Three major lenders have advanced their buy-to-let (BTL) mortgage offerings this week, extending fresh opportunities to landlords amid ongoing affordability challenges. Landbay, Foundation Home Loans (FHL), and HSBC each unveiled new or revised products designed to support landlords in managing costs effectively while navigating a competitive market landscape.

Landbay has notably expanded its Premier range with two new like-for-like remortgage products aiming to ease financial pressure on landlords during renewal periods. These include a two-year fixed-rate remortgage priced at 4.49% with a 2% fee, available up to 75% loan-to-value (LTV), alongside a product transfer option for existing customers approaching reversion at 4.54%, carrying the same fee and LTV cap. Both products cover a broad loan size spectrum, from £30,000 to £2 million, thereby catering to a wide array of portfolio sizes. Stress testing for affordability is set at either the pay rate or 4.50%, whichever is higher. Rob Stanton, Landbay’s sales and distribution director, emphasised that these offerings directly address the current market difficulties landlords face, especially regarding affordability. He highlighted that the new deals provide landlords with much-needed "breathing space" during remortgaging and equip brokers with more effective tools to secure deals promptly.

Foundation Home Loans has also trimmed rates across its suite of holiday let products, targeting landlords within the resilient short-stay rental sector. The lender cut its two- and five-year fixed core holiday let rates by 0.10%, bringing pricing to 6.24% for five-year fixes and 6.54% for two-year fixes, both up to 75% LTV. Additionally, the limited-edition five-year fixed rate product—tailored for higher-value loans starting at £250,000—has been reduced to 5.99% with fees simplified to a flat £7,995 instead of the previous 2.5%. FHL’s product design incorporates verified holiday rental income in affordability assessments, a distinctive feature enhancing appeal in the holiday let market. Tom Jacobs, FHL’s director of product, noted that sustained demand from both domestic and international visitors underpins strong occupancy and yields, justifying these refined pricing strategies which improve accessibility and attractiveness across the sector.

Meanwhile, HSBC made its mark by introducing a two-year fixed rate at 4.34% specifically for second-time buyers up to 60% LTV. The deal carries no product fee, includes a free valuation, and offers flexible overpayment options, earning high praise from comparison service Moneyfactscompare.co.uk, which rated it as ‘Excellent.’ Adam French, Moneyfactscompare’s head of news, acknowledged that HSBC’s recent adjustments across much of its landlord product range reinforce its commitment to competitive landlord mortgage solutions.

These developments come against the backdrop of a gradually evolving buy-to-let market where lenders are responding to persistent affordability pressures, tightening lending criteria, and changing landlord needs. Landbay has also been active in reducing rates across its broader BTL product range, with cuts up to 0.10% on two- and five-year fixed rate products, excluding large HMOs and tracker products. This complements their introduction of new two-year fixed and tracker options in their like-for-like remortgage range and a lowering of stress-testing criteria to the pay rate, allowing greater affordability for borrowers. Similarly, other lenders like Keystone Property Finance have made rate reductions and simplified product codes to streamline the application process, reflecting an industry trend towards enhanced accessibility and broker facilitation.

Taken together, these product enhancements demonstrate lenders' strategic efforts to support landlords, from portfolio holders managing multiple properties to specialist short-stay operators, as market conditions remain complex and borrowing costs continue to influence investment decisions significantly.

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Source: Noah Wire Services