What Is Let-to-Buy and Is It Right for You?
What Does 'Let-to-Buy' Mean?
Let-to-buy is a niche mortgage strategy designed for homeowners who want to rent out their current property in order to buy a new home to live in. Rather than selling, you keep your existing home, switch it to a buy-to-let mortgage, and use the equity or rental income to support the mortgage on your next residential property.
How Does Let-to-Buy Work in Practice?
Here’s how it typically works:
- You remortgage your current home to a buy-to-let product.
- The lender assesses potential rental income to approve the loan.
- Equity released from this property can be used as a deposit on your new residential home.
- You apply for a residential mortgage on the new home.
This lets you build a property portfolio without needing to sell – a smart move for many growing families or first-time investors.
Who Should Consider Let-to-Buy?
Let-to-buy is ideal if:
- You want to move home but keep your existing property
- You have equity built up and want to retain it
- You’d like to enter the rental market without losing your current asset
It’s especially popular in areas like Manchester, where property values continue to grow, and rental demand remains strong.
Mortgage Requirements for Let-to-Buy
Lenders will assess both loans when you apply, so you’ll need to:
- Show sufficient rental income (typically 125%–145% of mortgage payments)
- Pass affordability checks on the new residential mortgage
- Have at least 25% equity in the property you’re letting
Sound complicated? At Novellus Property Management, we support landlords from start to finish – including mortgage transition, letting, and full management services.
Let-to-Buy and Letting Regulations
Once your property becomes a rental, you’ll need to comply with:
- Tenant safety regulations (Gas Safety checks, Electrical Safety checks etc)
- Energy performance standards
- Proper landlord insurance
- Right-to-rent checks
Our fully managed service ensures you’re always compliant while maximising returns.
Conclusion: Let-to-Buy Can Build Wealth - We’ll Handle the Rest
Let-to-buy can certainly be an effective strategy for creating long-term wealth – but it comes with complexity. At Novellus Property Management, we help you handle everything from preparing the property to managing tenants and keeping your investment stress-free.
📍 Whether you’re based in Manchester or nearby, explore our landlord services or contact our team to get started.
