The buy to let mortgage goalposts have moved… again

Thursday, 28th September, 2017

Staying on top of the buy-to-let mortgage market has become a job in its own right.

Some changes are small and relatively inconsequential – the inner workings, or behind the scenes details, if you will, that we tackle as part of the mortgage application process and that don’t need to burdened on our clients.

Others, such as the upcoming Prudential Regulation Authority changes, which will be applied by 30 September 2017, do need some light shed on them.

After all, current landlords and those in the process of applying for a buy to let mortgage are coming to us and asking ‘what does it mean for me?’.

In order to make the information accessible to everyone, we’ve prepared our Prudential Regulation Authority changes made simple.

This should clear a few things up, however if you still need clarification then please call a member of the Complete Mortgages team on 01483 238280, who will be more than happy to help.

So, if you’re a landlord and wondering ‘how will the new buy to let rules affect me?’, then read on.

1. Size matters

As part of what appears to be a crackdown on buy to let landlords who have ‘stockpiled’ mortgaged properties, the new rules really impact those who have four or more properties within their portfolio.

It’s also important to note here that the figure of four doesn’t relate to the number of mortgages you have – but the number of properties. If you own four properties under one mortgage then you will still be treated as a portfolio landlord. If you have two or three mortgaged buy to let properties, the new lending criteria will not affect you.

2. Down to the last detail

If you currently own three buy-to-lets and are looking to buy a fourth, or if you already own four and are looking to buy more, then you will be required to prove that your other properties – or at least your ability to cover the cost of the other properties – won’t be affected by taking on another.

To do this, lenders will:

a. Want to review income from other sources – including that derived from your existing portfolio – to ensure that can cover maintenance and void periods

b. Assess your experience as a landlord

c. Apply an Income Coverage Ratio, which is dependent on a number of factors including all your earned income. Note: this will vary from lender to lender

d. Require full details of the entire portfolio in order to assess the overall risk, potentially including assets/liabilities, cashflow and investment intentions.

Essentially, lenders will want to carry out stringent checks to make sure that taking on an additional property – or properties – will not be too much of a financial stretch.

3. Getting personal

Of course, as part of these checks, lenders will also want to know your personal liabilities and outgoings, too.

Expect the following areas to be explored as part of the review:

a. Credit cards and their balances

b. Vehicle financing agreements

c. Loans

d. General outgoings

The buy to let mortgage market is a constantly evolving sector. As a result, it’s important that you don’t get caught out.

As a Guildford mortgage broker our advice for buy-to-let landlords is to contact a mortgage adviser to find out how the new changes might affect you personally.

Likewise, we recommend that all new and aspiring landlords find a reputable mortgage broker to advise them on how to apply for a buy to let mortgage in the context of the impending new rules.

Contact Complete Mortgages on 01483 238280 or email info@complete-mortgages.co.uk. Remember, we also offer specialist mortgages including limited company buy to let mortgages, equity release mortgages and adverse credit mortgages.

By Mark Finnegan, Director at Complete Mortgages

Big changes for buy-to-let in 2017, but stress not

Wednesday, 11th January, 2017

The buy to let mortgage market is under fire once again.

Many buy to let landlords are still reeling from the changes announced by former Chancellor, George Osborne, which will see tax-deductible expenses reduced to 20% on a sliding scale from April 2017. And then there was the stamp-duty charge for second homes, which was introduced in April 2016.

However, when it comes to buy to let mortgages it seems that what might be regarded as ‘bad news’ for current and would-be landlords comes in threes.

Following the supervisory statement from the Central Bank’s Prudential Residential Authority on underwriting standards for buy to let mortgages, actually arranging a buy-to-let mortgage has now become more difficult.

Why? Because it has been deemed that there are too many buy to let mortgages in the market.

Now, applicants will have to undergo a ‘stress test’ that not only delves deeper into an applicant’s affordability levels, but also re-evaluates what affordable means.

Lenders will now be expected to assume a minimum borrower interest rate of 5.50% and potential interest rate rises will have to be considered for at least the first five years of the mortgage. Not only that, but landlords who own four or more mortgaged buy-to-let properties will need to submit income and mortgage details on each of them when they remortgage or purchase a new property.

As with most decisions that have the potential to have a significant impact on the property market, the rules will be phased in slowly and aren’t expected to come into effect until late 2017, however if you are a buy to let landlord looking to remortgage or thinking of applying for a buy to let mortgage then it’s probably worth considering your options sooner rather than later.

