First-time landlord mortgage
- Buy your first rental property with confidence
- Understand deposit requirements and lender criteria
- Compare first-time landlord mortgage options across the market
Ways to buy your first rental property
Buy in your own name
Buy your first rental property with a buy-to-let mortgage held personally.
- Compare options for first-time landlords
- Check deposit, rent and affordability requirements
- See how lenders assess your income and experience
Explore personal buy-to-let →
Buy through a limited company
Purchase your first rental property through a limited company structure.
- Compare lenders that support company buy-to-let
- Review whether the structure fits your plans
- Check how deposits, rates and criteria may differ
Explore limited company buy-to-let →
Let out your current home
Rent out your current home when you move and buy somewhere new to live.
- Check whether you need consent to let
- Compare let-to-buy and buy-to-let options
- Review how rental income may affect your next mortgage
Explore let-to-buy options →
Use equity for your deposit
Release equity from your home or another property to help fund your first rental purchase.
- See how much equity you may be able to access
- Compare remortgage and further advance options
- Check how extra borrowing affects affordability
Explore equity for buy-to-let →
The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate some buy-to-let mortgages.
Could this property generate the return you expect?
- Calculate gross rental yield
- Estimate potential investment returns
- Compare different property scenarios
What lenders look for when assessing first-time landlords
First-time landlord criteria can differ across the market, and how lenders assess landlords can vary by applicant, property and borrowing structure.
Deposit size
Buy-to-let mortgages generally require larger deposits than residential ones. The exact deposit and LTV requirements vary by lender, property and circumstances.
Expected rental income
Your personal income
Credit history
Existing financial commitments
Property type
First-time landlord essentials
Buying your first rental property
New to buy-to-let? Start with deposits, rental checks, lender criteria and how buy-to-let differs from a residential mortgage.
Start with the guide →
First rental property costs
Plan beyond the deposit. Check the main costs, including stamp duty, legal fees, mortgage costs, insurance and periods without tenants.
View the cost breakdown→
Landlord mistakes to avoid
Check the common issues that can affect costs, rental demand, lender approval and long-term returns before you commit.
Avoid common mistakes →
See what lenders might offer. Get an Agreement in Principle
- Know how much you could borrow
- Show sellers you're financially ready
- Browse homes within your budget
Arrange your first buy-to-let mortgage
Muttuo compares more than 20,000 mortgage options from more than 100 lenders across the market. Our advisers will help you find the right mortgage based on your needs and circumstances.
How we work in 3 easy steps
Getting a mortgage can feel like a big step, but the process is much easier when you know what happens next.
Muttuo Mortgages helps you compare your options, understand what lenders may look for and move from early advice to application with clear support throughout.
Share a few details with Team Muttuo about the property you’re considering, your expected rental income, and how you plan to structure the purchase.
Our mortgage experts will outline your options and compare over 20,000 deals from more than 100 lenders to find the right solution for you.
Leave it to Team Muttuo; we’ll manage the paperwork and application process, liaise with the lender, and guide you through until your mortgage completes.
Why choose Muttuo Mortgages
Voted best mortgage broker for multiple years, Muttuo combines modern technology with award-winning mortgage expertise. We combine smart tools with real advisers to make buying, moving and remortgaging simpler.
Options from 100+ lenders
Clear guidance on landlord borrowing
Support throughout the application
Help with complex property investments
Buy-to-let timeline
- Review your investment plans and expected rental income (instant)
- Estimate rental yield and borrowing position (instant)
- Compare buy-to-let lenders and mortgage options (1 to 3 days)
- Submit your mortgage application (around 1 week)
- Property valuation takes place (around 2 weeks)
- Receive your mortgage offer (around 2 weeks)
- Legal work and lender checks are completed (2 to 4 weeks)
- Your property purchase completes
Want a more detailed breakdown?
Stamp duty calculator
- Calculate stamp duty on your purchase
- BTL mortgages incur a 5% surcharge
- Understand your total buying costs
First-time landlord guide
- How buy-to-let mortgages work
- Rental income requirements and lender stress tests
- Ownership structures for first-time landlords
The latest mortgage news
First-time landlord questions answered
Practical answers to the questions that matter when financing your first rental property.
Can you get a buy-to-let mortgage with no landlord experience?
Yes, some lenders accept first-time landlords.
You do not necessarily need previous experience with tenants, but your options may depend on whether you already own a home or have managed a mortgage before.
Lenders will also consider your deposit, expected rent, personal income, credit history and the property itself.
How much deposit do you need for your first buy-to-let?
A deposit of around 25% is common.
For a £200,000 property, this would mean contributing £50,000. Some lenders may accept a smaller deposit, while putting down more could increase your mortgage options and reduce the rate available.
Purchase fees and taxes will need to be paid separately.
How do lenders decide how much you can borrow?
Expected rental income is usually the main factor.
Lenders normally check whether the rent covers a set percentage of the mortgage interest at a stressed rate.
This is commonly around 125% to 145%. Some lenders also require a minimum personal income, while others do not. Your credit history, existing commitments, deposit and property will also affect the assessment.
What does buying in your personal name mean?
It means you own the property directly rather than through a company.
The mortgage and property will be held in your individual name or jointly with another person. This can be simpler to arrange, but it is not automatically the most suitable or cheapest ownership route.
Mortgage costs, taxation and your future property plans should be considered before you commit, with appropriate tax and legal advice.
What costs should a first-time landlord budget for?
The deposit is only one part of the overall cost.
You may also need to budget for property-purchase tax, lender or product fees, a valuation and survey, conveyancing, mortgage advice and insurance.
Ongoing costs can include repairs, safety checks, licensing, service charges, letting or management fees and periods without tenants.
In England and Northern Ireland, first-time buyer relief normally does not apply to a property bought solely to let because it will not be your main residence. Scotland and Wales have different property taxes.
What do you need before applying?
Prepare your finances and check the property before making a commitment.
You will normally need evidence of your deposit, income, identity and address, along with details of your existing borrowing. The property price and expected monthly rent will also be required.
An adviser can assess these figures and may arrange an Agreement in Principle before you make an offer, although an AIP is not a mortgage offer or guarantee of approval.
Things to consider
Mortgage availability and borrowing depend on your circumstances, the property, expected rental income, deposit and lender criteria. Rental income and property values can fall, while void periods and other costs may reduce your returns. Calculator results are estimates only and are not mortgage, investment or tax advice. Tax treatment depends on your circumstances and may change. An AIP is not a mortgage offer or guarantee of approval.
Your property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.
How to apply
Call Team Muttuo
Talk through your deposit, expected rent and first buy-to-let mortgage with an adviser. Lines open Monday to Saturday, 9am–5pm.
Start online
Share your deposit and expected rental income to begin exploring your buy-to-let options.