How do buy to let mortgages differ to residential mortgages?
Buy to let mortgages differ to residential mortgages because:
- Mortgage Interest rates are normally higher
- Mortgage product fees and mortgage valuations are normally higher
- You have to invest a minimum of a 25% deposit
- They are normally interest-only; you don't have to pay off any of the principle each month but have to pay this in its entirety at the end of the mortgage term
- You don't get as high a level of protection as a residential mortgage because you are viewed as a more sophisticated lender. Most products are not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, unless you're letting to a close family member, in which case the FCA does regulate and there are stricter affordability rules ("consumer buy to let mortgage").
Look for buy to let hotspots
There are certain pockets of England and Wales that have a much greater rental yield. Click to read out top rated Hot Spots for 2017/2018.
How much can you borrow for a buy to let mortgage?
There are several metrics to assess your application. Some are manually reviewed and others flow through a computer system before they ever get assessed by an actual person within the mortgage lender. Here are some of the key criteria for that the majority of mortgage lenders use when assessing your mortgage application:
- Deposit - You will need a minimum of 25% of the purchase price. You are likely to achieve a better mortgage interest rates if you can invest more of a deposit and reduce the loan to value.
- Rental Income - The maximum you can borrow depends on the projected rental income you'll look to receive. Most lenders will require this income to be 25-30% higher than your mortgage repayments. New assessments stress test to see if you could settle the mortgage repayments if the base rate increased by 4 to 5%. You should therefore find out what rent you're likely to get by examining any available data of rental rates for the area you're buying in – local press, letting agents and online. If you can't prove the rental income via an existing tenant then the mortgage lender will require you to provide evidence from a local letting agent, normally regulated, to confirm what the achievable monthly rent would be.
Keep money saved for vacant times
You should always factor into your investment when your dwelling might be void, i.e. no tenants so no rent coming in. During these times you will still need to maintain mortgage repayments and pay bills including council tax, gas, electrics and water.
Who can you get a buy to let mortgage from?
Our independent mortgage brokers are FCA regulated and can help you find the right buy to let mortgage for your needs from more than 600 different products and the first consultation is free! Call 0333 344 3234 (local call charges apply).
Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.
*Access to whole of the market – 100% Impartial advice – No need for face-to-face meeting