As a Guildford mortgage broker that specialises in buy-to-let mortgages and that has access to a comprehensive range of buy to let mortgage products, we are confident that we can offset some of the proposed changes by providing our clients access to a selection of products whereby the lender takes a more holistic approach.

For example, under the new rules, landlords with low rental yields may be thrown into the ‘unaffordable’ pile which, depending on the level of borrowing required, may jeopardise – if not scupper – their buy to let mortgage application. However, we have access to lenders who take into account personal income, too, which provides a much more balanced picture on what is and isn’t affordable.

Our advice is to get in touch with the Complete Mortgages team to find out how we can help navigate you through the buy to let mortgage application process and get you that step further to building your property portfolio – or, if you’re already a landlord, help you secure a mortgage that enables you to retain your position as a landlord.

Contact 01483 238280 or email info@complete-mortgages.co.uk for stress-free advice on what the new stress testing entails.

By Mark Finnegan, Director at Complete Mortgages

Could limited company buy to lets be the landlord’s saviour?

Friday, 16th September, 2016
buy to let

The viability of the buy to let property market as an investment, particularly for those with large mortgages, has been compromised since the government introduced new tax rules, the details of which can be viewed here.

And yet demand for property in the UK remains high, with demand to make money on property seemingly higher. So, now that margins are being squeezed on individual buy to let arrangements, what’s the alternative?

The answer is, in the main, simpler than you might think and means that not only could you become a landlord in a much more efficient – not to mention profitable – way, but also a business owner, too.

Limited company buy to let mortgages

As a Guildford mortgage broker, Complete Mortgages has seen a high number of buy to let landlords in the South East of England with high loan to value mortgages reconsider their options since the new tax legislation was announced.

One of those options – and one that is becoming increasingly popular – is using a special purpose vehicle (SPV) or, quite simply, starting or building a buy to let property portfolio by purchasing properties through a limited company.

Of course, like most things in life, there are pros and cons so in order to try and explain the basics, here is a quick guide to the good and the bad bits associated with business buy to lets. However, it’s important to point out that given how everybody’s circumstances differ, it’s essential that you consult an accountant before making any decision.

The pros

Pay less tax on buy to let properties

For reasons laid out here, tax payable on individual buy to let property revenue is getting higher. However, this new structure doesn’t affect buy to lets through a limited company.

Tax-free dividends on buy to let properties

At the start of the 2016/17 tax year the government made a number of changes, one of which is that you no longer have to pay tax on the first £5,000 of your dividend income – regardless of how much non-divided income you earn. For example, let’s say you earn £40,000 a year, through PAYE, for company A. You then set up your own company called Business Buy to Lets limited and purchase a property, which yields £5,000 in rental income a year. Not only is that £5,000 tax free, but it means that you can…

…Reinvest your profits without any tax liability

Now that you’ve earned £5,000 without incurring any tax liability, you can do what you like with it. You may wish to reinvest it in the property or even put it towards a deposit on another property – something that would have taken you a lot longer to save for if you had purchased the property as an individual, as that £5,000 would have been diminished by tax.

The Cons

Say goodbye to Capital Gains Tax relief

As an individual buy to let landlord, you receive £11,100 tax relief when you sell your property. With properties purchased by a limited company, there is no Capital Gains Tax relief.

Companies cost money

There is administration involved in running a company. Even if you only generate an income of £5,000 per year and there are only a few transactions to account for, you will need to keep accounts, file returns and manage the corporation tax and personal tax elements of running a limited company. The cost will vary from accountant to accountant, however it’s an essential component of owning a limited company, unavoidable and required by law.

Limited company buy to let mortgages have higher rates

Unlike individual buy to let mortgage rates, which have dramatically dropped over recent months to keep the buy to let market buoyant, business buy to let mortgage rates are higher.

Perhaps the biggest drawback for those looking to apply for a limited company buy to let mortgage is the fact that the range of options decreases. Some lenders don’t even offer mortgages to limited companies.

Before you do anything…

… and irrespective of the broker you use, you must seek advice from an accountant before making any decision – even the decision to form a company (or SPV).

However, as an award-winning mortgage brokerage Complete Mortgages has access to a comprehensive panel of lenders and a range of limited company buy to let deals to suit everyone. We can give you guidance on all mortgage-related aspects of becoming a business-owning, portfolio-building landlord including the:

  • Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) your company needs to carry in order to secure a mortgage
  • Roles and responsibilities that you – as a director – have when it comes to your mortgage

Contact the Complete Mortgages team on 01483 238280 or email info@complete-mortgages.co.uk to find out more about becoming a limited company buy to let landlord.

By Mark Finnegan, Director at Complete Mortgages