If you want to become a landlord and rent out your property for profit but can't afford to buy the property outright, a buy-to-let mortgage could help you out. To help you navigate the process, we've produced this guide to buy-to-let mortgages.
Buy-to-let mortgages work in a similar way to a standard mortgage but the type of loan you may be eligible for is based on how much rent the property can generate rather than just what you can afford in payments. Most lenders will still require you to have a minimum annual income, the amount of which depends on the lender.
It’s worth knowing that buy-to-let mortgages usually require a higher minimum deposit – typically around 20% – and the interest rates on buy-to-let mortgages are typically higher than on conventional residential mortgages.
It is important to take your time and research different mortgage lenders and different mortgage deals to make sure you get the best deal for your circumstances. Here are some common ways to compare buy to let mortgages.
| Overall satisfaction | Customers who’d recommend | Issuer | Review | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ★★★★★ | 88% |  | Nationwide’s buy-to-let arm is called The Mortgage Works. You can borrow up to 80% of your property value, and there are a variety of options. You can potentially receive a free valuation, no legal fees and/or cashback depending on the product you select. | Compare with broker |
| ★★★★★ | 91% |  | Lloyds Bank The maximum loan-to-value for a Halifax buy-to-let mortgage is 75%. You can borrow up to £1 million on these mortgages. With some mortgages, Lloyds will pay your basic legal fees and waive your valuation fees. There are mortgages with two-year and five-year terms available. | Compare with broker |
| ★★★★★ | 88% |  | HSBC prides itself on being a lender with a strong market position and plenty of experience – two qualities that can be useful in the buy-to-let market. Its buy-to-let mortgages have a maximum loan-to-value of 75%. The rent earned must equal at least 145% of your mortgage payment. | Compare with broker |
| ★★★★★ | 88% |  | Now part of Lloyds Banking Group, Halifax is part of the Lloyds Banking Group. It offers fixed-rate buy-to-let mortgages with terms of two years and five years, available with or without a fee. The maximum loan-to-value for a Halifax buy-to-let mortgage is 75%. You can borrow up to £1 million on these mortgages. | Compare with broker |
| ★★★★★ | 76% |  | L&C is the largest fee-free buy-to-let mortgage broker in the UK. You can start your mortgage application online or over the phone. You can be recommended a great deal by L&C’s mortgage advisers without paying a fee. You’ll only pay if you complete your mortgage. | Visit broker |
As with any investment, choosing to invest in property carries both benefits and risks. It’s important you weigh up the pros and cons of property investment before you decide if the strategy is right for you.
When you look at investment properties you need to view them as a landlord, not an owner. You need to consider whether it’s attractive for people looking to rent rather than buy. Your personal tastes and desires shouldn’t come into it.
A good rental property will be in a good location with useful travel links. It will have spacious rooms and should be relevant to the target market of the local area. Are you targeting families or single professionals?
You need to look at the local rental market and find out who’s renting property, how much they’re paying for it and whether there’s a big enough demand. What is the demographic of people in the area? Is it an area full of students and young professionals who might prefer a large apartment, or is it the perfect place for families to settle down?
Without looking into the facts and figures you could buy a property which is of no interest to the local pool of would-be tenants.
It is very easy (and tempting) to underestimate the amount of time and money it will take to get your property fit for rental. This mistake leads to new investors running into serious cash flow problems. Get quotes for the work you need to do and multiply that figure by at least two. That way you have a buffer in case the work proves more expensive.
It’s vital to have an “emergency fund” set aside for each of your investment properties. If an expensive repair is needed and you don’t have the cash, you could end up getting the job done cheaply. This just leads to problems down the line and more worryingly angry tenants.
One of the best ways to build your emergency fund is to take some of your rental profit each month and get it paid into a completely separate account. Keep these funds away from your normal bank accounts and you won’t be tempted to dip into it.
Running investment properties requires more work than you may think and some new investors try to save money by doing everything themselves. Big mistake! It’s almost impossible to be your own repairman, property manager and accountant and stretching yourself too thin leads to costly errors.
Build yourself a team of reliable experts to outsource the work to, so you can spend your time more productively. In many cases professionals know how to save you money, so try to think of them as an investment.
Don’t be a bull in a china shop. Entering the property investment market is very exciting and can be very lucrative but jumping into things without thinking about them can cost you a fortune. Take the time to research potential properties, know the local market and be sure to interview a number of partner professionals before choosing who you want to work with.
Remember the old saying “more haste less speed?” Well in property investment the saying is “more haste less profit!”
Don’t be tempted to buy property far away unless you’re prepared to travel to the site yourself. Setting up an investment property without seeing it with your own eyes is a recipe for disaster. If you do decide to buy out of the way make sure you’ve got a reliable estate agent to manage the property for you. Meeting them in person is also a must, regardless of where they’re based.
Don’t be fooled into thinking you can’t make a low offer on an investment property. Remember your portfolio is a business and the idea is to make a profit. You don’t know the position of the seller and they may be after a quick sale whatever the price. The worst that can happen is they say no and you try to negotiate.
