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- Consent To Let Guide 2025 - Can I Rent Out My Home?
Consent to let - can I rent out my home if I have a mortgage?
Most residential mortgages are designed for you to live in the property, so will typically have terms and conditions that prevent you from renting it out whilst the mortgage is in place. However, life can be unpredictable, and you may need to consider letting out your home temporarily. With consent to let, your mortgage lender may give you permisssion to rent out your home for a fixed period.
What is consent to let?
A consent to let is a formal agreement with your mortgage lender giving you permission to let your home on a temporary basis, without changing your residential mortgage.
Not all lenders offer consent to let or permission to let, and certain home ownership mortgages such as Help to Buy or shared ownership proprties usually won’t allow the use of consent to let. However, it's worth reaching out to your lender to ask.
Is there a consent to let mortgage?
No there isn't. A consent to let is simply a formal agreement that is attached to your existing mortgage. If you wanted to take out a mortgage to rent out a property on a long-term basis, you'd need to swap to a buy-to-let mortgage.
When do you need to get a consent to let?
There are a wide range of valid reasons for consent to let that a mortgage lender may consider:
Temporary relocation
This could due to work demands, e.g those regularly posted abroad, such as service personnel in the Armed Forces. You might need to carry out care responsibilities for a relative that lives elsewhere, or perhaps you’re simply planning to go travelling for a few months.
Waiting for your home to sell
If you want to sell up, either to live with a partner or because you've found a new property, a consent to let can provide a temporary solution. It allows you to rent out your current property while you wait for it to sell, with the rental income helping to cover your mortgage payments. This can relieve financial pressure and give you the freedom to move on without being forced into a quick sale. A Let to Buy agreement could also help you to achieve this.
Waiting for a buy-to-let mortgage to go through
If you’ve already decided to become a landlord and are switching your mortgage to a buy-to-let, a consent to let can get tenants into your property sooner. This way you'll legally be able to let out the property whilst you await completion of the new mortgage.
Waiting out a fixed-term mortgage
If you’re planning to become a landlord or simply in a rush to leave, but locked into a fixed-term residential mortgage, a consent to let could keep your mortgage paid through rental, until you’re able to remortgage without paying ERCs (early repayment charges).
Are you eligible for a consent to let?
Each lender has their own criteria, but most are fairly flexible when it comes to authorising a consent to let. Typically, you may need to meet some or all of the following criteria:
To have been with your current lender for a minimum term, usually 6-12 months
Not to have any mortgage arrears or late payments
To have an acceptable tenancy agreement in place - Assured Shorthold Tenancy in England and Wales, Private Residential Tenancy in Scotland, and Uncontrolled Tenancy in Northern Ireland
You may have to comply with a maximum occupancy, and will usually only be able to offer your home on a single tenancy basis
You'll usually need to inform/obtain approval from your insurance provider
You may need a minimum level of equity (around 25%) in your home, although the percentage varies by lender
Some lenders require you to have a minimum income level
There is usually a maximum length of term for a consent to let. This varies but usually ranges between 6-24 months, depending on the lender and your need
How do I get a consent to let?
Many lenders allow you to apply for consent to let online, or download an application form to complete and return to them. You could also request a form in person or over the phone. It’s a good idea to apply around a month before you plan to let out your property, as this will allow for processing time.
On the application you'll need to detail why you need the consent to let and how long for. You may also need to supply proof of your intention, for example, travel documents, a contract of employment or deployment, or a decision in principle for your new home.
How long does a consent to let agreement last?
Most consent to let agreements are offered for a maximum of 24 months, though it may be possible to extend the consent to let period or pay an annual fee to maintain the agreement in the long term. This can save having to reapply multiple times if you have a job where travelling abroad for months at a time is the norm.
Once the consent to let ends, if you continue to rent out your home after the agreement has lapsed, you'll be in breach of your mortgage terms. If you want to continue renting out your home on a long-term basis, you'll need to remortgage onto a buy-to-let mortgage either with your existing lender or a new one.
How much does it cost to get a consent to let?
Your mortgage lender will likely charge a one-time administration fee, typically between £75 and £300, or they may increase your mortgage interest rate for the duration of the letting period. Sometimes, they will apply both. These fees are usually payable each time you apply or renew the consent, although an exception is often made for members of the Armed Forces.
It's also important to consider the costs involved with becoming a temporary landlord. This could include arranging specialist landlord insurance, obtaining mandatory safety certificates, potential letting/advertising fees and covering ongoing property maintenance.
Can I rent my house out if I have a mortgage without a consent to let?
Not really, no. This would be an incredibly risky move, as renting out your property without your lender’s consent is highly likely to breach the terms of your residential mortgage agreement. This will be seen as mortgage fraud, so as well as putting your current home at risk of repossession, it can also make it more difficult to obtain a mortgage in the future.
While repossession is generally a last resort outcome, most lenders will increase your interest rate and may backdate fees that you owe at this increased rate. This type of charge is usually due immediately.
