Landlords across the UK are breathing a sigh of relief as three major lenders – Landbay, Kensington Mortgages, and Dudley Building Society – announce significant interest rate reductions on buy-to-let (BTL) mortgages. These cuts will benefit a wide range of property investors, including those with standard properties, Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs), limited companies, and expat borrowers.
Landbay has become the second lender to introduce a new round of rate reductions this month, slashing rates by up to 17 basis points on its Premier range. This includes five-year fixed products for both purchases and remortgages at 75% loan-to-value (LTV), with options starting from 4.45%. Individual landlords and limited companies with up to 15 mortgaged properties will benefit from these competitive financing solutions. Furthermore, five-year fixed remortgage products with a free valuation now begin at 4.49% at 75% LTV, while rates for small HMOs have fallen to 4.84%. According to Rob Stanton, Landbay's sales and distribution director, the aim is to provide brokers with highly competitive solutions across a broad spectrum of landlord requirements.
Kensington Mortgages has also joined the trend, cutting selected buy-to-let rates by up to 25 basis points across its Prime, Prime eKo, Core, HMO, and multi-unit block ranges. These changes apply to both 75% and 80% LTV products. Within the Prime range, two-year fixed rates at 75% LTV now start at 3.49% (with a 5% fee), and five-year Prime fixes at the same LTV begin at 4.59% (with a 5% fee). The lender's Prime eKo products, available for energy-efficient homes with an EPC rating of A, B or C, are priced 5 basis points below corresponding standard Prime rates, encouraging investment in greener properties. According to Andy Bickers, commercial director at Kensington, these changes strengthen their proposition for diverse landlord needs.
Dudley Building Society has made the most significant adjustments, reducing some buy-to-let and expat mortgage rates by up to 110 basis points. For landlords, their five-year BTL fixed rate at 80% LTV has decreased from 6.40% to 5.63%. Furthermore, the five-year expat buy-to-let product at 70% LTV now stands at 5.68%, down from 6.30%. These reductions cover both purchase and remortgage cases, including discounted products and residential interest-only mortgages. According to Paul Purewal, Dudley's head of intermediary relations, these enhancements provide brokers with more competitive options for a wide array of clients, including those abroad.
These rate cuts come at a critical time for the UK housing market, which is navigating various economic pressures. While house price growth has softened in some areas, the rental market remains strong, with demand often outstripping supply. Mortgage rates have generally stabilised or seen slight falls in recent months following a period of volatility, offering a degree of relief to both homeowners and landlords.