Don’t overlook what other landlords in your area are doing. Find out how much they’re charging for rent, how long it took them to find tenants and how are their properties presented. Also make a point to look at the adverts for properties in your area. What do they say and which papers are they in? You can get some very useful tips from studying the competition.
Going without a complete landlord insurance is a huge mistake. It covers you should something major go wrong with the property. A good policy will also cover you for lost rental income and will pay to rehome your tenants if your property is damaged and needs repairs.
As with any insurance cover make sure you read the fine print so you understand what’s protected and what’s not. The less you pay for cover the less protection you normally have.
To be approved for a buy-to-let mortgage, it’s likely you’ll already need to own property.
You’ll have to save a deposit worth at least 20% of the property’s value, and have the funds to be able to cope with a lengthy void period.
Even if you meet this minimum lending criteria, there’s no guarantee you’ll be approved for a mortgage.
Here are some tips to boost your chances of approval.
Lenders are reluctant to secure mortgages against certain types of properties, including new-builds, high-rise flats, flats above commercial properties or unusually-structured buildings.
These are considered harder to sell in the case of repossession, so it’s tougher to be approved for mortgages on these buildings, especially if your income and credit score aren’t in an ideal state.
You can improve your chances of being approved for a mortgage by avoiding these properties.
The less you borrow from a mortgage lender, the lower your monthly repayments and the easier it is to pass a lender’s affordability checks.
You can lower the amount you borrow either by applying for cheaper property or saving up a bigger deposit.
This could make you eligible for a lower interest rate too.
In order to approve your mortgage, your lender will want to see proof that the property’s rental income can make a specific amount of profit, usually at least 125%.
It will also check your recent bank statements to ensure you can comfortably afford the costs associated with your buy-to-let mortgage, such as repairs, maintenance, home insurance, void periods, etc.
Lenders will check your recent bank statements to ensure you can comfortably afford the costs associated with your buy-to-let mortgage. Pay off as much of your existing debts as possible and try haggling over the costs of your utility bills. You can improve your perceived ability to cover these costs by reducing your outgoings now.
Lenders will use your credit score as an indicator of how reliable you are at managing debt. This will play a major role in their decision to lend to you or not.
Take steps to improve your credit score by making timely repayments on all your bills by direct debit. Take care not to go overdrawn in any of your current accounts or credit cards. If you don’t have a credit card open, it’s worth applying for one and making timely payments on this each month.
Before you apply for a mortgage, check that your credit report is free from errors. It’s possible there are mistakes that could harm your application. You can check for them and make amendments by contacting any of the UK’s three major credit reference agencies: Equifax, Experian or TransUnion (Callcredit).
When you’re applying for a buy-to-let mortgage, the lender will want to see a number of documents including:
It’s particularly important to provide as much financial information as possible when you’re self-employed, or earning an income heavily based on commission or bonuses.
Lenders regard this income as less stable, so it’s up to you to provide as much proof as possible of its stability. You’ll typically be expected to provide at least three years of accounts if you’re self-employed, although some lenders will accept less.
This is a quick hack that can improve your odds of having a mortgage application approved.
Applying for several buy-to-let mortgages – and being rejected every time – will harm your chances of being approved in the future.
Every time you make an application, the lender will credit check you, and this causes a slight knock to your credit score. Too many of these can damage your score to the point that lenders will be spooked away from approving your application.
It’s better to learn which lenders are most likely to accept your application, find the best deal, and apply for this when you’re in a great position to be approved.
A professional mortgage adviser will help you to do this. These individuals have specialist knowledge of the buy-to-let mortgage market and will be able to show you the best deals that you’re likely to be approved for. This can remove so much hassle from the mortgage application process, leaving you free to focus on other areas of your buy-to-let empire.
A buy-to-let mortgage is likely to involve tens of thousands of pounds being borrowed. The difference between the best mortgage deal and a run-of-the-mill one could cost you a fortune. That’s why it’s recommended to seek expert help when choosing a mortgage.
Buy-to-let mortgage brokers are individuals with specialist knowledge of this market, including the eligibility criteria of individual lenders. This allows them to recommend the lenders most likely to approve your application, saving you time, hassle and damaged credit.
Some buy-to-let mortgage deals are only available through brokers, while it’s possible a broker could negotiate a better deal on your behalf.
What’s more, they’ll be able to talk you through any issues you don’t understand.
Buy-to-let mortgages have a higher minimum deposit than residential mortgages. Typically, you’ll need a deposit worth 25% of the property’s value. However, it’s common for lenders to ask for anything between 20% and 40%.
Lenders ask for a larger deposit because there is a bigger perceived risk with a buy-to-let mortgage. After all, you’re relying on a third party to cover the mortgage with their rental payments and to keep the property well-maintained.
As with any other type of mortgage, the bigger your deposit, the easier you’ll be able to get approval for your mortgage.
It is possible to switch from a residential to a buy-to-let mortgage but you will need to consider which type of deal best meets your needs. You may be able to do this with your current lender. However, it could be necessary to remortgage with a different lender on a buy-to-let basis. Learn more about this process.
You’ll typically save a lot by remortgaging as your mortgage’s introductory bonus rate is expiring. The remortgaging process is similar to switching residential mortgages. Check out the best remortgaging rates here.
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