Buy-to-let stress test and ICR: how rental cover is worked out
The interest coverage ratio decides how much a lender will offer on a rental property. Here is the rule, the stress rate and a worked example.
Buy-to-Let LedgerMortgages · Stamp duty · Landlord tax
Buy-to-Let
Buy-to-let mortgages and landlord finance, explained plainly
Buy-to-let mortgages and landlord finance, explained plainly. Deposits and loan-to-value, lender stress tests, stamp duty, mortgage interest relief, limited companies and landlord rules: clear guides checked against GOV.UK, HMRC, the Bank of England and the FCA.
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Buy-to-let mortgage deposit and LTV: how much do you need?
How much deposit a buy-to-let mortgage needs: loan-to-value explained, the usual 25% minimum, how lenders size the loan, and which buy-to-let loans are regulated.
75%typical maximum loan-to-value
25%usual minimum deposit
£11bnbuy-to-let purchase lending forecast, 2026
Topics
6 guides
01 / 2 guidesBuy-to-let mortgagesDeposits and loan-to-value, rental stress tests and remortgaging, explained without the sales pitch.
02 / 3 guidesLandlord taxStamp duty surcharge, mortgage interest relief and owning through a limited company.
03 / 1 guidesLandlord rulesDeposits, EPCs, gas and electrical safety and the Renters’ Rights Act.
Latest guides
Independent guides, checked and sourcedLandlord obligations in England: deposits, EPCs and safety checks
From the deposit to the gas certificate and the Renters’ Rights Act, the legal duties every landlord in England must meet, with the deadlines.
Stamp duty on buy-to-let in 2026: the 5% surcharge explained
Additional properties pay five points more in every Stamp Duty Land Tax band. The rates, a worked example and the cases where you can get the extra back.
Section 24 explained: mortgage interest tax relief for landlords
Individual landlords can no longer deduct mortgage interest from rent. They get a basic rate tax credit instead, which rises to 22% from April 2027.
Limited company buy-to-let: tax, stamp duty and the trade-offs
Owning rental property through a company changes how interest, profits and withdrawals are taxed. A clear comparison with personal ownership, figures from GOV.UK.