This historic case study explores how Enness Global considered a buy-to-let mortgage for applicants purchasing a circa £2 million London rental property while continuing to rent their own home. Despite modest personal incomes, the applicants had previous landlord experience and proceeds from the sale of an investment property for the deposit. The proposed fixed-rate, interest-only structure was subject to lender criteria, and completion has not been confirmed.
Your property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on a mortgage or other loan secured against it. Rental income is not guaranteed, and periods without tenants or unexpected property costs may affect your ability to meet repayments. Interest-only mortgages require the outstanding capital to be repaid at the end of the term. Finance is subject to lender assessment and individual circumstances.
A buy-to-let mortgage while renting your own home may be possible with a lender that accepts non-owner-occupiers. Enness Global helps business owners and landlords explore this route, including applicants with modest personal income. Eligibility depends on the property's rental potential, the applicant's wider financial position, landlord experience and the lender's criteria.
Your property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on a mortgage or other loan secured against it. Rental income is not guaranteed.
Explore our buy-to-let mortgage services, finance for business owners, and a related buy-to-let case involving limited personal income.
The applicants rented their main home and did not own another residential property. This meant the lender needed to understand why they intended to purchase an investment property while continuing to rent elsewhere.
Their previous buy-to-let experience helped demonstrate that the proposed purchase was intended as a rental investment rather than a home for their own occupation. The application therefore needed to explain both the purpose of the purchase and the applicants' existing housing arrangements.
The applicants received modest personal incomes despite owning profitable businesses. Enness considered their wider financial circumstances, including the performance of their businesses, to help present a fuller picture of their position.
Their intention to remain in their existing rental accommodation also supported the explanation that the proposed purchase was for investment purposes. However, company profitability does not automatically establish personal affordability. The treatment of business income and the expected rental income would remain subject to the lender's assessment.
The original case describes a fixed-rate, interest-only buy-to-let mortgage for the proposed purchase. This type of structure can involve lower scheduled payments than a comparable capital-repayment mortgage, because the principal is not repaid through the monthly instalments.
However, the outstanding capital must still be repaid at the end of the term. The suitability and availability of any structure depend on the lender's criteria, the property's valuation and rental assessment, and the applicants' financial circumstances.
This is a historic example originally published in 2016. The available information does not confirm that the proposed mortgage completed, and the structure described should not be taken as an indication of terms currently available.
“Renting your own home does not tell us whether you are a credible landlord. In this case, we needed to explain why the clients wanted to keep renting, how their businesses supported their financial position and why the purchase made sense as a rental investment.”
Islay Robinson, CEO and Founder, Enness Global
According to UK Finance's buy-to-let lending data, its update reported on 15 April 2026 that 59,489 new buy-to-let loans were advanced in the UK in the fourth quarter of 2025. The update indicated that growth was largely concentrated in remortgaging.
These figures provide wider market context rather than evidence about applicants who rent their main homes. They also relate to a much later period than this case, which was originally published in 2016. Current market figures do not establish whether a particular lender would accept a similar application today.
A buy-to-let property creates financial commitments even when it is vacant or tenants fail to pay. Applicants who rent their own home must also consider their personal housing costs alongside the obligations associated with the investment property.
An application may also be declined if a lender does not accept applicants who rent their main residence, or if its rental coverage, income or other underwriting requirements are not met.
If you are considering a buy-to-let purchase while renting your own home, Enness can review the proposed property, deposit, rental expectations and wider financial circumstances to explore potential financing options.
Any assessment will depend on the information provided, the lender's requirements and the suitability of the proposed borrowing
This historic case study is provided for illustrative and informational purposes only. It is not an offer of finance or a guarantee of a similar outcome, and the available information does not confirm that the proposed transaction completed.
Case studies may be based on individual enquiries or a combination of client scenarios. Details may be anonymised or generalised to protect confidentiality. The publication of a case study does not necessarily represent completed business.
Enness Global is a credit broker, not a lender. Finance is subject to status, underwriting, valuation, rental assessment, affordability and individual lender criteria. Not all buy-to-let finance is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. The regulatory status applicable to a proposed facility should be confirmed before proceeding.
Property values can fall as well as rise. Rental income is not guaranteed, and a property may take time to let or sell. Sale proceeds may not cover outstanding borrowing. Your property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on a mortgage or other loan secured against it.
Interest-only borrowing does not reduce the outstanding principal through scheduled repayments. A credible plan to repay the capital at the end of the term is required. Mortgage payments may also increase when a fixed-rate period ends.
Enness Global does not provide tax, investment, insurance or legal advice. Seek advice from appropriately qualified professionals where required.
Location: London, United Kingdom
Value: £2 million
Location: France
Value: €6M
Location: London, United Kingdom
Expert answers from our specialist brokers to the questions we are asked most often.
Let's talk nowPotentially. Some lenders consider applicants who rent their main residence, while others may require them to own a residential property. Acceptance depends on the lender's criteria, financial assessment, landlord experience and the intended use of the investment property.
