Limited company buy-to-let mortgage

A limited company mortgage is a mortgage taken for investment purposes by a limited company as opposed to you as an individual.

A mortgage can be taken by a limited company specifically set up to hold residential property, also known as a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV). A mortgage can also be taken out by a limited company that is used for other business activities, such as a dental practice or an accounting practice.

In both cases, the company will be raising funds to purchase a property to let as an investment.

As a company mortgage can also be obtained for a Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) or a Trust, our specialists have access to lenders that provide financing to these types of company structures as well.

A Special Purpose Vehicle is the most common type of company structure and is set up solely for the purpose of buying, selling, and letting properties. It cannot be diversified to other areas of business.

Benefits of a limited company buy-to-let mortgage

Many landlords choose to operate their investment portfolio through a limited company SPV as it offers a range of benefits not available to independent landlords:

• Tax benefits – a limited company can be an efficient way to reduce your tax bill from your property business, especially if you are a higher or additional rate taxpayer. Savings can be made both through paying corporation tax (which is at a lower rate than income tax) and due to tax-deductible charges that are not available as an individual landlord, such as mortgage interest*.
• Deposit availability – it is possible for a landlord to lend a director’s loan to the limited company to pay for the deposit on investment properties.*
• Joint investment – It can be an easy way to own multiple properties with other landlords.
• Separating financial business risk from personal liability – A limited company is a separate legal entity, so all properties owned by it are treated as separate assets. By owning property in a limited company, you will remove personal liability and personal property risk from business dealings. However, please note that some lenders may require a personal guarantee from you.*

*Please consult an accountant to offer you personal tax advice.

To get a limited company buy-to-let mortgage, you will need an SPV already set up, or you will need to be willing to set one up alongside the mortgage application process. We provide advice from the whole mortgage market, so we are always up to date with the best mortgage rates for limited company buy-to-let mortgages.

For a limited company buy-to-let mortgage application, your limited company must be registered as a special-purpose vehicle using one of the following SIC codes:

• 68201 Renting & operating of housing association real estate
• 68209 Other letting & operating of own or leased real estate
• 68320 Management of real estate on a fee or contract basis
• 68100 Buying & selling own real estate

Other criteria are generally the same as a traditional buy-to-let standard mortgage, although some lenders impose a maximum number of directors on the limited company, usually four. Whether you are buying your first property or growing your portfolio, we can offer you the best limited company buy-to-let mortgage range of options for your specific situation.

Limited company buy-to-let mortgages can offer even more benefits for experienced and portfolio landlords, as some lenders offer specific products to landlords owning four or more buy-to-let properties.

As with any other mortgage type, your circumstances can impact the rates you get, as well as the LTV (loan to value) of your borrowing. The property will also be considered and may also be deemed a higher or lower risk, which may have an impact on the interest rate you are offered.

Here, at Home of Mortgages, we specialise in buy-to-let purchases and SPV mortgages, so we can guide you through the application process and answer all your questions about this unique process.

We have access to a range of lenders who can offer buy-to-let mortgages via a limited company, which means we can compare them easily to secure the best rate in the market for you.