The mortgage market
The full UK buy-to-let market is available in England: mainstream lenders, specialists, limited-company and portfolio lenders. Rates and criteria are the same nationally; what differs is the local rent-to-value ratio, which decides how much the rent will support. High-value, low-yield areas (much of London and the South East) are where the 75% loan-to-value cap is rarely the limit and the rent always is. Rental cover.
Tax on purchases
Stamp Duty Land Tax with the 5-point additional-property surcharge on every band. On a £250,000 buy-to-let: £2,500 standard plus £12,500 surcharge, £15,000 in total. A remortgage carries no SDLT.
Tenancies
The Renters' Rights Act reformed tenancies in England in 2026: assured shorthold tenancies and Section 21 "no-fault" evictions have gone, replaced by periodic assured tenancies with defined grounds for possession, limits on rent increases and a landlord ombudsman. Lenders' terms have been updated to match; a broker will confirm the tenancy paperwork the lender expects.
Licensing and standards
Mandatory HMO licensing for five or more people in two or more households, plus additional and selective licensing in many councils. EPC minimum E, with government proposals to require C for rented homes by 2030. Gas safety, EICR, smoke and CO alarms, right-to-rent checks and deposit protection all apply.
A note on the numbers. Rental cover ratios, stress rates, loan-to-value limits and fees are typical of the market at the time of writing (2026) and differ from lender to lender. Tax rules are for individuals and companies resident in the UK and change with each Budget. This is general information, not advice: a broker will tell you what applies to your property, and an accountant what applies to your tax.
Common questions
Is buy-to-let regulated in England?
Most buy-to-let lending is not FCA-regulated anywhere in the UK. Consumer buy-to-let (where you or family have lived in the property) is. The broker should be FCA-authorised regardless.
Do I pay stamp duty on a remortgage?
No. SDLT applies to purchases and to transfers into a company, not to refinancing.
Your deal is ending. Let's get a broker on it.
Two minutes of questions about the property. We match you with a buy-to-let specialist who calls you back, usually within one working day. Free, no obligation.