Buy to let mortgage broker for landlords and investors
I need a buy-to-let mortgage that fits the rent, property, deposit and ownership structure. Vortex maps the rental stress test and compares suitable personal, limited-company, portfolio and HMO routes before I decide whether to apply.
Compare buy-to-let mortgages for my property
Share the property or site, finance required, purpose, deadline and exit. Vortex will review the case and compare suitable routes before I decide whether to apply.
You want a buy-to-let mortgage that actually completes, at a rate that works, in a structure that doesn’t cost you in tax later. Lenders underwrite it mainly on the rent the property earns, not your salary; most products are interest-only, with maximum LTV at 65% to 75%.
We are a broker, not a lender. As your BTL broker we compare suitable lenders rather than push one product, mapping your interest cover ratio (ICR) before submission. There is no fee to enquire, and our fee model is confirmed upfront before any application, disclosed in writing before you commit. The lender controls credit checks, valuation, underwriting and approval.
Key facts
- 4.5–6.5% p.a. indicative; fixed, tracker and discount options
- Up to 65–75% LTV; ICR stress typically 125% (basic-rate/company) to 145% (higher-rate)
- Personal name or limited-company SPV, subject to lender criteria and tax advice
| Scenario | Indicative rate | LTV |
|---|---|---|
| Standard BTL | 4.5–6.0% p.a. | 75% |
| HMO / multi-unit | 5.0–6.5% p.a. | 70–75% |
| Portfolio landlord | 4.8–6.5% p.a. | 70% |
Cost calculator
Compare buy-to-let mortgage routes by what you need
A BTL mortgage is not one product. Start with the angle that matches your deal.
Is buy-to-let worth it in 2026?
Test net return, tax, landlord duties, reserves and exit for the exact property.
Explore ›BRRR property strategy
Plan the purchase, works, letting, refinance and repeat decision as one funded cycle.
Explore ›Best places to invest in property
Use current price, rent, licensing, demand, costs and exit to compare an exact location.
Explore ›Limited company (SPV) buy-to-let
The SPV route landlords use post-Section 24, and how lending differs.
Explore ›Whole-of-market buy-to-let broker
Why whole-of-market beats going direct.
Explore ›What is a buy-to-let mortgage
The plain-English guide to the BTL product.
Explore ›Refurbishment finance
Short-term money to buy and improve, then refinance.
Explore ›Commercial mortgages
For mixed-use, semi-commercial and larger investment.
Explore ›How a buy-to-let mortgage works
A buy-to-let mortgage funds a property you let to tenants, not a home you live in. Unlike a residential mortgage, the lender underwrites it mainly on rental income, not your salary. Most products are an interest-only mortgage rather than a repayment mortgage, keeping the monthly mortgage payments lower. Getting a mortgage on a rental differs from buying a home.
You can hold it in your own name or through a limited company. Maximum loan-to-value sits at 65% to 75%, so the deposit for a buy-to-let mortgage runs 25% to 35%. Buy to let mortgage interest rates sit a little above a residential mortgage, indicatively 4.5% to 6.5% a year, because the lender prices in tenant and void risk. Every figure is indicative; the lender confirms on application.
How much you can borrow and the BTL stress test
Borrowing on a BTL mortgage is driven by rental income, not the property value. When you buy a property to let, lenders run an interest cover ratio (ICR) stress test that checks the rent covers the mortgage payment, at a stressed interest rate, before they agree a loan size on the buy to let mortgage.
The standard test asks for rental income to cover 125% of the interest at a notional stress rate around 5.5%, for basic-rate and company borrowers; higher-rate taxpayers are stressed at 145%. On a £187,500 loan stressed at 5.5%, the lender wants rent of at least £1,074 a month to clear 125% ICR. If the rent falls short, a larger deposit or a company structure brings the numbers into line. We map your ICR before submission with a buy to let mortgage calculator, so you know what passes before any hard search.
Personal name or limited company buy-to-let
This is the question most landlords get stuck on, and it is a tax question as much as a finance one.
