Website Articles

June 23 2006

A Guide to UK Buy to Let Mortgages

Essentially there is little difference between the process that one follows for a buy to let mortgage in the UK than there is for any other type of mortgage. The lender still has to consider your credit worthiness, the value of the property, how much down payment you can afford and all of the other usual considerations. However, in addition, the lender will usually be interested in what the market is for letting properties in the same area as the one that you are thinking of investing in. The lender will look at property taxes and average rents for similar properties. Other than those particulars, however, the process moves along nearly the same.

A buy to let mortgage can be arranged for either commercial or residential property. Terms can range from between five to forty-five years. There are fixed and variable interest schemes available, and the lender takes an interest in your property just like with any other mortgage so your property is still at risk if you fall into arrears. One difference is that a lender will consider your potential cash flow from rental income as part of your available money to repay the loan under some circumstances.

Because not all lenders view buy to let mortgages as a risk that they are willing to take, your best route is to choose a mortgage broker who specializes in buy to let schemes. This way you have the best opportunity of getting you application reviewed by the largest number of lenders who are likely to make a decision in your favor. Since you do not have to pay a fee to engage the broker there is no reason not to take advantage of their services.

Before you buy

You should work with either a commercial or residential real state broker, depending upon the type of property you are looking to invest in, who understands the buy to let market in the area that you are considering. Choose an agent who is bonded and who has a large portfolio of potential properties for you to review.

Have your broker help you choose areas that are compatible with the type of property that you want to buy. Choose property that matches the needs of the area. For example, you might find it hard to fully let an office building in an area that is used primarily for light manufacturing. Likewise, a warehouse might not go over well if it is surrounded by an office park complex. If you are thinking about purchasing residential property with your buy to let mortgage then make sure that you look in neighborhoods where there are already properties for let. It may be very hard to let a home in a neighborhood populated exclusively by high-income home owners.

Planning your cash needs

You should also determine the maximum that you are willing to spend to buy property. Besides considering the purchase price you will need to determine your available down payment and other expenses such as the services of a solicitor, stamp duty, survey/valuation fees, broker fees etc. You should also consider after-purchase expenses including remodeling to make the building fit for its intended usage, utility deposits and agent's fees if you plan to use a letting agent to attract and vet tenants.

Other expenses are sure to include insurance, routine property maintenance plus ground rents (if applicable) and property taxes. Usually your tenant is responsible for utilities after they move in as well as any Council Tax, TV licence fees, and the like.

Consult with your accountant

In many cases there are tax allowances and deductions which can be taken against rent that you receive. Your usual and customary expenses, including maintenance, insurance, cleaning and landscaping, as well as other recurring expenses likely apply. While you may not deduct the actual cost of your initial improvements, subsequent repair and replacement of those improvements likely will be deductible. In some cases you can take a flat 10% of the rent as a deduction against normal wear and tear. The tax maze can be very complicated so be sure to let your accountant help you navigate it.

During the buy to let mortgage loan process

If you are using a mortgage broker then you will not have to jump at the first approval that you receive. The chances are you will be presented with multiple offers. Read each one over and set aside the ones that are so far away from your expectations that even intense negotiations could not make the offer better. Re-read the remaining offers and make a list that details the good and bad points of each one. Send the offers and your list to your solicitor and have him review the contract and your concerns.

Once you are through with that step its time to negotiate. Depending upon the level of service that your broker provides you can either have them handle the negotiations, or you can hire your solicitor, or you can do it yourself.

What can/should be negotiated? Anything from the term of the loan to interest rates, pre-payment or early cancellation fees, payment due dates, lender's fees, fixed and variable interest rates, items of concern found by your solicitor and anything else that doesn't strike your fancy the first time out. There is no risk to attempting to negotiate and you can always be sure that you will NEVER get what you want if you don't ask for it.

Buy to let mortgages used to be very hard to obtain and only people who didn't really need the money were able to get approval. This is no longer the case. Competitive lenders, especially those lenders who work with buy to let mortgage brokers, realize that the market for residential and commercial property letting is on the rise again. Now is the right time to find a broker and get busy building your investment portfolio of properties.


Apply for a loan now!

Back to Main Articles Page

Articles

24/06/06

11 Deadly Mistakes When Applying for a Mortgage

11 Deadly Mistakes When Applying for a Mortgage ...

24/06/06

2nd Mortgage - Better Than Refinancing

You have probably received refinancing offers in the mail or advertised online touting your ability to pull out your home’s equity. But a 2nd mortgage, also called an equity loan, may be a better financing option than refinancing your mortgage. 2nd mortgages ...

24/06/06

2nd Mortgage Loan After Bankruptcy - Get Approved Online

A 2nd mortgage loan after a bankruptcy is possible in as little as two years. Refinancing your mortgage can help you make needed home improvements or pay off high interest debt. Refinancing with adverse credit history requires savvy shopping on your part to ...

24/06/06

4 things to watch out for when choosing a mortgage company

We all know that there are a lot of mortgage companies out there. But how do you know which company to choose? Some companies have flashy advertisements about low interest rates, but are they really the best company to choose? A mortgage is a very large investment, ...

24/06/06

40-Year Mortgages: An Alternative to Interest-only Loans?

Interest-only loans are quickly becoming a mainstream loan product. Borrowers who were initially turned-off by the perceived risk associated with an “interest-only” loan are now starting to see the benefits: Lower payments, less money tied up in equity, more ...

24/06/06

5 criteria to get your Home Loan Mortgage approved

Why do some people get their home loan mortgages approved in a breeze while others struggle through with hiccups? What are the differentiating factors between one application and another? What do lenders look at when they evaluate you? ...

24/06/06

5 Things In Selecting The Best Mortgage - You Should Know

Your goal is not only to find the best rates and programs, by searching through a huge number of lenders products, and save yourself thousands of dollars on mortgage payments every year, but also, to save time and hassle by simplifying the loan process ...

24/06/06

6 Helpful Tips On Mortgage Financing

Here are some mortgage tips that can help you obtain a mortgage with less hassle, and at a lower overall cost: ...

24/06/06

7 Reasons to Choose a Mortgage Broker over On-Line Lenders

1. Personal Advice: Breakwater Mortgage Corporation calls Hampton Roads and the surrounding communities (Norfolk, Suffolk, Chesapeake and Portsmouth) home and an on-line lender could be located anywhere. Breakwater Mortgage Corp. is located in Virginia Beach ...

24/06/06

97% Of American Homeowners Overpay Their Lender In Mortgage Interest Every Month.

97% Of American Homeowners Overpay Their Lender In Mortgage Interest Every Month. ...

See all articles

Current Rates