tenant system, moderate to high rental income taxes.

14. Ljubljana, Slovenia. Good: Pro-landlord rental market, low transaction costs, strong post-transition economy. Bad: low to moderate yields in Ljublana, high rental income tax, minor issues with ownership.

13. Bratislava, Slovakia. Good: Low to moderate rental income tax, very low transaction costs, tenant-neutral rental market. Bad: minor issues with property rights, low rental yields. 

12 Bucharest, Romania. Good: low transaction costs, strong post-transition economy. Bad: low to moderate rental yields, high rental income tax, strong pro-tenant sentiments. 

11. Warsaw, Poland. Good: low transaction costs, strong post-transition economy. Bad: low to moderate rental yields, high rental income tax, strong pro-tenant sentiments. 

10. Chisinau, Moldova. Good: High yields, pro-landlord rental market. Bad: secessionist problems, high tax rates, purchases must be in cash, one of poorest economies in Europe.

9. Riga, Latvia. Good: pro-landlord rental market, low effective rental income tax rates, low transaction costs, high GDP growth, recent correction in housing market has restored value. Bad: low to moderate yields, minor ownership restrictions on land.

8. Rome, Italy. Good: Europe's historical centre, strong tourist rental market. Bad: strongly pro-tenant laws, high round-trip transaction costs, high income taxes.

7. Berlin, Germany. Good: low to moderate transaction costs, largest economy in Europe, high yields in Berlin. Bad: pro-tenant rental market, moderate rental income tax.

6. Talinn, Estonia. Good: very low transaction costs, moderate yields in Tallinn, strong economic growth. Bad: high rental income tax, slightly pro-tenant market.

5. Zagreb, Croatia. Good: Strong tourist rental market, moderate taxes. Bad: multiple foreign ownership limits, moderate to high transaction costs, vulnerable and unstable economy.

4. Istanbul, Turkey. Good: Moderate costs, moderate to high yields, rapid economic growth, low-to moderate transaction costs. Bad: pro-tenant rental market, moderate to high income taxes.

3. Amsterdam, Netherlands. Good: moderate yields in Amsterdam, strong economy, moderate transaction costs, moderate rental income taxes. Bad: pro-tenant rental market. 

2. Skopje, Macedonia. Good: high yields, pro-landlord rental market, low transaction costs, moderate income taxes. Bad: serious ownership restrictions, political and security concerns.

1. Hungary, Budapest. Good yields, low to moderate transaction costs, pro-landlord law. Bad: minor ownership restrictions, moderate to high rental income taxes.

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