Buy to Let Mortgages are mortgages specifically designed for people who want to invest in the property market by purchasing one or more houses and letting them out to tenants. The Owner is then able to benefit from any appreciation in the capital value of the house itself. They are also likely to be able to maintain the property and meet much of the loan repayment from the revenue realised by letting. The buy to let phenomenon has driven house prices higher over the last few years while making a broader section of rental accommodation available.

When buying to let it is important to know the market in which you will be trying to let your property. It may be worth getting help from a letting agent who knows the area, what is in demand, what the likely pitfalls will be. By planning carefully and purchasing wisely you ought to get a property which requires little maintenance and is attractive to tenants. Avoiding void periods, i.e. time between tenants where you receive no rental income, will be your primary concern once you have purchased the house on a buy to let basis. While not inescapable, you are wise to do everything you can in advance to minimise the likely length of these periods.