When buying a buy to let you’re investing a lot of money so read our top tips on everything from the style of property you buy to the type of tenants you’re hoping to attract before taking the plunge.
Define the type of property you want
Take your time choosing the right property. Would you prefer a new build that will be easier to maintain? Or do you want an older property you can add value to? Consider how many bedrooms you want too.
Will you be letting a House in Multiple Occupation?
When you let a property to at least three tenants who aren’t members of the same family it’s classed as a ‘House in Multiple Occupation’. This might mean getting more rent per month, but you’ll have added responsibilities. Depending on how many people are living in your buy to let and where it is you might need a licence too.
What type of tenant are you looking for?
Consider the type of tenants you’d like as this can determine the type of buy to let property you buy and its location. Types of tenants include:
Students
If you’re planning to rent to students, look for houses or flats with great transport links and properties that are close to the campus too.
Young professionals
When renting to young professionals, they’ll often rent for a long period while saving up to buy a home of their own. These tenants often consider the commuting time so look for properties with good transport links.
High earners
When you rent to high earners they’ll typically be working in the area for a short period and be seeking a high standard of accommodation while they’re there.
Social tenants
You may be looking for tenants who are receiving benefits.
Not all lenders will lend on all tenant types so speak to an expert adviser before you start house-hunting so you’re fully informed.
How much rent could you get?
Check how much similar properties are currently being rented out for to give you an idea of how much rental income you could get.
Consider the practical side
There are practical considerations when buying a buy to let such as:
It’s your responsibility to maintain the property and arrange for repairs if something breaks like the boiler.
You’ll need to manage your tenants which could mean tricky conversations if they’re late with their rent. Although you can employ a lettings agent to be your tenant’s first point of contact.
Can you afford to pay the mortgage if the property is vacant for a period? It’s advisable to have cash put aside in case this happens.
How much can you borrow on a buy to let mortgage?
Buy to let mortgages work different to residential mortgages because the amount you’ll be able to borrow will be linked to the amount of rental income you expect to get. And you’ll usually need a bigger deposit too.
If you would like to find out more about buy to let mortgages, our advisers are ready and waiting to answer all your questions. So please get in touch with one of our expert buy to let mortgage advisers today.
Important information
Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.
There may be a fee for mortgage advice. The actual amount you pay will depend upon your circumstances. The fee is up to 1%, but a typical fee is 0.3% of the amount borrowed.