Greater mortgage choice for buy to let landlords

Two lenders, Sainsbury’s Bank and The Mortgage Lender, have entered the buy to let market for the first time this month, widening the range of mortgage options available to landlords. Increased competition among lenders is good news for buy to let borrowers, particularly given recent changes which have made owning a property to rent out more expensive. These include the 3% stamp duty surcharge on second homes, and a reduction in the amount of mortgage interest tax relief higher and additional rate tax payers can claim. Keeping outgoings to a minimum is a priority for most landlords, so if you haven’t reviewed your buy to let mortgage or mortgages for a while, now’s a good time to check whether you could find better rates elsewhere.Sainsbury’s buy to let mortgagesSainsbury’s first ever range of buy to let mortgages is only available through brokers including L&C. Only individuals and not limited companies are eligible for the mortgages, and applicants must have a minimum income of £20,000, excluding rental income. Lending is available up to £1m if borrowing up to 60% of the property’s value, or up to £500,000 if borrowing up to 75%. Cashback is available and landlords who are remortgaging benefit from a free valuation. The Mortgage Lender’s new buy to let productsThe Mortgage Lender’s buy to let mortgages are also only available through selected intermediaries, again including L&C. Applications from limited companies and limited liability partnerships as well as individuals will be accepted, and mortgages are available for new build properties, flats above commercial properties, ex local authority properties, multi-unit freeholds, and houses in multiple occupation (HMOs). Products will be available to landlords borrowing up to 80% of the property value. There’s no minimum income requirement and The Mortgage Lender said it would take a “pragmatic approach” to underwriting. The maximum age applicants can be is 80, but they must be no older than 95 when the mortgage term finishes.