Buy-to-let mortgages
Property finance built around the investment.
From a first investment property to larger portfolios and limited company borrowing, our advisers help landlords understand lender criteria, rental calculations and the finance available for their property plans.
Investment
Property & rental profile
Finance
Structure the borrowing
Property investment
Buy-to-let lending is assessed differently from a residential mortgage.
The property's expected rental income can be just as important as the borrower's personal financial position.
Buy-to-let lenders commonly use rental-income calculations to determine the level of borrowing available. Those calculations differ between lenders and can vary according to the applicant, tax position, property and mortgage product.
The ownership structure also matters. A property purchased personally may have a different lender market from one purchased through a limited company or special purpose vehicle.
Who we help
From the first investment property to larger portfolios.
The most appropriate lender can change significantly according to your experience, ownership structure, portfolio and the property being financed.
01
First-time landlords
Clients purchasing their first investment property may have access to a wide range of lenders, although criteria can differ from those available to more experienced landlords.
02
Experienced landlords
Landlords with existing properties may need lenders that understand their wider portfolio, borrowing commitments and long-term investment strategy.
03
Limited companies
Many investors purchase through limited companies or special purpose vehicles, requiring lenders with appropriate company buy-to-let criteria.
04
Portfolio landlords
Investors with several mortgaged properties can face more detailed underwriting of their wider portfolio and overall financial position.
05
Higher-value investors
More substantial investment properties or larger portfolios can involve specialist lenders, bespoke underwriting or private-bank consideration.
06
International investors
Foreign nationals, UK expats and clients with overseas income may require lenders comfortable with international residency and financial circumstances.
Rental assessment
The rent needs to support the mortgage under the lender's calculation.
Buy-to-let lenders typically compare expected rental income with a stressed mortgage payment to assess whether the property can support the borrowing.
The required rental coverage and stressed interest rate can differ significantly from lender to lender, which means the same property may support different loan amounts depending on where the case is placed.
Discuss your borrowing
Rental coverage
Different lender calculations can produce different borrowing outcomes from the same anticipated rent.
What lenders consider
The investment, borrower and ownership structure all matter.
Buy-to-let underwriting can extend beyond the rent and property, particularly where there is an existing portfolio or company structure.
01
Rental income
Buy-to-let affordability is often influenced by the rent the property is expected to generate and the lender's individual rental calculation.
02
Deposit & loan-to-value
Deposit requirements differ from residential mortgages and vary according to lender, property, borrowing structure and client circumstances.
03
Personal or company ownership
The way the property is owned can materially affect which lenders are available and how the mortgage application is assessed.
04
Existing portfolio
For landlords with multiple properties, lenders may review existing rents, mortgages, loan-to-values and the performance of the wider portfolio.
05
Property type
Flats, houses, HMOs, multi-unit properties and other specialist property types can each require different lending criteria.
06
Tax & legal structure
The tax treatment of property investment can be complex. Independent tax and legal advice may be appropriate before deciding how to purchase.
Ownership structure
How you own the property can change the mortgage market available.
The mortgage considerations for an individual landlord can be different from those applying to a limited company or wider portfolio structure.
Personal ownership
The property is purchased and mortgaged in the individual's own name, with lender criteria based on the applicant and investment property.
Limited company / SPV
The investment is purchased through a company, commonly a special purpose vehicle, with the mortgage taken by the company and usually supported by personal guarantees.
Portfolio structure
More experienced investors may own several properties across different structures, requiring a lender to consider both the individual transaction and wider portfolio.
Important
Mortgage advice and tax advice are different. The most appropriate ownership structure should not be selected solely because of mortgage availability. Independent tax and legal advice may be required.
Portfolio landlords
As the portfolio grows, underwriting can become more detailed.
Lenders may need to understand the wider portfolio rather than assessing only the property being purchased or refinanced.
Existing mortgage balances, rental income, property values, loan-to-values and overall portfolio performance can all become relevant to the lending decision.
Property types
Not every investment property fits standard buy-to-let criteria.
The property itself can determine which lenders are appropriate. More complex investment properties may require lenders with specialist valuation or property criteria.
International experience
3,000+
International clients
20+
Countries represented
International investors
UK property investment for clients based around the world.
Intra has arranged more than 3,000 mortgages for international clients from over 20 countries, including Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, the United States, Canada and countries across Europe.
Foreign residency, overseas income and international ownership structures can all affect the lenders available for UK buy-to-let property.
