BUY-TO-LET MORTGAGES IN IRELAND Start or expand your property portfolio with a Buy-to-Let mortgage

Whether you are purchasing your first investment property or looking to expand an existing portfolio, Buy-to-Let mortgage options are available through an individual, a limited company/SPV or an eligible pension arrangement, depending on your circumstances and investment plans.

70%Maximum LTV
30%Deposit required
5.05% to 6%Indicative BTL rates
5 to 35 yearsTerms available

BENEFITS SUMMARY

Benefits of Buy-to-Let mortgage options for property investors

Choose from different borrowing structures including individual, company/SPV and eligible pension arrangements.
Access up to 70% LTV for standard Buy-to-Let lending, subject to lender criteria.
Explore interest-only and capital & interest repayment options, depending on the lender and structure.
Terms of up to 35 years may be available with some Buy-to-Let products.
Use rental income as part of the affordability assessment, with rental coverage requirements varying by lender.
Options for both individual and company/SPV property investment, depending on your circumstances.
Explore mortgage options for building or expanding a property portfolio, subject to lending criteria.
Compare different mortgage structures, rates and LTV options to find an arrangement suited to your investment plans.

HOW IT WORKS

There are three common ways to apply for a Buy-to-Let mortgage

Three common borrower types, each with different lending, tax, ownership and investment considerations.

1

Apply as an

Individual

Purchase and own the investment property personally.

Individual applications are assessed based on the lender’s affordability, income, credit and property criteria.

2

Apply through a

Company / SPV

Purchase the investment property through a limited company or Special Purpose Vehicle.

A company/SPV structure can be suitable for investors who want to build or manage a property portfolio through a company, subject to lender and tax considerations.

3

Apply through an

Eligible Pension Arrangement

Some eligible self-administered pension arrangements may be able to invest in property.

This is subject to Revenue rules, trustee requirements and lender criteria.

Each structure has different lending, tax, ownership and investment considerations.

What do you need to qualify for a Buy-to-Let mortgage?

Buy-to-Let lending criteria vary depending on the lender and whether you are applying as an individual, through a company/SPV or through an eligible pension arrangement.

Application requirements

Property Requirements

  • The property must meet the lender’s valuation and property-condition requirements.
  • Minimum property values may apply and will vary depending on the lender and mortgage structure.
  • Property location criteria may also apply depending on the lender.
Application requirements

Applicants

Depending on the lender and borrower structure:

  • Up to four applicants may be permitted on a mortgage application.
  • Residency requirements may apply.
  • Minimum income requirements may apply.
  • Credit and affordability checks may be required for individual and company/SPV applications.

For example, some lenders’ current criteria require a minimum annual income of €40,000 per single or joint application for their individual and company Buy-to-Let products.

Application requirements

Maximum Borrowing & Deposit

  • Up to 70% LTV for standard Buy-to-Let lending, typically requiring a 30% deposit.
  • Up to 10% of BTL lending may be above the standard LTV limit, subject to lender criteria.
  • Pension-based BTL can have different limits, with some products offering up to 50% LTV.
Terms available

Terms

The term can be extended to your 80th birthday if required (max term of 40 years). However, mortgage terms over the applicant’s 68th birthday will require proof of a pension entitlement to qualify.

Interest rates

Interest Rates

Interest rates vary depending on the loan-to-value ratio after the cash is released. However, the rates typically offered are as follows:

  • Principal Private Residence: from 3% to 4.5%
  • Buy-to-Let Properties: from 5.05% to 6%
Affordability

Financial Assessment To Qualify

  • Market rents of the property must equal 1.2 times mortgage repayments. If applicants own more than 1 buy-to-let, this is reduced to 0.85 times market rent.
  • If applying individually, personal finances are assessed for affordability, whereas if applying through a pension or an SPV, this is not required.

Key Features of Buy-to-Let Mortgages

Please see below a table comparing the key features of each borrowing option for a Buy-to-Let mortgage.

FeatureIndividualCompany (SPV)Pension
Loan Amountmin €40,000 | max variesmin €80,000 | max varies€50,000 to €1,500,000
Max Loan-to-Value70% LTV70% LTV50% LTV
Interest Rate OptionsInterest only: up to 15 yrs
Capital & interest: up to 35 yrs
Interest only: up to 15 yrs
Capital & interest: up to 35 yrs
Capital & interest only: 5 to 15 yrs
Interest Rateapprox. 4.85% to 5.90%approx. 5.70% to 5.90%approx. 5.90%
Credit CheckCCR: YesCCR: YesLender / Trustee checks
Individual Income AssessedYesYes*Pension / Trustee criteria
Tax Treatment20% / 40% Income Tax + USC / PRSI*25% Corporation Tax*0% Income Tax / CGT*
Property ValueVaries by lenderVaries by lendermin €100,000
Age of Applicantsapprox. 18 to 75*approx. 21 to 80*Must meet pension / retirement-age rules
Term Available5 to 35 yrs5 to 35 yrs5 to 15 yrs

*Subject to lender, Revenue, trustee and individual circumstances.

