Buy-to-let mortgages is common way in which most landlords in the UK raise money to buy properties which can be further rented to earn them a steady income in the long term. Though the current recession and resulting credit crunch has shrunk the market as also the rate of loan approvals, some good deals for buy to let commercial mortgage are still available if you know how to go about it correctly. This article will help you clear some doubts with regard to buy to let mortgages in the UK.

What are buy-to-let mortgages?

It is much similar to the standard mortgages in terms of rules and regulations and interest rates but there is one big difference - buy to let mortgage lenders in UK take potential rental income into account when deciding on how much to lend.

This annual rental income ought to cover somewhere between 120 percent and 150 percent of the repayments. The excess rent would go in servicing the maintenance and would cover the lean months when there will be no occupancy of the property and hence no income.

How do buy-to-let mortgages work?

As discussed above, lenders take into account not only the income you are earning at the time of applying but also the potential rental income from the property. Repayments under buy to let mortgages usually involve only the accrued interest. To put it simply, it means only the accrued interest is repaid with each repayment installment. The principal and any pending interest are paid at the end of mortgage term, most often using the sales proceeds of the property in question.

Lenders consider buy to let mortgage a riskier proposition than the normal property mortgage. Hence you will need to make a larger deposit for a buy-to-let mortgage than a standard mortgage.

Reasons for the popularity of buy to let mortgages

Here are the reasons for the popularity of buy to let mortgages in UK:

- Good residential or commercial properties are excellent long term investment opportunities with significant appreciation potential.

- Since a buy to let property is meant for renting out, the rental income takes care of the repayments and the maintenance costs, leaving the landlord largely unburdened with repayments.

- Rise in the overall population, high divorce rate, and the growing number of students going in for higher education have pushed up the demand for rented accommodation.

- The ongoing recession has forced many former house owners and hard-hit businessmen scout for rented premises.

Tips for buy-to-let landlords

- Don't go into this without a thorough knowledge and preparation about buy to let mortgages as looking after a property and dealing with tenants are tricky issues.

- Don't finalize any property just because it is cheap. Find the right property which has enough potential to attract regular tenants.

- Make sure that the property meets all the legal requirements stipulated under various laws such as environmental law, real estate law, etc.

- Prepare well before filing the application for buy to let mortgage as any major discrepancy may ruin your prospects.

- Make sure that the property is adequately insured.

- Get in touch with professionals such as buy to let mortgage advisors, lawyers, accountants to help you prepare the supporting documents.

One of the most important things to remember is to find the right lender since good lenders will not only help you with the documentation, they will also help you in your search for the right property. One great way to do so is by getting in touch with mortgage brokers who are well connected and are respected in the lender circle.