What Is a Portfolio Landlord Mortgage?

A portfolio landlord mortgage is a buy-to-let mortgage for landlords who own 4 or more mortgaged rental properties. Since 2017 PRA rules, lenders must assess portfolio landlords' entire property holdings, not just the single property being mortgaged. This means more documentation and stress testing across your whole portfolio, but specialist lenders understand this market well.

Learn more about buy to let mortgages in our detailed guide.

Limited company buy to let

Learn more about limited company buy to let in our detailed guide.

Learn more about hmo mortgages in our detailed guide.

Learn more about remortgage guide in our detailed guide.

What is a portfolio landlord?

A portfolio landlord is someone who owns 4 or more mortgaged buy-to-let properties, either in their own name or through a limited company. This definition was introduced by the PRA (Prudential Regulation Authority) in 2017 and triggers additional assessment requirements from lenders.

Is it harder to get a mortgage as a portfolio landlord?

It's more complex but not necessarily harder if your portfolio performs well. Lenders assess your entire portfolio, not just the single property. Strong rental coverage, low overall LTV, and good cash flow actually strengthen your application. The additional paperwork is the main challenge.

What do portfolio landlord lenders assess?

Lenders look at: total portfolio value and LTV, rental income vs mortgage payments across all properties, background portfolio (properties with other lenders), personal income and experience as a landlord, and business plan for future acquisitions. They stress test at higher rates.

Can I use a limited company for portfolio lending?

Yes, and it's increasingly popular. Many portfolio landlords use SPV (Special Purpose Vehicle) limited companies for new acquisitions. Benefits include mortgage interest tax relief, potential inheritance planning advantages, and some lenders prefer company applications for large portfolios.

What LTV can portfolio landlords get?

Most lenders offer up to 75% LTV for portfolio landlords, with some specialist lenders going to 80%. Your overall portfolio LTV matters - a lower average LTV across your portfolio can help access better rates or higher LTV on individual properties.

Which lenders accept portfolio landlords?

Many specialist BTL lenders welcome portfolio landlords including The Mortgage Works, BM Solutions, Precise Mortgages, Aldermore, Paragon, and Shawbrook. Some high street lenders have portfolio landlord products too. Criteria varies significantly - a broker can match you to suitable lenders.

Quick Answer

How Do Portfolio Landlord Mortgages Work?

Last reviewed: December 2025

Reviewed by Jay Sabine – CeMAP Qualified – 29 years experience

If you own 4+ mortgaged properties, lenders assess your entire portfolio. You'll need more documentation, but specialist BTL lenders understand portfolio lending and can offer competitive terms.

Portfolio landlord rules were introduced by the PRA (Prudential Regulation Authority) in 2017 to ensure lenders properly assess the risk of landlords with multiple properties. When you apply for a new BTL mortgage as a portfolio landlord, the lender looks at your entire portfolio - including properties mortgaged elsewhere. They assess overall rental coverage, total portfolio LTV, your experience, and business plans. While this means more paperwork, it's not necessarily harder to get approved if your portfolio performs well. Many specialist lenders actively target portfolio landlords as they're often more experienced and lower risk than new landlords.

Your property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage. Rental income is not guaranteed and void periods affect cash flow.

Key Points

14+ mortgaged properties = portfolio landlord status
2Lenders assess entire portfolio, not just new property
3Rental coverage and portfolio LTV are key metrics
4Limited company structures increasingly popular
5Specialist lenders welcome experienced portfolio landlords
6More documentation required but not harder if portfolio is strong

Eligibility Criteria

Existing portfolio with good rental coverage (typically 125-145%)
Overall portfolio LTV within acceptable limits (typically under 75%)
Property portfolio schedule and mortgage statements
Personal income details (some lenders require this)
Business plan for portfolio growth (some lenders)
Landlord experience (most lenders prefer 12+ months)

Typical Timeframe

Portfolio landlord applications take longer - typically 4-8 weeks due to additional assessment. Having your portfolio schedule prepared and up-to-date speeds the process. Some lenders offer portfolio review upfront before property selection.

Next Steps

1Prepare an up-to-date portfolio schedule
2Calculate your overall portfolio LTV
3Gather recent mortgage statements for all properties
4Consider limited company vs personal name
5Speak to a specialist BTL broker

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How Do Portfolio Landlord Mortgages Work?

Key Points

Eligibility Criteria

Typical Timeframe

Next Steps

Related Questions

Portfolio Landlord Assessment Criteria

Personal vs Limited Company

Documents Portfolio Landlords Need

Portfolio Schedule

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