Buy-to-Let Watch Episode 04 | Previously on Buy to Let Watch, we explored how lenders were driving innovation across the market. In this episode, we revisit the theme with an updated look at Buy to Let Watch Episode 04, highlighting the latest improvements shaping the buy-to-let mortgage landscape.

The buy-to-let sector continues to evolve, with lenders refreshing their product ranges and launching new solutions designed to support both individual investors and portfolio landlords. This renewed activity demonstrates a strong commitment to flexibility, choice and sustainable growth within the BTL space.

One notable update comes from Foundation Home Loans, which introduced a competitive landlord offer featuring free valuations and no application fees for portfolio clients completing a remortgage. Fleet Mortgages has also strengthened its position by increasing Loan-to-Value (LTV) ratios to 80 per cent across selected buy-to-let mortgage products, giving brokers more viable options when structuring client strategies.

For advisers supporting investors through these changes, our dedicated team can assist with lender criteria support, product sourcing and market updates. You can explore our specialist buy-to-let mortgages page for additional insights and solutions tailored to landlord clients.

Exciting Improvements in Buy-to-Let

The buy-to-let market continues to evolve, and lenders are introducing innovative features designed to help brokers and investors move more quickly. One notable enhancement is the integration of Permitted Development Rights into Precise’s refurbishment bridge offering. This allows property owners to complete light extensions and internal conversions without the need for full planning permission, helping investors progress with smaller projects more efficiently. Crucially, the product supports a wider range of refurbishment deals while providing guaranteed refinance at an agreed level once the improvements are complete.

As processing times for buy-to-let mortgages have lengthened in recent years, particularly for portfolio landlords, lenders are responding with faster and more pragmatic solutions. West One, traditionally known for bridging and second charge loans, has expanded into the term mortgage space with a new BTL range. For remortgage clients, it offers a streamlined in-house legal process that enables cases to be completed shortly after the mortgage offer is issued.

UTB has adopted a similar strategy across its term mortgage range and introduced an attractive incentive for brokers who use its bridging finance. The lender now provides free desktop valuations for its BTL bridge products on properties valued up to £1 million and with loan-to-value ratios up to 55 per cent. These improvements reduce costs, speed up underwriting and create a smoother pathway for both advisers and investors seeking efficient financing solutions.

For support in sourcing lender criteria or identifying appropriate options for your clients, explore our lender criteria support through our dedicated criteria sourcing service. Brokers can also review the full range of buy-to-let mortgage options available through Connect to ensure clients secure the most suitable outcome.

Streamlining Lending Processes for Faster Buy-to-Let Outcomes

Lenders continue to refine their internal processes to help brokers secure quicker decisions for buy-to-let clients. Vida, for example, has strengthened its workflow by introducing a dedicated team of lending assessors and specialist underwriters for selected partners. For portfolio landlords submitting multiple cases, a single underwriter now manages all applications, improving consistency, communication and turnaround times.

In the property investment space, Funding Circle offers an alternative route for landlords who need fast access to capital for refurbishment or expansion projects. Instead of traditional property-secured lending, they provide unsecured business loans, removing the need for a full valuation or legal processes. This significantly reduces delays and offers a practical option for investors who prioritise speed.

Funding Circle typically secures lending through a personal guarantee rather than a property charge. Loan amounts are assessed using the business’s turnover and profit, with facilities available up to £150,000. For landlords looking to renovate or scale their portfolio, this streamlined approach can deliver funding within one to two weeks, helping them act quickly on investment opportunities.

Faster Offers and Streamlined Lending

The pace of decision-making is becoming increasingly important for landlords and property investors. While the buy-to-let mortgage market has seen steady progress, there is still significant room for innovation that genuinely speeds up the application journey.

In the residential space, early pioneers such as Atom’s Digital Mortgages demonstrated how full digital assessments could transform the process, taking cases from application to offer in a matter of minutes. This shift showed how technology can reduce delays, cut administration and create a smoother experience for both advisers and clients.

There is growing speculation that similar digital underwriting models may soon be extended to commercial lending. If widely adopted, this could reshape how brokers source finance for complex cases and help them deliver outcomes much faster for their clients.

Smart Software by Legal and General

A standout development from the earlier stages of digital transformation was the ability for advisers to carry out on-the-spot property valuations during client meetings. Using Smart Software from Legal & General, advisers can generate instant valuation data, removing uncertainty around property value from the start of the process. This helped speed up lender research, improve accuracy and support more confident decision-making for clients.

At the time, the technology was already being used by several mainstream lenders for internal assessments, and the natural next step was to make these tools available even earlier in the advice journey. Allowing advisers to access valuations upfront created a faster, more transparent and more efficient workflow for both clients and lenders.

JOIN OUR NETWORK