A buy-to-let mortgage held in personal name is taxed on rental profit at your income tax rate, and mortgage interest relief is restricted to a basic-rate tax credit. Through a special purpose vehicle (SPV) the company pays corporation tax and can usually deduct interest as a business cost. The right answer depends on your tax position and how many rental properties you hold, which is why many landlords now run a btl mortgage through limited companies.
We arrange both structures and place limited companies and SPV cases with lenders who specialise in them. We do not guess the tax answer; seek professional tax advice first.
Compare buy to let mortgage rates and product types
The types of buy to let products come in a few shapes. Each type of buy-to-let mortgage balances the mortgage rate, fees, early repayment conditions and how long you fix.
- Tracker mortgage. A tracker moves with the Bank of England base rate, so the interest rate and payment can rise or fall with fluctuations in interest rates.
- Fixed rate. A fixed interest rate locks the payment for an agreed rate period, which can protect cashflow and affect the lender’s stress test.
- Discount. A discount sits below a lender’s standard variable rate for a set term, then reverts at the end of the mortgage term.
BTL mortgage rates depend on LTV, credit profile, rental coverage, property type and fees. We compare buy-to-let rates and the full mortgage product before showing you a shortlist for any mortgage application.
Buy to let remortgage and releasing equity
You do not have to be buying to use a BTL mortgage. Many landlords remortgage to release equity from buy to let properties that have grown in value, then recycle that cash to purchase a buy to let next.
On a refinance the lender lends against existing equity, so you may not need fresh cash if the value is there. The same ICR stress test applies, run through our buy to let calculator. If you already let a former home, the same logic applies once the lender moves you from a consent to let arrangement onto a proper buy-to-let mortgage.
If your plan is buy, refurbish, refinance, rent (BRRR), the refinance is the exit: you buy with short-term refurbishment finance, add value, then refinance at the higher post-works value and pull most of your cash back out. We stress-test that exit before you commit.
Why use a mortgage broker, not a single lender
Going direct to one mortgage lender gets you one decision. Different lenders weigh rental coverage, stress rates, property type and tax structure differently, so a decline from one helps identify which lenders to skip and which to target. That is the case for using an independent mortgage broker and comparing mortgage options across the buy to let market.
As a buy to let broker and buy to let mortgage specialist, we compare lenders that offer buy to let mortgages and package personal, company SPV, HMO and portfolio cases for underwriting. A specialist mortgage may fit where a standard rental product does not. We explain the proposed route, fees and credit-check stage before you choose whether to make an application.
This is general information. A qualified mortgage adviser confirms the regulatory position and gives formal mortgage advice where required.
The buy-to-let mortgage process, step by step
To apply for a buy-to-let mortgage, start with the property, rough value, loan size and expected rent. We map the ICR and shortlist lenders before requesting the documents needed for the route.
Applying for a mortgage then requires ID, proof of deposit, recent statements, an asset and liability statement, and rental valuation. The lender assesses the buy-to-let mortgage application, instructs a valuation, underwrites and decides whether to issue a mortgage offer and mortgage agreement. Legals run alongside, with timing dependent on the lender, valuation, title and document pack. We also show how repayments on a mortgage compare with the rent and other property costs.
Common buy-to-let worries, answered straight
Are BTL mortgages more expensive than residential? +
What if my rental income fails the stress test? +
I have been turned down before. +
When a buy-to-let mortgage fits
Single units, personal or company name.
Refinance against existing value to fund the next buy.
Move a portfolio into a limited company.
Scale without breaching covenants.
Buy, refurbish, refinance, rent, recycling cash.
Higher-yielding lets, specialist lenders.
Buy to let mortgage lenders and eligibility questions
Am I eligible for a buy-to-let mortgage and how much can I borrow? +
Are buy to let mortgages regulated? +
I am a portfolio landlord. Can you help me scale? +
When is my credit checked? +
Can I get a buy-to-let mortgage without a broker? +
Get a free buy-to-let mortgage quote
Tell us the property, rough value, loan size, expected rent and ownership structure. We will map the stress test, compare suitable lenders and show you the routes before you decide whether to apply.