However, while buy-to-let mortgages remain outside the auspices of the Financial Services Authority, which only regulates residential lending, legislation being debated in Europe may impose additional requirements on all mortgage issuance.
This guide looks at how buy-to-let mortgages differ from residential loans, what advice intermediaries should give clients, how BTL mortgages are regulated and how to quickly go about getting the right deal for your client.
Answers supplied by Ray Boulger, senior technical manager at John Charcol; and Greg Went, senior product manager at Nationwide.