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Buy to let property investments can be a great way to achieve a steady return, but applying for a rental mortgage can be complex if you're new to the sector.
In this guide, the Revolution Brokers team compiles all the essential information you need to apply for a buy to let mortgage - whether you're a first-time landlord or want to refresh your knowledge.
Here we'll discuss eligibility criteria, the ins and outs of owning rental assets, and what to expect when applying for a buy to let mortgage.
Please call us for more advice on any topics discussed here at 0330 304 3040, or drop an email to the friendly Revolution team to arrange a good time to talk.
Before we start discussing buy to let mortgage rates and costs, let's run through a summary of what this borrowing product is for.
You can apply for a buy to let mortgage against any property that you're letting out to tenants for a profit.
Most buy-to-let loans are interest-only, so you use the rental income each month to pay the interest and either sell the property or remortgage at the end of the term.
There are thousands of buy to let properties, from city centre apartments to family homes, rural buildings to listed properties, so it can be difficult to know which lender to apply to.
Buy to let mortgages are relatively flexible, so provided you can prove that the rental income will more than cover the interest cost, there isn't any generic cap on the maximum mortgage you can apply for.
Of course, lenders will look at many other circumstances before offering to lend, but rental income is the primary factor, provided you meet all the requirements.
Most buy to let lenders will need to see that the projected rental earnings are at least 25% or 30% higher than the monthly interest, as a bare minimum.
So, if you're thinking about taking on a buy to let mortgage, let's look at some of the pros and cons you should be aware of.
Rental property investment does have advantages and drawbacks, so we've summarised them here.
Tenant-related risks are the most significant possible downside. That could include vacant periods between tenants, late rent payments or even arrears.
You'll also pay higher Stamp Duty if you're buying a rental property as a second home (there is a 3% additional levy) and the potential that your investment property will drop in value, as with any home purchase.
However, working with a broker is a great way to sidestep potential issues.
For example, Revolution can suggest insurance policies to protect you from tenant-related issues and negotiate lower interest costs to maximise profit.
Just like a residential mortgage, your buy to let mortgage application will be subject to lender assessments, and every provider has varying rules and eligibility requirements.
Minimum Deposits on Buy to Let Mortgages
Deposits tend to be 20-25% of the property value, with standard buy to let mortgages offered at 75% to 80% Loan to Value (LTV). You usually need a larger deposit for a buy to let investment than if you're purchasing a home to live in.
There are options if you have a lower deposit, with a select number of providers accepting deposits as low as 15% if the circumstances are right.
Lenders will primarily consider the rental income, but they'll also want to know if you have a separate salary or employment.
Particularly for new landlords, a mortgage provider might require an annual income of £25,000 from other earning streams.
However, Revolution works with buy to let mortgage lenders who don't have a personal income requirement and base their lending decisions solely on the rental earnings.
Depending on your lender, they might also look at other factors, such as:
Another common requirement is that you already have a residential mortgage. Lenders like to see buy to let applicants with a mortgage of at least six months.
Buy to let mortgage rates vary since it's an unregulated market (visit our FAQs below to learn more about this!).
Therefore, it's all but impossible to give standard interest rates since that depends heavily on the property, your income, anticipated rental earnings, credit scoring, age, and various other circumstances.
However, we can illustrate the likely additional costs that go hand in hand with a mortgage.
It's crucial to have complete oversight of all the fees, as these are often forgotten until the mortgage comes to complete and can add a substantial amount to your budget.
Some buy to let mortgages carry zero upfront fees, but many do have an application or a booking charge, often around £500.
We strongly recommend working with a broker before applying for a mortgage and paying a booking fee since if you are rejected, it's doubtful you'll get that back.
There are very few reasons why a new mortgage won't need a valuation, but the exact cost will depend on the property's location, type, and nature.
Some buy to let lenders include a free basic valuation in their application charge. Still, it remains vital to carry out a complete structural survey to ensure that your investment property doesn't have any severe underlying issues.
Product fees vary between product types. You might find that if you need a more extensive buy to let mortgage, it is far cheaper to take out a mortgage with no fee, or a fixed price, than one with a product charge based on a percentage of the loan value.
Exit charges also vary, and you can be obliged to pay exit charges if you remortgage or repay your loan at any stage, even if it's well past any fixed term.
Early Repayment Charges are a type of exit charge, but slightly different since they only become payable if you want to close the account before a fixed period has ended.
You'll need to cover solicitors’ charges for the legal paperwork required when purchasing a property.
Costs vary, with some solicitors working on a fixed rate and others charging per hour or per day. It's less usual these days for solicitors to charge a percentage of the value, but possible.
Some mortgage lenders will offer free legals to incentivise buy to let borrowers to take up a deal.
Stamp Duty rates change and will vary depending on the value of the property you're buying and whether it's a first-time purchase.
Rates range from 3% to 15%, so it's wise to check the current rates, as you will be liable for a second home additional charge if you already own property on top of the applicable band.
The other costs involved with mortgaging a buy to let property involve property maintenance and letting agent fees.
Most letting agents will charge either a fixed rate or a percentage of the rental income, often around 10% per month.
It's often worth using a letting agent if you don't have the time or experience to run background checks and credit reports on tenants, as they'll often have ample experience managing tenancies in the local area.
Even if you're confident your buy to let mortgage rate is an incredible deal, it's imperative you check what your rental returns are likely to be, based on the anticipated income.
Your rental return is the difference between the rent you earn each month and the interest you need to pay on your mortgage.
For example, if you pay £1,000 a month on your buy to let mortgage and receive the rent of £1,100, you’re making a 110% rental return.
Lenders would consider that illustration too low for most mortgage products - they'll want to see a return of 125% as a minimum, assuming you're on a standard income tax rate.
Returns are also critical since a lender will stress test the application before approval. That means recalculating the monthly interest costs using a nominal interest rate (often 5.5%) to check you'd still be able to afford the mortgage if interest rates increased.
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The content included in our articles, blogs, web pages and news publications is based on information accurate at the time of writing. Note that policies and criteria can change regularly throughout the UK mortgage lending market, and it remains essential to contact the consultation team to receive up to date guidance. The information included on the Revolution Brokers site is not bespoke to any circumstances or individual application scenarios and therefore is not intended to be used as financial advice. The content we share is designed to be informative and helpful but cannot be relied upon to provide individual advice relevant to your mortgage requirements. All Revolution team members are fully qualified, trained and experienced to provide mortgage advice of an independent nature. We collaborate with lenders and providers who are regulated, authorised and registered with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Should you require specific mortgage borrowing types, some products such as buy to let mortgages may not be FCA regulated. The Revolution team can provide further information about regulated and unregulated lending as required. Please remember that a mortgage is a debt which is secured against your home or property. Your home can be at risk of repossession if you do not keep up with the repayments or encounter any other difficulties in managing your mortgage borrowing responsibly. This also applies to any remortgage or home loan secured against your property, including equity release products.
Revolution Brokers understands that mortgages can be complex and confusing!
Ask us any question you might have, and one of our skilled consultants will come back to you as quickly as possible.
