Buy-to-let mortgages.
A buy-to-let mortgage is lent mainly on the rent the property is expected to earn, tested against the mortgage payment. You can buy in your own name or through a limited company; fewer lenders lend to a company and the terms can differ, so the mortgage side matters as much as the tax side.
Most buy-to-let mortgages are not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Consumer buy-to-let — broadly, letting a property you did not buy as an investment, such as one you inherited or used to live in — is the exception and is regulated. If you're unsure which applies to you, ask us.
Tax treatment depends on your circumstances and changes. We are not tax advisers — speak to an accountant before choosing how to hold a property.
Your property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.
Written by Nathan Lawes, independent mortgage broker. Figures sourced and dated. Last reviewed .Read them in this order.
Start with how lenders see a company borrower, then personal or company, then the portfolio you hold.
- 01 · Start hereBuy-to-let limited company mortgages: the lender reality checkWhat lenders offer a company borrower, before the tax question.Read
- 02 · CompareLtd company vs personal name for buy-to-letPersonal name or limited company, side by side.Read
- 03 · CompareLimited company buy-to-let: is it still worth it?Whether a company structure still makes sense, and what it turns on.Read
- 04 · Your portfolioBuy-to-let portfolio review: what landlords check firstThree questions to ask of the mortgages and properties you hold.Read
- 05 · Insuring a letWhat landlord insurance actually coversThe parts of a landlord policy, and when to tell the insurer.Your lender will usually require buildings insurance, but you're free to choose any insurer. You don't have to arrange it through us. Contents and landlord cover are your choice.Read
What clients ask first.
MoneyHelper’s free guide to buy-to-let mortgages explains how they work and what to check before you apply. You can check our authorisation on the FCA register.
Are buy-to-let mortgages regulated?
Most buy-to-let mortgages are not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Consumer buy-to-let — broadly, letting a property you did not buy as an investment, such as one you inherited or used to live in — is the exception and is regulated. If you're unsure which applies to you, ask us.
Is a limited company better than buying in my own name?
It depends on your tax position, your plans and what lenders will offer a company. Fewer lenders lend to a company and the terms can differ, so look at the mortgage side as well as the tax side. The tax question is one for your accountant.
How do lenders work out what I can borrow?
Mainly from the rent. A lender checks that the expected rent covers the mortgage payment by a set margin at a stressed rate, and many also look at your own income.
When is a portfolio review worth doing?
Before a fixed rate ends, when a tenant leaves, or when your plans change. A review looks at the mortgage on each property, how each one is performing, and whether the way you hold them still fits.
Where to go next
- ServiceBuy-to-let with LawesPersonal name or limited company, rental cover, and how we work.
- CalculatorTest the rent against the mortgageRental yield and what a lender’s rent test lets you borrow. An illustration, not an offer.
- Related guideUK mortgages from abroad: a guide in reading orderUK mortgages for expats and foreign nationals.
- Talk it throughA 20-minute call with NathanNo obligation. We’ll look at the property, the rent and how you hold it.
Your property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.