Editorial
Buy-to-let mortgage guides.
Plain-English, data-anchored guides written from the lender side. Every guide is written by Matt Lenzie (Bank of Scotland and Lloyds Banking Group alumnus, 25+ year career banker (bank of scotland, lloyds banking group). £300m+ raised for property clients.). No marketing fluff, what the lender actually wants and why.
Guide · 9 min read
Buy-to-let mortgage rates 2026: what landlords are paying
What the market is actually pricing on standard BTL, limited-company SPV, HMO, holiday-let and bridge-to-let, with the lender-side context on why.
Published 19 May 2026 · Read →
Guide · 8 min read
How much deposit do you need for a buy-to-let mortgage?
Deposit requirements aren't just a percentage, they're a function of rental cover, LTV cap, structure, and lender pricing. The numbers, explained.
Published 19 May 2026 · Read →
Guide · 11 min read
Limited company SPV vs personal name buy-to-let: which is right for you?
For most higher-rate landlords, the SPV beats personal name. But not always. The decision framework, with numbers, every BTL investor needs to see.
Published 19 May 2026 · Read →
Guide · 9 min read
Buy-to-let stress test explained: how lenders decide how much you can borrow
The single most important calculation in BTL underwriting, broken down with worked examples, the typical thresholds, and the structural trick for stretching leverage.
Published 19 May 2026 · Read →
Guide · 11 min read
The 100+ BTL lender panel decoded: who actually lends to whom in 2026
High-street, specialist, building society, private bank, four categories, four risk appetites, four pricing curves. The lender map every BTL borrower needs to see.
Published 19 May 2026 · Read →
Guide · 10 min read
Holiday let mortgages: how they differ from standard BTL
Holiday-let mortgages survived the 2025 FHL tax abolition, the mortgage market is intact, the tax break is gone. What that means for landlords looking at a holiday-let purchase.
Published 19 May 2026 · Read →
Guide · 10 min read
Bridge-to-let: when bridging into a buy-to-let mortgage makes sense
A bridge into a term BTL costs 1-2% per month plus fees. Worth it when the value-add is real; expensive when it isn't. The honest decision framework.
Published 19 May 2026 · Read →
Guide · 9 min read
Stamp duty on buy-to-let: SDLT, LBTT, LTT and the 5% additional dwelling surcharge
The single biggest cost line on a BTL purchase after the deposit, and the one most landlords under-budget. The three-nation breakdown with current 2026 thresholds.
Published 19 May 2026 · Read →
Guide · 11 min read
Why your BTL mortgage application gets declined: the 10 reasons we see most
A BTL decline isn't one thing, it's usually a combination of three or four. The ranked list from the broker desk, plus the underwriter's actual reasoning.
Published 19 May 2026 · Read →
Guide · 10 min read
MEES and EPC C requirements: what BTL landlords need to know for 2030
MEES policy is uncertain; lender underwriting isn't. Most specialist BTL lenders already treat EPC C as the underwriting expectation. What that means for landlords now.
Published 19 May 2026 · Read →
Guide · 11 min read
HMO mortgages: small HMO vs large HMO finance
HMO finance splits into two markets: standard-BTL-acceptable small HMO (3-4 bed) and specialist-only large HMO (5+ bed with mandatory licence). The rules and the lender pool.
Published 19 May 2026 · Read →
Guide · 10 min read
Section 24 explained: how the mortgage interest restriction hits landlord profit
Section 24 changed the maths for personally-held BTL, particularly for higher-rate taxpayers. What the rule actually says, who it hits, and what to do.
Published 19 May 2026 · Read →
More guides coming
We publish new guides monthly across buy-to-let rates, HMO and MUFB finance, limited-company SPV structuring, holiday let mortgages, MEES regulation, Renters Rights Bill, portfolio landlord underwriting, and specific market-area analyses. Every guide is written by Matt Lenzie from the broker desk, drawn from cases packaged this month, not generic explainer content.
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