As with standard mortgages and other borrowing, a lender will tailor an offer depending on the personal circumstances of the applicant. The amount that can be borrowed on a second charge mortgage will depend on:

• The applicant’s income and expenditure – An applicant will need to prove their income level and meet affordability checks
• The applicant’s credit history
• The level of equity available within the property – The equity is the value within a property that is owned outright, for example, the difference between the total property value and any mortgage owed
• The rental income on the property

Typically, lending is capped at 75% loan to value (LTV) of the property value for a buy to let mortgage however there are differences between lenders.

Some lenders may be prepared to offer second charge mortgages on small values as little as £10,000 however should your requirements be needing finance for less than £25,000 it may be worth comparing the terms against a personal unsecured loan.

Whereas there are a handful of mortgage lenders that may even offer 100% of the property’s value with a second charge mortgage depending on the applicant’s personal circumstances.

The total amount that can be offered on a second charge mortgage will likely vary between lenders and therefore expert financial advisers can assist with navigating the market as they have in-depth knowledge of lenders terms and recent borrowing.

As with most financial options, there will be various factors involved and considerations to evaluate including:

• Interest rates – Typically, the interests offered on the second charge buy to let mortgages are low in comparison with other lending methods and therefore this type of financial product can be a cost-effective way of raising capital for a number of purposes.
• Permission – The first mortgage lender would need to be contacted as part of the application process in order to grant their permission for a second charge to be added to the property.

Most property owners can apply for a second charge buy to let mortgage and their application will be reviewed and analysed against the lender’s borrowing criteria and affordability checks.

The main criteria that a lender will be interested in is the level of equity available within the property for the loan to be secured against, and the income of the applicant to cover the repayments.

As we have briefly mentioned, an applicant does not need to live in the property to apply for a second charge mortgage, and in some circumstances, even further borrowing can be made such as a third or fourth mortgage on the same property.

Although on face value, the second charge buy to let mortgages are available for all, it is highly recommended that specialised financial advice is obtained before making an application to ensure that a second charge mortgage is the most cost-effective approach to achieve the objectives and that an application is likely to be accepted.

The interest rates on buy-to-let second charge mortgages are typically lower than other forms of finance and for this reason, are a financially wise option for landlords looking for a loan.

The exact rate you will be able to secure depends on a variety of factors. For example, borrowers with a healthy credit history borrowing an amount regarded as affordable at a low loan-to-value (LTV) will usually be offered at extremely competitive rates as you will be regarded as a low-risk applicant.

If you have a poor credit history or a high LTV, then the rates offered to you are likely to be high to pay back for the added risk for the lender.

Still, even those with poor credit can attain a loan from specialist lenders who specialise in receiving applications from individuals with bad credit. Get in touch with us today, for a free no-obligation consultation with one of our expert advisers.

Our advisers are used to working with customers with poor credit history and can help you navigate the entire UK loan market to find a suitable lender with the most competitive terms for your circumstances.

Just like a regular mortgage, you submit an application to a lender via a broker or directly. The next steps involve the lender assessing your application and looking into key details such as affordability, credit history etc.

Can you use a new lender? 

Yes! Many people assume that you must take a second charge mortgage out with your current mortgage provider, but you don’t. It can be much more advantageous to search the whole market to find a lender offering the most competitive rates, which our expert advisers will be more than happy to help you with.