If you’re planning on purchasing a property to rent out, and you aren’t purchasing it with cash, you’ll need to have a buy to let mortgage. In the mortgage industry, this is sometimes called a BTL Mortgage. As you might expect, buy to let differs in some respects to conventional mortgages you’d take out if you were buying a residential property to live in.
One of the biggest differences between a buy to let mortgage and standard mortgage is that most buy to let mortgages are offered on an interest-only basis. Some allow you to split between interest and repayment. For interest only it means your monthly payments will cover the cost of the interest on the mortgage. But, the money you’ve borrowed to buy the property, the capital debt, will not get paid off.
At the end of the mortgage term, you are required to pay off the capital debt in full. One way to do that is by selling the property. Alternatively, some people may simply take out another mortgage and keep the property.
Another significant difference with buy to let mortgages is that you’ll typically need a larger deposit and pay higher rates of interest than residential mortgages. This means buy to let flats and houses will initially need a bigger outlay than your own property. Also, you’ll need to pay a larger amount of stamp duty on the property as it’s not your main home.
The majority of buy to let mortgages aren’t regulated by the FCA (Financial Conduct Authority). There are some exceptions, though, such as if you’re renting your property out to a relative or partner. In those cases, they are referred to as consumer buy to let mortgages and applications get assessed the same as for standard mortgages. A buy to let mortgage broker will be able to explain the differences between the products.
You can apply for a buy to let mortgage if you meet most of the following criteria:
A buy to let mortgage tends to cost more to set up and pay each month than a standard mortgage. The reason for the increased costs is due to the higher interest rates and fees charged by buy to let mortgage lenders. Buy to let mortgages represent a higher risk to lenders because landlords might not have the rent paid to them on time (or at all) to cover the mortgage payments.
A positive thing to bear in mind with buy to let mortgage payments is they are usually cheaper than standard mortgage ones. That’s because you are only paying the interest on the loan, rather than the interest and capital at the same time. Ascot Mortgages are happy to provide a buy to let mortgage quote and help you find the best deal.
The thing about buy to let mortgages is that the amount you can borrow isn’t solely down to how much you earn each year. Instead, the figure is based on the rental income you hope to achieve, calculated at a stress rate of typically 5.5% and based on your personal tax threshold. Also, the amount you can borrow will vary between buy to let lenders, with some willing to lend more than others.
Buy to let mortgage lenders will usually ask you for a large deposit, such as 25% of the property’s value. In some cases, this could even be as high as 40% depending on the type of property. The reason lenders ask for such a high deposit is simply to protect themselves in case you default on your mortgage repayments.
Believe it or not, there are some benefits to putting down a large deposit on a property. For a start, a larger deposit means there is a lower amount to finance on your investment.
You will have less to pay off or refinance at the end of the mortgage term and you may also be eligible for a lower interest rate due to a lower loan to value (LTV). A buy to let mortgage specialist will be able to help you find the best possible rate based on your circumstances.
The mortgage repayments could be significantly lower each month. This means the difference between your rental income and what your mortgage payments are could help you achieve a healthy profit each month.
As you might expect, there will be times where you won’t have any rental income to cover your mortgage repayments. Examples might include when one tenant moves out and you’re waiting for a new one to move in. Or, in some cases, tenants don’t pay for whatever reason and fall into arrears.
It makes perfect sense to come up with a contingency plan to cover such events. In an ideal world, there wouldn’t be any interruption in rental income from your investment property. But, the reality is often much different from what we’d like to happen.
So, with the above in mind, how can you plan for a lack of rental income? One option is, of course, to save up some money to cover your mortgage repayments for a certain period. Doing so is a good idea for when your property might be vacant and you’re waiting for new tenants to move in.
When it comes to non-paying tenants, you could also use that savings fund to cover the shortfall. Assuming the tenants bring their balance with you up-to-date, you can then top up your savings fund with that money. Another option is to take out an insurance product that will cover such issues. These days, many leading property insurance firms offer rental income protection for landlords.
There are some ways that you can lessen the likelihood of your property not yielding a rental income:
In a word, yes. Because you are renting out your property to make a profitable income from it, you will need to pay some taxes on that income. You’ll need some tax advice around this area. The taxes you’ll usually have to pay are Capital Gains Tax and Income Tax. They are explained as follows:
For basic rate taxpayers, the capital gains tax is charged at a rate of 18%. If you’re a higher or additional rate taxpayer, that goes up to 28%. If you’ve got other assets as well, your basic rate of capital gains tax is 10%, or 20% for higher tax brackets.
Should you decide to sell your property to make a profit, you’ll need to pay capital gains tax if your profit is more than the annual threshold. As of the 2019/2020 tax year, that threshold is £12,000. If you’re selling a property jointly bought with your spouse or partner, you could combine your allowances to double the allowance.
It’s also possible to reduce capital gains tax charges by taking into account things like property purchase fees. Or even losses made from another buy to let property in a previous tax year.
Last, but not least, the income you make from your buy to let property must be declared on your tax return each year. If you exceed your annual allowance, you could reduce your income tax liability in a few ways. For example, you could deduct fees like council tax or property maintenance costs.
It’s also possible to get mortgage income tax relief as well, which can go some way to reducing your income tax liability. And, of course, it will increase your profitability.
Considering investing in buy to let properties? Make an appointment with a buy to let broker to discuss your situation and the kind of mortgage available to you. A buy to let mortgage broker can give you more information on how these mortgages work and the financial impact, so you can make an informed decision. To speak to a buy to let mortgage advisor, contact Ascot Mortgages today and we’ll make an appointment at a suitable time.
We can help you remortgage to build an extension, carry out much needed repairs to your home, or to get work done such as renovating your kitchen or bathroom. If you need work carried out around the home, but can’t afford it, you may be considering moving to a more suitable property. However, if you remortgage your house, you can potentially raise the funds while staying in your current home, which is a lot less disruptive.
Get things moving, apply for a remortgage.
Free unbiased mortgage advice is just a phone call away.
Thinking of remortgaging your current home? Want to ensure you get the best deal? Make an appointment with a remortgage specialist at Ascot Mortgages. As a broker, we have access to the best deals, and can match you to a wide range of financial products to suit your circumstances. No matter what your reasons for remortgaging, contact the team at Ascot Mortgages today and we’ll be happy to discuss your needs.
At Ascot Mortgages, we are dedicated to ensuring that the often daunting process of selecting and applying for a mortgage or finance package is as simple as possible – helping you find the best mortgage deal for you and your financial situation.
Legal
Ascot Mortgages authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and can be found on the FCA register (www.fca.org.uk) under reference 776062. The FCA do not regulate some forms of mortgages. The guidance and advice contained in this website is subject to UK regulatory regime and is therefore restricted to consumers based in the UK. There may be a fee for mortgage advice. The precise amount will depend upon your circumstances but we estimate it will be £399 per mortgage account. Ascot Mortgages Ltd give you the option to pay a non-refundable fee of £879 payable with the application. If this option is taken, Ascot Mortgages Ltd will refund any procuration fee received by the lender.
YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE
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