Why purchase Buy to Let property through a Limited Company?

The purchasing of rental properties through a Limited Company is becoming more and more popular.  Many people considering this route usually ask the same questions

• So, what’s involved? 
• How do Limited Company mortgages differ from standard ones?  
• What are the benefits and disadvantages to you, the customer?

Seek Advice from your accountant first…

Caboodle Finance are not legally permitted to give advice on company structures or tax implications, and with this in mind we always recommend you speak to a qualified accountant at the outset to ensure this is the most appropriate way forward. If an accountant indicates that owning property within a Limited Company is right for you, we will happily assist with the mortgage side of things.

Limited Company Structures For Buy to Let Purposes

Generally speaking, there are 2 types of company that purchase Buy-to-Let (BTL) properties:

Special Purpose Vehicles (SPV’s)

These are companies established and registered at Companies House specifically for the purpose of holding single or multiple properties. Due to the simple company structure mortgage providers typically prefer to lend to this type of company so you may find there are more options available when it comes to selecting a mortgage.  Mortgage providers are generally content to lend to both newly established SPV’s with no accounting history and existing SPV’s with an existing financial track record.

The assessment criteria for either type of Limited Company BTL mortgage can vary from lender to lender and may include (but is not limited to) rental calculations, minimum personal incomes, credit checks, minimum deposits and property types. As such, we would highly recommend that you get in touch and let us guide you as to which lender might be appropriate given your individual circumstances.

How is Landlords Rental Income Treated in a Limited Company?

It is likely that rental income earned via limited companies will be taxed differently to that earned in a personal capacity and an Accountant is the most appropriate person to advise you in this regard.  

When the BTL property has been purchased via a limited company however the rental income is not received by you as an individual and as such it wouldn’t be included in annual income for the purposes of determining an Income Tax Band. Instead, the rental income is received by the Limited Company and included in the Company income/profit thus rendering it liable for ‘corporation tax’ rather than ‘personal tax’.  It is entirely possible that this method of taxation may be lower than personal taxation however, you should not lose sight of the fact that any income subsequently taken from company profits, whether it is in the form of salary and/or dividends, needs to be declared on director/shareholder personal tax returns and the appropriate tax paid.

Once again, Caboodle Finance recommends that advice is sought from a qualified Accountant regarding potential tax benefits or liabilities. 

Advantages and Disadvantages of Buying Rental Properties Via Limited Companies

A key advantage is that it might help with long term estate planning – it’s simpler to transfer a limited company to another owner compared to privately held property. In this scenario the ownership of the property does not change, it continues to be owned by the limited company, which could protect the transaction from personal taxation such as Stamp Duty, Inheritance Tax and Capital Gains Tax (CGT). This can prove useful if you plan to pass your business onto a family member in the future.

One of the greatest disadvantages is that individuals cannot utilise a personal Capital Gains Tax (CGT) allowance when disposing of a property purchased through a limited company as CGT is a personal rather than a company allowance.  Instead, the limited company would be subject to Corporation Tax on any capital appreciation profits achieved when the property is sold.   

Finally, mortgage providers may charge slightly higher interest rates and fees for Limited Company Buy to Lets and the choice of lenders may be more limited with fewer product options to choose from.

For more information on owning buy to let property in a personal name, please click here.

THE FINANCIAL CONDUCT AUTHORITY DOES NOT REGULATE SOME TYPES OF BUY TO LET AND INVESTMENT MORTGAGES.