Buy to let mortgages are aimed at those wishing to become landlords and, understandably, the process for getting one is different from applying for a residential mortgage even if the conveyancing process is more or less exactly the same.
This article is aimed at those looking to enter this market and aims to set out what’s expected from you and, as importantly, what pitfalls to avoid.
Are you Eligible for a Buy to Let Mortgage?
Your mortgage lender will normally expect the following from you if you’re applying for a buy to let mortgage to buy a property to invest in:
- Your rental income exceeds the mortgage
- Your deposit is a minimum of 25% of the property’s selling price
- Your credit score is ranked as ‘good’ at the very least
- You will be aged at most 70 to 75-years-old or under at the end of the mortgage term
- You own a residential home of your own
What are the Main Differences between Buy to Let Mortgages and Residential Mortgages?
Buy to let mortgages normally differ in the following ways from residential mortgages:
- Interest rates on the mortgage loan are generally higher
- Accompanying costs of mortgage valuations and product fees are normally greater
- You need to have a minimum 25% deposit
- They are normally granted on an ‘interest only’ basis: you aren’t compelled to pay off any of the principle each month but when the term finishes, you’ll have to pay off the whole sum entirely and have to plan for this
- You are regarded as a ‘sophisticated investor’ by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) which means that you won’t benefit from the consumer protection which accompanies residential mortgages: most products are not FCA-regulated.
How Much Can You Borrow Using a Buy to Let Mortgage?
When calculating how much you can borrow, especially in the case of first time buyer mortgages, your application is likely to be viewed quite closely. A prospective lender will review your application using a variety of methods, involving both computer algorithms and manual inspection.
We’ve listed the main criteria here:
Deposit– As stated previously, this needs to be a minimum of 25% of the selling price and the more you reduce the loan-to-value ratio, the lower – and cheaper – the interest rate you will get.
Rental Income– The higher your projected rental income is adjudged to be, the more mortgage you’re likely to be granted. You can expect a lender to require this income to be 25-30% higher than the value of your required monthly mortgage repayments. Additionally, lenders are required to stress test whether you can still afford repayments if the Bank of England base rate was to rise by 4 to 5%. You therefore need to provide as much evidence as you can that your projected rental income is realistic. Ideally this would come from existing tenants but, failing that, from local letting agents.
Who Should You Approach for a Buy to Let Mortgage?
Naturally, you can approach any lender offering this facility. You may wish, however, to consider initially approaching an independent mortgage broker with access to the whole market of mortgage facilities. When looking for help, you can search online for a mortgage broker in Red Deer or in other locations to find reputable service providers available in your neighborhood.
There are more than 3,000 mortgage products in existence so it’s well worth having an expert on your side to select the right product for you and one for which there is more likelihood of your application being successful.
Depending on the broker you choose, you may have to pay them directly but they may get their remuneration purely from the lender involved when your mortgage goes ahead.
Editor:
Marcus Simpson
SAM Conveyancing
