The right structure before the mortgage.
Buy-to-let mortgages come with more moving parts than residential ones, personal name versus limited company, rental cover ratios, portfolio landlord rules, HMO licensing. We spend the first call on how the property should be owned, then on the mortgage, then on the tax implications with your accountant.
- Personal name mortgages, Traditional buy-to-let for individual landlords, up to typically 75% LTV.
- Limited company (SPV) mortgages, For landlords structuring through a special purpose vehicle for tax reasons.
- Portfolio landlord (4+ properties), Access to lenders that will underwrite your whole portfolio, not just the single property.
- HMO and multi-unit blocks, Specialist lenders for houses in multiple occupation and larger schemes.
- Unusual property types, Ex-local authority, above commercial, non-standard construction, we know which lenders will lend.
Three steps. One person. No jargon.
The same process for every buy-to-let mortgages enquiry, whether it is your first mortgage or your fifth.
The introduction call
Your broker learns your situation before looking at products. Income, plans, what has already been said elsewhere. Early mornings, late evenings and weekends available. No pressure, no forms up front.
Compare the lenders
Access to every mainstream lender and a wide range of specialist lenders through PRIMIS. We sit down, explain the trade-offs plainly, and put a recommendation in front of you. Often a decision in principle the same day.
Identify a way forward
Once we have a recommendation, we move straight on to life insurance, critical illness and income protection built around the household. Policies are written in trust so the right people get the right money at the right time. Handled in the same conversation, not as an afterthought.
Get the keys
We handle the application, the valuation, the underwriter questions, the solicitor chase. Offers usually land in forty-eight hours to two weeks. We stay in touch for the next remortgage.
What you will pay.
For mortgage advice we charge a fee of between £457 and £857, payable on completion. The exact figure depends on the complexity of your case and is agreed with you in writing before we start any work.
For most straightforward residential mortgages our commission from the lender alone covers our work and there is no fee to you at all. Where a case is more involved (buy-to-let portfolios, adverse credit, unusual income) the fee applies.
Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.
Questions we get about buy-to-let mortgages.
01Should I buy in my personal name or through a limited company?+
It depends on your other income, whether you plan to reinvest rental profits, and how many properties you intend to own. This is a decision to make with your accountant, but we can walk you through the mortgage implications of each route.
02What is a rental cover ratio?+
Lenders require the rent to cover the mortgage payment by a certain multiple, usually 125% or 145% at a stress-tested interest rate. This is often the binding constraint on how much you can borrow, not your personal income.
03I already own several properties. Will that make it harder?+
You will be classed as a portfolio landlord (usually four or more mortgaged buy-to-lets). Some lenders will not lend to portfolio landlords at all, others require you to submit an overview of your whole portfolio. We know which lenders are portfolio-friendly.
04Are buy-to-let mortgages regulated?+
Most buy-to-let mortgages are not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Some, known as consumer buy-to-let mortgages (typically where a property is let to a family member), are regulated. We tell you which applies to you.
Where clients typically go next.
Life happens.
Let’s take care of it together.
Book a call with the A&L team. Every case is dealt with by one broker from start to finish. Evenings and weekends available. No forms up front, no pressure.