Why securing a mortgage for buy to let properties is about to get harder

September 5, 2017

It’s been a challenging year for buy to let landlords. With changes in buy to let mortgage tax relief and affordability stress testing, it’s little wonder buy to let purchases have fallen by almost 50%. Many of those deterred from securing a mortgage for buy to let properties would have been amateur landlords, such as those purchasing a buy to let to generate additional income. For portfolio landlords, there are more challenges on the horizon.

The Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) plans to introduce stricter underwriting standards for landlords with more than four mortgaged properties. If you’d like a further overview of the effect these changes will have on landlords, check out our analysis here.

However, borrowers aren’t the only group who will be affected by this. Tougher underwriting standards mean lenders will therefore need more information during the application process. Although some lenders will be using external software to deal with the extra admin, other lenders have indicated they will pass this work on to buy to let brokers.

How long will a mortgage for buy to let properties take?

This will have a knock-on effect on the amount of work brokers are able to do, and the speed at which they can resolve cases. Different lenders will have different policies—and brokers could be expected to work across these policies, with a solid understanding of each. This could place a huge time pressure on brokers, increasing how long a mortgage for buy to let properties takes. This may even lead some brokers to withdraw from buy to let broking.

At Enness, we retain our commitment to providing unparalleled levels of customer service—but there’s no denying the PRA changes will make working on portfolio landlord mortgage applications more challenging.

If possible, I would advise landlords who are considering remortgaging to contact us as soon as possible to discuss your options. Buy to let remortgage transactions have risen over the last few months; interest rates are currently very low, so landlords are motivated by both cheap borrowing and the prospect of a more difficult application process.

By Anna Thompson – Associate at enness.co.uk

Enness Private

We arrange large mortgages secured against international property for global individuals.

You May Also Enjoy

Breaking News

Rental price and average salary tracker – March 2026

Rents Plateau, But UK Market Tells Regional Story Significant comparisons include across Scotland where average agreed rents rose to £1,123, representing a 4.95% increase month and month across the nation. Northern Ireland saw the second largest average monthly rents rise, bringing an increase of 3.99% to an average agreed price of £887 compared to £853…
Read More →
Breaking News

Breaking Property News 9/4/26

Daily bite-sized proptech and property news in partnership with Proptech-X.   Why Rightmove is making all the wrong moves   In a world reshaped by AI, incumbency is no longer protection. It is exposure. Thought Leadership By Andrew Stanton, CEO Proptech-PR Rightmove has long been the unassailable giant of UK property portals—a category-defining platform that, for years, operated…
Read More →
Breaking News

Six property firms expelled from redress scheme

Six property businesses have been expelled from The Property Ombudsman after failing to pay compensation awards. The expulsions followed a review by the scheme’s independent Compliance Committee, which agreed that each firm should be removed for breaching their membership obligations by not complying with Ombudsman decisions. The Property Ombudsman, which provides impartial dispute resolution for…
Read More →
Home and Living

Best garden renovations to increase property value this spring

With spring fast approaching and warmer weather finally in sight, now is the perfect time to step outside and give your garden the well-deserved TLC and refresh it needs after such a wet and dreary start to the year. Whether it’s refreshing planting beds, updating patio areas or rethinking your layout, investing time into your…
Read More →
Breaking News

Prime London property market stays firm

The latest Prime London Demand Index by London lettings and estate agent, Benham and Reeves, reveals that, despite broad economic uncertainty, buyer demand across London’s most prestigious neighbourhoods avoided a decline during the first quarter of 2026, with the likes of Chelsea, Battersea, Highgate, and Belgravia seeing quarterly demand increases of above 5%. The Prime…
Read More →
Breaking News

More first-time buyers enter the market in 2026

The latest research by Yopa has revealed that first-time buyer demand has strengthened during the first quarter of 2026, despite the supply of homes offering the benefit of a buying scheme remaining limited. Yopa analysed first-time buyer demand based on the proportion of homes listed under buying schemes* that have already sold subject to contract…
Read More →