Watch These Real-Life Scenarios on YouTube

See how others have used Buy-to-Let Equity Release to transform their finances.

Releasing Equity on Your Existing Property

Meet John. He owns a home valued at €400,000, with only €100,000 left on the mortgage.

John had a clear goal: buy a second property to generate rental income and build long-term wealth. He easily qualified for a second mortgage, but didn’t have the 30% deposit required to make the purchase.

So, what did he do?

He re-mortgaged his current home for €175,000, unlocking €75,000 in equity.

That €75,000 became the deposit he needed to secure his second buy-to-let property.

Now, John:

  • Owns a second property that’s generating steady rental income.
  • Holds another asset that’s appreciating over time.
  • Took a strategic step toward financial freedom, without touching his savings.

💡 You don’t always need more cash, just the right strategy.

Case examples

How investors have used Buy-to-Let mortgages

Three examples showing how the individual, company/SPV and pension structures can work in practice.

A

Investor A

Individual

Property€250,000
Loan€175,000
LTV70%

Bought a rental property in Galway worth €250,000.

Secured a loan of €175,000 at 70% LTV. Chose a 10-year interest-only term, where available, to maximise cash flow, with a plan to restructure after 10 years.

B

Investor B

Company SPV

Properties€1m
Loan€600,000
LTV60%

Refinanced two properties in Dublin valued at €1 million.

Secured €600,000 at 60% LTV and used the equity released to help fund a third rental property.

C

Investor C

Pension

Property€200,000
Borrowed€100,000
LTV50%

Purchased a €200,000 rental property in Limerick.

Used €100,000 from an eligible self-administered pension and borrowed €100,000, giving a 50% LTV.

Rental income is paid back into the pension, where it may benefit from the pension’s tax treatment, subject to Revenue, RTB and trustee requirements.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)

Typically, Buy-to-Let mortgages require a 30% deposit, with borrowing capped at 70% LTV.

For larger loans, some lenders may apply a lower LTV limit, such as 65% LTV. Certain pension-based Buy-to-Let products may require a 50% deposit.

Buy-to-Let can be a suitable long-term investment for some investors, depending on rental income, mortgage costs, tax, maintenance costs and property values.

Depending on the lender, options may include up to 15-year interest-only or 35-year capital and interest mortgage terms.

The Central Bank’s Loan-to-Income limits do not apply to Buy-to-Let mortgages.

The amount you can borrow will depend on the lender’s assessment, including rental income, Loan-to-Value, affordability and the property value.

Some specialist lenders currently require a minimum annual income of €40,000 per single or joint application.

Minimum loan amounts vary by lender. Current Buy-to-Let products reviewed start from around €40,000, while some specialist lenders have a minimum loan amount of €80,000.

Generally, you will need a deposit of at least 30%, as the Central Bank’s standard Buy-to-Let limit is 70% LTV. Some lenders may require a larger deposit for higher loan amounts or certain borrowing structures. Pension-based borrowing may require a deposit of around 50%.

Rental property can generate regular income, but profitability will depend on factors such as rental income, mortgage repayments, tax, maintenance costs, insurance and periods when the property is vacant.

Investors may also be able to refinance existing properties to release equity and help fund additional property purchases, subject to lender criteria.

Returns vary by location and property type. Recent 2026 market data estimates the average gross rental yield at approximately 7.7%, although individual properties can be higher or lower.

Gross rental yield is not the same as net ROI, as costs such as mortgage interest, maintenance, insurance, vacancy periods and tax must also be considered.

The standard minimum deposit is 30% (70% LTV) for Buy-to-Let buyers. Certain pension-based mortgage products require a 50% deposit (50% LTV).

Some specialist lenders may allow total portfolio borrowing of up to €7 million, subject to a weighted average LTV of 60% or below.

To get a Buy-to-Let mortgage in Ireland, you will generally need to meet criteria such as:

  • Minimum income requirements: some lenders require around €40,000 per single or joint application
  • A minimum 30% deposit for standard Buy-to-Let borrowing
  • Satisfactory property valuation and condition
  • Rental income and affordability requirements
  • Property value and location criteria set by the lender

You can apply as an individual, through a company/SPV, or through an eligible self-administered pension arrangement.

For individual landlords, net rental income is generally subject to Income Tax at 20% or 40%, plus USC and PRSI where applicable.

Up to 100% of qualifying mortgage interest may be deducted from rental income where Revenue’s conditions are met, including RTB registration where required.

For properties held through a company/SPV, rental income is generally subject to 25% Corporation Tax, with additional tax potentially applying when profits are retained or extracted.

Tax treatment differs for pension-owned property, so professional tax and pension advice should be obtained.

🔍 More Helpful Guides & Advice for Buy-to-let Mortgages

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Warning: If you do not meet the repayments on your loan, your account will go into arrears. This may affect your credit rating, which may limit your ability to access credit in the future.

Warning: The cost of your monthly repayments may increase.

Warning: You may have to pay charges if you pay off a fixed-rate loan early.

Warning: This new loan may take longer to pay off than your previous loans. This means you may pay more than if you paid over a shorter term.