Buy-to-let mortgage broker advice
Buying or refinancing a rental property? Talk through the borrower, property, rent and timing before choosing a lender route.
Clear guidance on suitable routes, the full cost and what happens after you enquire.
What can a buy-to-let mortgage broker help with?
A broker helps you test which mortgage routes fit the borrower, property, rent and purpose, then explains the costs and supports the chosen application. Count Ready is a credit broker, not a lender. You remain free to decide whether to proceed with a recommendation.
We can start with a planned rental purchase, an existing buy-to-let mortgage approaching the end of its deal, or a refinance. Tell us early if a company will borrow, you already own several rentals, or the property is an HMO or unusual let. Those details can change lender criteria and the information needed.
For an overview of the mortgage itself, use our buy-to-let service page. This page explains what it is like to use a broker and how to assess the service before making an enquiry.
From first conversation to mortgage offer
1. Establish the case
We ask what you want to do, who will borrow, the property type and value, deposit or equity, likely rent, existing borrowing and any deadline. Approximate figures are enough to begin, provided you tell us what is uncertain.
2. Check fit and compare
An adviser checks the case against relevant lender requirements and discusses routes available through the service. A low headline rate may carry a high product fee or an unsuitable exit charge; compare the full cost and terms.
3. Agree whether to apply
Before chargeable work, ask for the proposed fee and when it is due in writing. If you choose to apply, the lender sets its document, valuation and underwriting requirements. An initial indication is not a mortgage offer.
4. Work through lender questions
Count Ready’s published terms describe application submission, progress updates and help with offer conditions and legal liaison. The lender decides whether to lend. The timetable depends on the borrower, property, evidence and other parties.
The application and documents guide separates first-contact facts from records that may be requested later. Do not send identity documents or bank statements through a public enquiry box.
Which route do you need to discuss?
Buying a rental property
Check the cash needed beyond the deposit, the likely rent, property eligibility and the borrowing structure before making a commitment. Start with the first rental purchase checklist if this is new to you.
Reviewing an existing mortgage
If a deal is ending, compare a product transfer with a remortgage, including fees and any early repayment charge. Our buy-to-let remortgage page explains the distinct route.
Company borrowing
Company ownership affects lender checks and may have tax and legal consequences. It is not automatically the better option. Read the limited-company guide and speak to an accountant or solicitor about the structure.
Several rental properties
A lender may ask about the wider portfolio, existing mortgages, rents and property values. Portfolio review does not necessarily mean placing every property under one loan. See the portfolio-landlord page.
Understand the total cost before choosing a deal
Ask an adviser to compare the interest rate, monthly payment, product fee, broker fee, valuation and legal costs, incentives, early repayment charges and what may happen after an initial rate ends. The rates and costs page covers that comparison in more detail.
A lender’s rental assessment uses its own assumptions. It is separate from the contractual mortgage payment and from your cash left after voids, maintenance, insurance, management, service charges and tax. Meeting a rental test does not guarantee an offer or a profitable let. If borrowing is interest-only, the capital normally remains due at the end of the term and needs a credible repayment plan. The criteria page explains the factors that can affect lender fit.
What does Count Ready’s published fee document say?
The current Terms of Business list no charge for the initial evaluation, a £199 administration fee at the processing stage, and an offer-stage fee of £595 for standard applications or £999 for international applications. They say specialist cases may have a different fee scale agreed in writing before application, and that fees are not refundable. Count Ready may also receive lender commission.
These are the published terms, not a personalised fee quote. The site footer summarises the usual £595 offer fee but does not spell out the processing stage. Before instructing chargeable work, ask Count Ready to confirm in writing which stages apply, the total fee, when each amount becomes due and any lender or third-party costs.
Questions worth asking before you instruct a broker
- Which lender routes can you consider for my borrower type and property, and are any direct-only deals outside your service?
- What will you do at each stage, who is my contact, and when will you ask for documents?
- What fees and lender commission apply, when are they due, and what happens if the application stops?
- How does the proposed mortgage compare on total cost, repayment terms and exit charges?
- Is this business buy-to-let, consumer buy-to-let or another arrangement, and what protections apply to this case?
Count Ready’s published terms describe it as an appointed representative of Connect IFA Ltd. Check current firm status and permissions using the FCA’s checking guidance. Buy-to-let arrangements do not all have the same regulatory treatment; ask for a case-specific explanation.
Google reviews
Live reviews
Read the original Google feedback before deciding whether to enquire.
See how clients describe the advice
A mortgage application can involve lender questions, valuation and legal costs, deadlines and significant borrowing commitments. It is sensible to understand how an adviser communicates and explains options.
Reviews describe individual service experiences. They do not predict your mortgage outcome.
Ask Count Ready to review your buy-to-let plans
Tell us whether you are buying, refinancing or reviewing an expiring deal; whether the borrower is an individual or company; the property location and type; approximate price or value, loan needed and rent; how many rental properties you have; and any deadline. An adviser can explain what information is needed next and how to provide private records securely.
Buy-to-let broker questions
Do I have to use a broker for a buy-to-let mortgage?
No. You can approach lenders directly. A broker may help if you want an adviser to check lender fit, compare the full cost and support an application, especially where the property or borrower is less straightforward. Ask what the service costs before deciding.
Can a broker guarantee a better rate or an offer?
No. A broker can compare options available through its service, but a lower rate, exclusive product or approval cannot be guaranteed. The lender decides after its own checks; product fees and exit charges can outweigh a lower headline rate.
What does Count Ready charge?
The published terms list no initial evaluation fee, a £199 processing administration fee and an offer-stage fee of £595 for standard applications or £999 for international applications. Specialist terms may differ. Ask for a written, case-specific total and fee triggers before chargeable work begins; read the full terms.
Can you discuss a company or portfolio application?
Count Ready’s published service includes business buy-to-let. A company or multi-property case needs its own lender and document checks, so explain your ownership structure and existing properties at first contact. An adviser can confirm the available route for your case.
What happens after my first enquiry?
Start with outline facts. The adviser can discuss possible lender fit, the fee for any chargeable stage and what evidence may be needed. Full financial and identity records should follow only through a confirmed secure process. An initial discussion or decision in principle is not a mortgage offer.
Are all buy-to-let mortgages regulated in the same way?
No. Business and consumer buy-to-let, and cases involving family occupation, can differ. Ask the adviser to explain how your arrangement is classified and which protections apply before you proceed.
Sources and scope
Source checks completed 1 October 2026. Lender criteria, fee practice and regulatory status can change; confirm the current position for your case.
- Count Ready: published Terms of Business
- FCA: how to check a firm or individual
- MoneyHelper: choosing mortgage advice
- Bank of England: buy-to-let underwriting standards and version history
This page gives general information, not a mortgage offer, tax or legal advice or a promise of borrowing. Obtain advice for your own circumstances and review the lender’s current terms.