'Top Slicing' mortgages may allow more lettings sector borrowing

Consumer organisation Which? says a handful of buy to let mortgage lenders have found a way of helping so-called ‘portfolio landlords’ to borrow more than they might have expected under tough new regulations.

Last month the Prudential Regulation Authority tightened the criteria which individual lenders had to use when handling applications from portfolio landlords - that is, those with four or more buy to let properties. 

But now the Which? mortgage advice service says “a handful” of lenders are now offering ‘top slicing’ deals, which allow landlords with low rental yields to make up their shortfall through other income. 

“Top slicing takes a landlord’s personal income, such as their salary or pension income, into consideration when assessing their affordability, rather than just looking at the profitability of their property portfolio. Top slicing is good news for landlords buying higher value properties which might have lower rental yields, as it allows them to use external personal income to bridge any shortfall” says a statement from Which?

The consumer group says currently the lenders who undertake this are Aldermore, Barclays, Bluestone, Clydesdale Bank, Mansfield, Metro Bank, NatWest, Vida and Virgin Money.

However, because of the restrictions imposed on most lenders by the new PRA criteria, some 14 companies have pulled out of the portfolio landlord market completely, says Which? This includes Santander, the TSB and the Post Office.