What is a buy to let mortgage?

A buy to let mortgage is a loan you can take out to buy a property you intend to rent out rather than to live in.

 
Two women looking at a laptop.

We can help with what you need to know

With a buy to let property, people often use the money they charge for rent to cover the monthly mortgage repayments.

As a rental income isn’t guaranteed, a buy to let mortgage can be more expensive than a residential mortgage as they carry a bigger risk.

Learn more about how they work and how to apply for one.

How do buy to let mortgages work?

Unlike a residential mortgage, a buy to let mortgage is usually a repayment of an interest-only loan. This means your monthly repayments only cover interest that’s accrued. They do not cover the original loan amount.

The loan amount borrowed will need to be paid back at the end of the agreement. You can do this by:

  • selling the property
  • using savings
  • agreeing new mortgage terms.

Your lender may ask for a higher deposit. The amount varies but can be a minimum of 20 to 25% up to 40% of the property’s value. A buy to let mortgage may also have a higher interest rate than a residential mortgage.

How much could you borrow?

This will depend on your own financial circumstances and how much rental yield you hope to get from renting your property.

The rental yield is calculated by taking the total rent payments for a year, divided by the property value, multiplied by 100.

For example:

Annual rental income = £1,200 each month x 12 months = £14,400

Property value = £200,000

Rental yield =  £14,400 / £200,000 = 7.2%.

Applying for a buy to let mortgage

 

 

What lenders will look for

Like a residential mortgage, a lender will look at a few things:

  • Deposit size.
  • Your salary.
  • Credit history.
  • Existing debts.
  • Rental yield.

Interested in a buy to let property?

Buy to let mortgages can work differently to other mortgage products. Find out more about getting a mortgage as a landlord.

Buy to let mortgages Buy to let mortgages.

You could lose your home if you don’t keep up your mortgage repayments

Things to consider

A buy to let mortgage is different to a residential mortgage. Here are some of the things you’ll need to consider before you apply.

You may need landlord insurance and building insurance for your property.

You may have to pay more in stamp duty if the property isn’t your primary residence. This may also apply to the Land and Buildings Transaction Tax in Scotland and Land Transaction Tax in Wales.

GOV Scotland Land and Buildings Transaction Tax.

GOV Wales Land Transaction Tax.
 

  • Income tax applies to any rental income you receive.
  • If you sell your buy to let property for more than the original price, you may be liable to pay Capital Gains Tax.
  • House prices can go down as well as up. If property prices fall, you could end up with negative equity. When you owe more on your mortgage than the property is worth.

Let’s look at the details

You may also like

Mortgage calculators

View our range of mortgages and see what deposit you’ll need for your new home.

Use a calculator

Agreement in Principle

It’s quick and easy to apply for an Agreement in Principle. Find out how much you could borrow.

Get an Agreement in Principle

Speak to someone

Talk to us over the phone or use our mortgage video service.

Contact us

Types of mortgages

Brush up on the different types of mortgages you can get with Lloyds. And find the one that works best for you.

Mortgage types 

Types of mortgages

Brush up on the different types of mortgages you can get with Lloyds. And find the one that works best for you.

Mortgage types