News & Insights - Buy to Let

Landlords should be incentivised to sell to tenants at a discount under a new scheme proposed by conservative think-tank the Centre for Policy Studies.

First-time buyer numbers in August reached their highest level since June last year, with a total of 35,500 mortgages completed.

This year’s Gas Safety Week, which runs from September 17-23, aims to raise awareness of the dangers of poorly maintained gas appliances, which can cause fires, explosions, gas leaks and carbon monoxide poisoning.

Short-term holiday lets are becoming increasingly popular as a way for landlords to generate an income, but it’s important to weigh up the pros and cons carefully first.

Renters would be able to stay in their homes for at least three years under new government proposals aimed at giving both them and landlords more security.

More than 40,000 homeowners remortgaged in April, according to latest figures from trade body UK Finance, up 36% compared to the same month last year.

Around 380,000 landlords (19%) plan to sell their rental properties in the coming year, according to research by the National Landlords Association.

Two lenders, Sainsbury’s Bank and The Mortgage Lender, have entered the buy to let market this for the first time, widening the range of mortgage options available to landlords.

Landlords with four or more mortgaged buy-to-let properties can now expect greater scrutiny of their entire portfolio when trying to buy a new property.

Haggling on the property price can be tricky. Some sellers will be happy to negotiate, whereas others may be determined not to drop below the asking price, so it’s not always easy to know how far you can push it.

If you own property you rent out, make sure you aren’t paying more than you need to for your buy to let mortgage. Just as those with residential mortgages should regularly review their mortgages to see if they can cut costs, landlords should also check whether remortgaging could reduce their monthly payments...

Applying for a mortgage can be tricky, but if you’re a self-employed worker, freelancer or contractor, you could face extra challenges. Here's what you'll need to get a mortgage as a self-employed person...

When you apply for a mortgage, lenders will look to your bank statementsto help them decide how much you can afford to borrow. Follow these simple steps to boost your mortgage affordability

In the Autumn Statement, Chancellor George Osborne announced a substantial increase in Stamp Duty on the purchase of additional residential properties. That will therefore apply to situations such as purchase of a property to let out or of a second home.

As announced in the Budget, mortgage interest rate relief is going to be limited to the basic 20% income tax rate: higher and top rate tax payers no longer get full relief.

Whether you are a seasoned landlord or looking at buying to let for the first time, these tips will come in handy.