Advantages of consent to let
Covers your mortgage payments. Consent to let gives you the ability to cover some or all of your monthly mortgage repayments while you are temporarily living elsewhere.
Trial being a landlord. Provides a low-commitment opportunity to see if being a landlord is the right long-term move for you.
Faster then remortgaging. If you have tenants lined up, it can be quicker to arrange a consent to let than remortgaging onto a buy-to-let deal.
Avoid early repayment charges. If you want to move now, but can’t remortgage or sell your home before the end of a fixed term deal, consent to let could help you avoid significant fees for leaving the deal early.
Disadvantages of consent to let
It's temporary. Consent is usually only granted for a fixed term, and requires a new application and potential fee to extend.
Additional costs. There is usually a fee to pay to arrange consent to let, and you'll also have to consider additional costs that come with being a landlord (such as landlord insurance). You may also need to pay tax on income received through renting out your property.
Tenant risks. You face the risk of having a period of time with no tenant and therefore no rental income, as well as the possibility that tenants may not treat your home with care.
Landlord responsibility. You will need to comply with certain letting standards, and will still be responsible for any repairs and maintenance required whilst the tenant is present.
Difference between consent to let and buy to let
It's important to understand the key differences if you're weighing up whether to ask your lender for a consent to let, or swap to a buy-to-let mortgage.
| Consent to let | Buy to let | |
|---|---|---|
| Main purpose | A temporary agrement to rent out your main residence for a set period. | Renting out a property as a long-term investment. |
| Mortgage type | You'll retain your existing residential mortgage, but will be allowed to rent out your home temporarily. | A specific mortgage product intended for landlords only. |
| Duration | Consent to let is typically granted for a fixed, short-term period. | You will be able to choose the term of your buy-to-let mortgage - it is typically a long-term arrangement. |
| Interest rates and fees | Your lender may charge an administrative fee or slightly increase your interest rate. | Interest rates and fees may be generally higher for buy-to-let mortgages compared to residential ones. |
| Deposit | No new deposit is required as you are on an existing mortgage. | A larger deposit is usually required, often 25% or more of the property's value. |
Wanting to compare your buy-to-let mortgage options?
Our broker partner, Mojo, can help you if you're looking to switch to a buy-to-let mortgage. Tell them a bit about you and your circumstances, and they'll talk you through your buy-to-let mortgage options.
FAQs
Do all lenders offer consent to let?
No, but most do. You can access individual lender pages to source the necessary application below:
Could I have a consent to let refused?
Most lenders are happy to provide a consent to let for a short period of time, but there are certain exceptions. For example, if you bought your home through the Help to Buy mortgage or shared ownership scheme, subletting will not typically be allowed unless you're a member of the Armed Forces.
Of course, you could also be refused if you don't meet the other lender specific criteria, such as having had a mortgage deal with them for a minimum period.
Can you let your property to friends and family?
A lot of lenders tend to shy away from letting your property to friends and family, especially in the longer term if you consider remortgaging to do this on a permanent basis. That said, there are specific mortgages available for this purpose offered by some lenders, which are known as family Buy to Let or regulated Buy to Let mortgages.
Some lenders may be happy to provide a consent to let if you intend to rent your home to family members, so long as you charge rent at the accepted market value, and don’t allow them to live there at a discount.
Do I need consent to let for a lodger?
It depends on your lender, but if it's a long-term arrangement you likely will, even if they're simply using a spare room.
Taking in lodger without permission may still be in breach of your mortgage contract - so be sure to check carefully or ask first.
Can I still live in the property if I have consent to let?
Yes you can. If you have a buy-to-let mortgage, however, then you're not allowed to stay in the property at all, even temporarily.
Will I need consent to let to let my property through Airbnb?
Some lenders won’t need you to apply for a consent to let if you’re only planning to let your property through Airbnb or similar services. This is typically allowed so long as your home isn't occupied by someone other than you for longer than 30 consecutive days or more than 90 days in total in any calendar year.
Other criteria varies by lender so it’s important to do your research. Certain local authorities may also require you to hold a licence in order to offer this type of let.
YOUR HOME/PROPERTY MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP WITH YOUR MORTGAGE REPAYMENTS.
The FCA does not regulate mortgages on commercial or investment buy-to-let properties.
Uswitch makes introductions to Mojo Mortgages to provide mortgage solutions.
Uswitch and Mojo Mortgages are part of the same group of companies. Uswitch Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) under firm reference number 312850. You can check this on the Financial Services Register by visiting the FCA website.
Uswitch Limited is registered in England and Wales (Company No 03612689) The Cooperage, 5 Copper Row, London SE1 2LH.
Mojo Mortgages is a trading style of Life's Great Limited which is registered in England and Wales (06246376). Mojo are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and are on the Financial Services Register (478215)
Mojo’s registered office is The Cooperage, 5 Copper Row, London, SE1 2LH. To contact Mojo by phone, please call 0333 123 0012.