Lender re-enters buy to let “to help landlords meet EPC targets”

Lender re-enters buy to let “to help landlords meet EPC targets”

Specialist mortgage lender Pepper Money is returning to the Buy to Let market with a renewed product suite centred around maximising what it calls “inclusive mortgage solutions for landlords.”

Pepper says its Buy to Let offering will enable limited companies and individual landlords with up to 10 properties in their portfolio to take out a mortgage, with rates starting from 4.99% and a maximum £4m total borrowing with Pepper. Furthermore, Pepper has improved their maximum loan size, which is now available up to £2m at 65% LTV or below.

With no minimum income required, the product provides an invaluable way for landlords to raise capital. For example, with the UK government requiring a minimum rating of C for all rental properties in England and Wales from 2030, landlords may use capital raising to fund renovations to bring a property’s EPC up to spec.  

Pepper Money’s Buy to Let mortgages offer a loan to value (LTV) of up to 80% LTV for properties with a current Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of A-C, 75% LTV for those with an EPC of D, and 70% LTV where the rating is an E.  

Personal bank statements, business bank statements and proof of income are not required to get a Buy to Let mortgage from Pepper Money. Instead, the focus is on income receivable from the property as assessed by an independent RICS surveyor, rather than what the tenant is currently paying.

Pepper claims this helps landlords — especially those impacted by higher tax rates — have a clearer path to borrowing. What’s more, Pepper Money also accepts multiple sources of funds to pay for deposits, including gifts, directors’ loans and existing equity for limited company purchases and there is no requirement to provide a credit score. With terms of up to 35 years and lending available to age 85, Pepper’s Buy to Let range is designed to support both younger investors and experienced landlords.

Paul Adams, sales director, says: “We know the market is tough for landlords right now, with an increasingly complex regulatory environment to navigate and rising affordability challenges. With no requirement for a minimum income, bank statements, or credit scores, our new Buy to Let offering is designed to support landlords to raise capital for a range of purposes, including consolidating debts to reduce monthly outgoings, or bringing their property’s EPC rating up to a minimum of C ahead of the UK Government’s planned 2030 deadline.”

This article is taken from Landlord Today