How we work
Understand the investment before approaching the lender.
Our process considers the property, expected rent, ownership structure, portfolio and wider borrowing requirements before lender research begins.
Understand the investment
We begin by understanding the property, expected rental income, deposit, ownership structure and your wider property investment plans.
Assess the borrowing
Your adviser considers the loan size, loan-to-value, anticipated rent and the way different lenders may assess the application.
Research lender criteria
Buy-to-let lenders vary significantly in their rental calculations, minimum income requirements, property criteria and treatment of different ownership structures.
Structure the application
Once an appropriate route has been identified, we prepare the application around the lender's requirements and the way the property will be owned and let.
Manage underwriting
Our adviser and administration team remain involved throughout valuation, lender queries and any additional underwriting requirements.
Complete
We continue to support the case through mortgage offer and the wider transaction through to completion.
Lender access
Buy-to-let criteria differs significantly across the market.
Rental calculations, portfolio criteria, company borrowing, property types and borrower requirements can all vary. Our advisers can consider mainstream and specialist lending routes according to the circumstances involved.
Lender availability and suitability depend on individual circumstances, property, rental assessment and lending criteria.
Why Intra
Property finance considered beyond the individual transaction.
Buy-to-let borrowing can be part of a wider property strategy, so we consider the investment alongside the ownership structure, existing portfolio and future objectives.
01
Understand the investment
We consider the property, expected rent, deposit, ownership structure and wider investment plans.
02
Research lender calculations
Different lenders can assess the same rent and borrowing requirement in different ways.
03
Consider the wider portfolio
Where relevant, existing properties, rents and mortgage commitments are considered as part of the case.
04
Manage the application
Our administration team supports the case through valuation, underwriting, mortgage offer and completion.
Related property finance
Explore finance for wider property investment requirements.
Portfolio borrowing
Portfolio Finance
Finance for landlords with multiple investment properties and more substantial portfolio requirements.
International
International Buy-to-Let
UK investment property finance for clients with overseas residency, income or wider international circumstances.
Short-term finance
Bridging Finance
Short-term finance for property purchases, refinancing and transactions where timing or property condition requires a different approach.
Frequently asked questions
Buy-to-let mortgage questions.
These answers are general. Your options will depend on the property, expected rent, ownership structure, portfolio and lender criteria.
01How does a buy-to-let mortgage work?
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How does a buy-to-let mortgage work?
A buy-to-let mortgage is designed for a property that will be rented to tenants rather than occupied as your main home. Lenders commonly assess the expected rental income alongside the deposit, property and applicant's wider circumstances.
02How much deposit do I need for buy-to-let?
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How much deposit do I need for buy-to-let?
Deposit requirements vary between lenders and circumstances. Buy-to-let mortgages commonly require a larger deposit than residential borrowing, although the exact loan-to-value available depends on the lender, property and application.
03How do lenders assess rental income?
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How do lenders assess rental income?
Lenders commonly apply an interest coverage calculation to the expected rent. The required coverage, stressed interest rate and treatment of personal income differ between lenders.
04Can I buy through a limited company?
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Can I buy through a limited company?
Potentially. A substantial part of the buy-to-let market supports limited company and special purpose vehicle borrowing. The appropriate structure depends on your wider circumstances and independent tax advice may be appropriate.
05What is a portfolio landlord?
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What is a portfolio landlord?
Lenders generally apply additional underwriting where an applicant owns several mortgaged investment properties. The exact definition and assessment process can vary between lenders.
06Can I get a buy-to-let mortgage as a first-time landlord?
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Can I get a buy-to-let mortgage as a first-time landlord?
Potentially. Many lenders consider first-time landlords, although some impose additional criteria relating to income, residential property ownership, deposit or experience.
07Can international clients obtain UK buy-to-let mortgages?
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Can international clients obtain UK buy-to-let mortgages?
Potentially. Intra works with international clients purchasing UK investment property. Available lenders depend on residency, nationality, income, property, deposit and wider circumstances.
08Can Intra help with an existing property portfolio?
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Can Intra help with an existing property portfolio?
Yes. We can assist with individual purchases, refinancing and borrowing involving clients who already own multiple investment properties, subject to lender criteria.
Your property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage or other loan secured upon it.
Property investment
Discuss your next property investment with an Intra adviser.
Tell us about the property, expected rent, ownership structure and your wider investment plans and our team can explain the next steps.
enquiries@intra-pf.com