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Buying & selling
Buy-to-let mortgages in 2026: the realistic UK guide
QuoteMyMove 25 January 2026 7 min read
Buy-to-let is harder than it was a decade ago — but it's still profitable for landlords who do it right. Our 2026 guide.
Since Section 24 of the Finance Act started phasing in (2017–2020), individual landlords pay more tax than ever. Most new landlords now buy through a limited company.
What lenders look for
- Stress test: rent must usually cover 125–145% of mortgage payments at a stressed rate (often 5.5–7%)
- Deposit: 25% minimum, 40% unlocks much better rates
- Personal income: many lenders want £25,000+ if outside London
- Limited company products: now 30%+ of all UK BTL lending
Typical 2026 rates
- 2-yr fixed @ 65% LTV: 4.5–5.5%
- 5-yr fixed @ 75% LTV: 5.0–5.8%
- Limited company premium: typically 0.3–0.6% above personal-name
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