A Broker’s Guide to Our Buy-to-Let Updates, Incentives, and Enhancements

Ross Bennett, Director of Mortgage Operations and LendInvest, shares insights on the state of the Buy-to-Let market in the UK and outlines LendInvest’s comprehensive new set of Buy-to-Let incentives and enhanced criteria.

As 2025 ends and the new year begins, it would be safe to assume that the buy-to-let subset of the UK property market could be classified as a “recovery.” According to the Intermediary Mortgage Lenders Association (IMLA), there was a 15% increase in BTL lending, with an estimated gross lending amount totalling £39 billion. 

BTL house purchase lending increased by 10% to an estimated £11 billion, and remortgages surged to £26.5 billion, up 16% compared to the previous year.

In 2026, the IMLA is forecasting another steady rise for the BTL lending books, with a 13% increase to £44 billion. It’s not just the low interest rates that will stimulate the growth. The recent Royal Assent of the Renters’ Rights Act could create a churn with more amateur landlords leaving the market, giving way to more professional and portfolio landlords purchasing properties with improved rental yields and opportunities. 

At LendInvest, we’ve always been committed to making the BTL process as simple as possible for brokers and their clients, no matter if they are a first-time landlord looking to break into the market or seasoned portfolio landlords looking to seize the opportunity of taking on more HMOs and MUFBs. 

That’s why we have recently introduced new products and made criteria enhancements to our existing BTL range of financing. 

New Incentivised Products

Options for brokers and their clients are a huge factor when it comes to getting the right line of financing. A good broker is one who understands what each lender can offer and is on the lookout for the best solutions for each individual case. 

Some clients seek the lowest rates, some look for lower up-front costs and others look for cash support for legal fees or the costs of furnishing a new property. 

That’s why we recently released a range of BTL products that offer incentives like cashback or a free standard valuation, enabling borrowers to save money while taking on their next property project. 

These new products are for standard properties and are available on a 5-year fixed rate at 75% LTV and offer:

• 5% fee, with an initial rate of 4.84%, and £400 cashback 
• 5% fee, with an initial rate of 4.84%, and free standard valuation
• 2% fee, with an initial rate of 5.49%, and £400 cashback
• 2% fee, with an initial rate of 5.49% and free standard valuation

More Options for British Expat Property Investors

Back in 2024, we introduced products for British Expats looking to expand their existing property portfolios. For Brits living abroad, the UK property market remains an attractive asset class. 

Expats look to UK property investments as a way to generate income and/or fund retirement. However, the necessity of rigid corporate structures and strict income thresholds has often kept high-quality expat investors from mortgage approvals. 

To anticipate the shifts in the market, we overhauled our expat BTL proposition to attract the best investors living outside of the UK.

Individual Applications Now Accepted

Previously, applications were limited to Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) or Limited Companies. While the corporate structure may be beneficial for tax optimisation, we understand that many investors value administrative simplicity and prefer holding property in their own name to avoid the burden of annual corporate filing and governance. 

That’s why we are pleased to confirm that we now take on applications from UK Individuals living abroad, alongside SPVs, Limited Companies and LLPs. This expanded choice allows for a more flexible approach tailored to your client’s financial strategy.

Removal of the £50k Minimum Income Threshold

We recognise the inherent complexity of expat income, which can fluctuate due to currency exchange rates, bonuses or varying tax-efficient employment structures. The rigid £50,000 income threshold often acted as an arbitrary barrier, potentially excluding high-quality, capable investors who do not receive a standard salary.

As a result, we have completely removed the minimum £50,000 income requirement. For experienced expat landlords, we will now determine affordability based on the overall strength of the application and the rental coverage, providing a truly flexible lending approach.

Enhancing the Criteria to Cut the Complex for BTL Investors

The Buy-to-Let market is evolving, and we believe your lending options should do the same. We’ve listened closely to brokers about challenges facing today’s investors, from the complexity of multi-unit blocks to the high barriers for first-time landlords, and we’ve responded with an overhaul to our BTL criteria enhancements. 

These changes aren’t just about moving the needle; they are about opening doors that were previously locked, providing the speed, flexibility, and common-sense underwriting that modern landlords demand.

Here are all the changes:

• No minimum income requirement across all BTL products
• Large MUFBs increased up to 20 units
• Accepting first-time landlords for large HMO/MUFB and Holiday Lets
• Block exposure increased to 75% of the total units, or 15 units
• Minimum unit size now at 25sqm, down from 30sqm (MUFBs only)
• ICR for HMO/MUFB basic rate taxpayers and Limited Companies reduced from 130% to 125%
• Title insurance now available for loans up to £2 million, including large HMOs/MUFBs and in Scotland

Whether your client is looking for large-scale HMOs, diversifying into the thriving holiday let market or maximising affordability on a new acquisition, our refreshed BTL proposition is built to say “yes” more often. By stripping away restrictive income requirements and refining our approach to unit sizes and block exposure, we’re empowering your clients to take on larger, more ambitious projects with total confidence.

Delivering a Seamless Experience from Mortgage Application to Renewal

At LendInvest, we know that great criteria is only half the story; the experience of securing and managing a loan matters just as much. That is why we have remained committed to making sure you have access to our expert teams of BDMs, underwriters and pre and post case managers that can support you and your client during every chapter of their own story.

We have rolled out significant updates to our mortgages portal, making the application journey more intuitive, reducing manual data entry, and providing brokers with real-time transparency at every stage of the deal.

Our commitment to your clients doesn’t end at completion. We understand that in a shifting market, certainty is a valuable currency. To support long-term stability for your landlords, we have drastically simplified our Product Transfer process. Whether your client is reaching the end of their term or looking to transition onto a new rate, our seamless approach removes the traditional friction of switching, allowing you to secure their next deal with just a few clicks.

The UK property market of 2026 is full of opportunity, but it requires a lender that can move as fast as the headlines. With our enhanced criteria, incentivised products, and a portal built for speed, we are ready to help you and your clients turn these market shifts into meaningful growth.