The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate some types of buy to let or commercial mortgages.
Depending on the situation that you are in and the mortgage lender you have a mortgage with, yes, you can convert your existing mortgage into a buy to let.
After being a homeowner for a while, you may want to switch things up. Perhaps you will be living with a friend or partner, who owns a home? Perhaps you want to live somewhere new? Occasionally, homeowners may wish to go back to renting.
In either of these circumstances, you may wish to hold onto your current home, turning it from a residential property, into a buy to let property, going from just a homeowner, to a landlord as well.
This is something that can be quite beneficial for many, as it will supplement your income over time.
How to change your mortgage to buy to let in Leeds?
If you wish to make a change to your mortgage and make it a buy to let in Leeds, the first thing you will need to do is speak to your mortgage lender to make sure this is something you can do. If they confirm you can, you’ll need to get in touch with a mortgage broker in Leeds.
The reason is because in order to switch, you will need to remortgage onto a new type of mortgage. Whether you stick with the same mortgage lender or find a new one, one of our expert mortgage advisors in Leeds will help find the best deal for you.
It will be a remortgage, because you are modifying the terms of your deal. You signed up to a residential, not a buy to let, so this will be updated. It isn’t as straightforward as asking the lender to switch, as you need to pass their mortgage criteria for a buy to let in Leeds.
What criteria do I need to meet to change my mortgage to buy to let in Leeds?
First and foremost, before anything else you’ll typically need to have remained within your property as a homeowner for at least six months. Once you’re past the six month point, there are all kinds of factors that a mortgage lender will consider.
Affordability
Your affordability is something that entirely depends on the rental potential of the home you’re converting. Most lenders will want to stress-test your property to make sure that you are able to cover at least 125% of what you’ll be paying per month.
Equity in Your Home
Whilst technically you won’t need a deposit to take out this new mortgage, you will need to have a sufficient amount of equity sitting within your property in order to be able to remortgage it onto a buy to let in Leeds.
Lenders will want to see that you have at least 20-25% equity in your property, though this can be more with poor credit history. Chances are you’ll need even more than this, in order to also cover the deposit for a new home to live in.
Credit History
If your credit history is pretty poor, your chances of obtaining a mortgage will be slimmer. That being said, it’s not always impossible for you to do so!
There are plenty of mortgage choices out there for bad credit mortgages, which extends to people wanting to do a buy to let in Leeds. If any new credit problems have cropped up since your initial mortgage, obtaining a buy to let mortgage may be more challenging.
The important things to remember are building up your credit score again and the amount of time that has passed since the initial issues cropped up. To give an example, the more time that has passed since being given a CCJ, the better chance you’ll have of getting a mortgage.
Type of Property
The type of property you are letting out can have an impact on your mortgage process. You’ll find it more limited if you are looking to take out a mortgage on a HMO or Holiday Let, as they are specialist areas that require the assistance of a mortgage broker in Leeds.
Landlord Experience
Some landlords won’t offer mortgage products to first time landlords. If you have been a landlord in the past, you will have access to a wider variety of mortgage deals with more mortgage lenders.
On the other hand, there are multiple mortgage lenders that we have on panel, with some of these offering products to first time buy to let landlords. To learn more, speak with a mortgage advisor in Leeds.
Can I live in my buy to let in Leeds?
No, you are not allowed to live in a property that you have a buy to let mortgage on. This would is a breach of your mortgage agreement and will very likely have a large negative effect you and your home.
Letting Out Your Current Home to Buy a New Property in Leeds
Alternatively to a buy to let in Leeds, you could let out your existing home as a way to buy a new property to live in. This process is called let to buy. It is popular amongst homeowners who wish to supplement their income and also live somewhere else.
This works the same as a typical buy to let, though you’ll be applying for two mortgages this time (one to convert your property into a buy to let and one to buy a new home. As such, your lender will need to confirm you can afford both of these.
How many buy to let mortgages can I have?
Whether you’re a new landlord planning ahead or an existing landlord ready to expand upon your property portfolio, you may be wondering how many times you can have a buy to let in Leeds.
Whilst there isn’t necessarily a strict limit on how many buy to let mortgages you can have, it will depend on the risk to the lender as to whether or not you’ll be able to take out further buy to let mortgages. Speak to a qualified buy to let mortgage advisor in Leeds to learn more.
Could consent to let be an option?
Some homeowners may have the option of accessing something that is called a consent to let. This is typically something used more in the short term, with your home only being a temporary buy to let.
Depending on lender, you will usually have a limit that is between 30-90 days per calendar year. You need to check with your lender beforehand, to make sure you are able to do this.
Speak to a Qualified Buy to Let Expert in Leeds
To gain a further understanding of the options available for making your home a buy to let in Leeds, book your free mortgage appointment and speak to a mortgage advisor in Leeds.
A dedicated member of our team here at Leedsmoneyman will be able to review your circumstances and inform you of the deals you may be able to access, as well as helping with any additional buy to let mortgage advice in Leeds you require.
Date Last Edited: September 20, 2024
