Buy to Let Solicitors in Reading

Buying a property to let brings extra legal and tax considerations beyond a standard home purchase, from Stamp Duty surcharges to whether to buy personally or through a company. Our buy to let solicitors in Reading act for landlords buying their first rental property and for those building a wider portfolio.

What’s different about a buy to let purchase?

A buy to let purchase follows the same broad conveyancing process as buying a home to live in, but with additional Stamp Duty payable, different mortgage products and lending criteria, and, if the property is already tenanted, extra checks on the existing tenancy before you commit.

Whether this is your first rental property or an addition to an existing portfolio, we tailor our approach to your experience level, spending more time on the basics with first-time landlords and moving faster where you already know the process.

Stamp Duty on additional properties

Buying an additional residential property, including most buy to let purchases, usually attracts a Stamp Duty Land Tax surcharge of 5% on top of standard rates, in force since 31 October 2024. This applies in addition to the standard SDLT bands, so the total charge on a buy to let purchase is meaningfully higher than on a main residence.

These figures are correct as of writing, but SDLT rates and surcharges change, so please check current GOV.UK rates or ask us for a tailored calculation based on your purchase price and circumstances.

Buying personally or through a company

Many landlords, particularly those building a portfolio, buy through a limited company rather than personally, largely for tax reasons relating to mortgage interest relief and Corporation Tax versus Income Tax rates. This is a decision to make with your accountant or tax adviser before you instruct us, since it changes how the purchase, and the mortgage, are structured.

Buying personally or through a company

Many landlords, particularly those building a portfolio, buy through a limited company rather than personally, largely for tax reasons relating to mortgage interest relief and Corporation Tax versus Income Tax rates. This is a decision to make with your accountant or tax adviser before you instruct us, since it changes how the purchase, and the mortgage, are structured.

Energy efficiency requirements for rental properties

Rental properties currently need a minimum EPC rating of E under the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards, and letting a property rated F or G without a valid exemption is illegal. The Government has proposed raising this minimum to EPC C by October 2030, though this is not yet confirmed in force.

If you’re buying a property with a poor EPC rating, it’s worth factoring likely upgrade costs into your investment decision now, rather than waiting until closer to any confirmed deadline, since demand for materials and contractors is expected to increase as any deadline approaches.

Right to Rent and other landlord obligations

Landlords in England have a legal duty to check that tenants have the right to rent property in the UK before granting a tenancy, under the Immigration Act 2014. This sits alongside other ongoing landlord obligations, including deposit protection, gas and electrical safety checks, and, as discussed above, minimum energy efficiency standards.

These obligations apply from your very first tenancy, so it’s worth understanding them before you complete, not scrambling to catch up once you already have a tenant in place. We can point you towards the current guidance, though ongoing management of these checks is generally something you, or a letting agent acting for you, will need to keep on top of throughout the tenancy.

Buy to let solicitors in Reading and the Thames Valley

We act for individual and portfolio landlords across Reading, Berkshire and the wider Thames Valley, as well as clients further afield across England and Wales, from our office at 1 London Street in central Reading. Where a purchase involves a corporate structure, we work alongside our Real Estate team and corporate colleagues so the legal and tax position is properly joined up from the outset, rather than needing to be untangled later.

Why choose FSP for buy to let purchases

Our residential conveyancing team is accredited under the Law Society’s Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS), and the wider firm is top ranked in Chambers and Partners and The Legal 500. That combination of sector accreditation and firm-wide recognition means you get specialist knowledge backed by real depth.

• Led by genuine specialists: Kate Parry-Jones, Partner and Head of Residential Conveyancing, has over 20 years’ experience across residential and commercial property, and acts for clients ranging from first-time buyers to high-net-worth individuals and companies.
• Quality assured: Lexcel accredited by the Law Society for excellence in legal practice management and client care, and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
• Clear, upfront pricing: See our conveyancing pricing information and try conveyancing calculator to get a clear indication of costs before you instruct us.
• A full-service firm: Our conveyancing team works closely with our Wills, Tax and Trusts team, our family law team and our Real Estate team, so related matters are handled under one roof.

Building or starting a rental portfolio?

Get in touch before you exchange, particularly if you’re considering a company purchase or buying more than one property at once. Call 0118 951 6200, get in touch via our online enquiry form, or try our conveyancing calculator, and we’ll talk through the structure that suits you best.