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Buy-to-let mortgages

Buy-to-let lending works differently from buying a home to live in: the rent matters as much as your income, and the tax is higher.

Last checked 13 September 2026. Editor: Kris · editorial standards

How much you can borrow

Buy-to-let lenders usually base the loan mainly on the expected rent, checking that it covers the mortgage payments with a margin at a higher assumed interest rate. Whether you buy personally or through a limited company changes how that test is applied, so it's worth discussing both with a broker (and the tax side with an accountant). The buy-to-let stress test calculator shows the rent a lender would need for your loan, and the largest loan your rent supports.

Letting in England? From 15 December 2026 every landlord must register themselves and each let property on the GOV.UK “Register your rental property” service, at £65 per property per year, with deadlines set region by region up to 14 November 2027. The landlord register deadline checker shows the date for your property’s region.

Stamp duty on additional properties

In England and Northern Ireland, buying an additional residential property for £40,000 or more adds 5 percentage points to every Stamp Duty Land Tax band, and buyers who aren't UK resident pay a further 2% (GOV.UK). Try the stamp duty calculator.

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Regulation

Many buy-to-let mortgages taken out as a business aren't regulated by the FCA in the way a residential mortgage is, which affects the protections you have. Ask your broker whether the mortgage you're offered is regulated.

Brokers whose website mentions buy-to-let

1024 firms in our directory mention buy-to-let on their own website. That's what they say about themselves, not an assessment by us, so check that a firm handles your situation and look it up on the FCA Register before taking advice.

More guides

General information, not advice. Mortgage Brokers List is a directory and a set of free tools. Only an FCA-authorised adviser can recommend a mortgage for your circumstances. See our editorial standards.