Buy-to-Let Mortgages
What you can borrow comes down to the expected rent, the lender's stress test and a deposit of around 25%.
Why buy-to-let?
A buy-to-let mortgage is for a property you plan to rent out, and it works differently from the mortgage on your own home. When a lender decides how much you can borrow, it looks mainly at the rent the property should earn rather than your salary. Your own income still counts, but it takes a back seat.
Most buy-to-let lenders want the rent to cover somewhere between 125% and 145% of the mortgage payment, worked out at a higher "stressed" interest rate than the one you would actually pay. That cushion is called the rental coverage ratio, and it exists to protect you against empty months between tenants and costs you had not planned for.
Our brokers at Clearview Mortgage Solutions work with first-time landlords and people growing a portfolio alike. We will talk you through the stress tests and the interest coverage ratio (the rent-to-payment percentage a lender tests against), then point you towards the lenders that suit your circumstances.
Key facts
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Read the guides.
Explainers covering deposits, schemes, the application, and what lenders actually look for.
Guides about Buy-to-Let mortgages
A guide to buy-to-let mortgages
Deposits, the rent lenders want to see, the tax side, and what sets a buy-to-let apart from a residential mortgage.
ReadBTL affordability and stress tests
How lenders work out rental coverage and stress rates, and your options if the rent falls short.
ReadBuy-to-let mortgages for self-employed
The extra paperwork you will need, how lenders read self-employed income, and how to keep the application smooth.
ReadFirst-time landlord guide
Your legal duties, the right insurance, managing tenants, and the mistakes new landlords most often make.
Read
Frequently asked.
Most buy-to-let lenders ask for at least 25% of the property’s value as a deposit, though some specialist lenders will accept 20% from experienced landlords. As a rule, the bigger your deposit, the better the rates you can reach.
Talk to a specialist.
buy-to-let mortgages have their own quirks. Our CeMAP-qualified advisers compare 90+ UK lenders and explain how each one applies to you — no obligation.
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