Buy-to-let mortgage searches fell to their lowest level since reporting began over April, data from Twenty7tec has revealed.
Twenty7tec ‘s monthly mortgage report for April 2025 found BTL searches fell to just 14.74 per cent of the overall market, the lowest share recorded since January 2020 when reporting started.
Twenty7tec director, Nathan Reilly, said: “April’s mortgage market painted a picture of contrasts. Just last month, buy-to-let searches were among the highest we’ve ever recorded.
“Fast forward to April, and we’re seeing the lowest share of the market for BTL activity since we began tracking — particularly in the £150k-£250k range, where searches fell by more than 24 per cent.
“Is this just a blip, or are we seeing the start of a longer-term shift? Either way, we encourage advisers and lenders to keep a close eye on how things unfold in the months ahead.”
Not all of the report’s findings were negative as Twenty7tec also revealed first-time buyer interest remained “strong” making up nearly a quarter of all search activity.
Reilly pointed out this is a trend the report has now seen for five consecutive months.
Additionally, the report found April saw a strong end to the month in terms of adviser activity, with four of the top seven busiest days ever recorded for European Standardised Information Sheets in the 90 per cent loan-to-value market.
Product availability also remained high, peaking at 25,266 early in the month with a slight increase in total product count by month-end.
Reilly added: “More widely, we saw signs of borrowers seeking greater flexibility — with growing demand for shorter-term products and average applicant salaries reaching new highs.
“We also saw a sharp rise in searches from self-employed applicants, perhaps another reflection of a market adapting to uncertainty.
“April’s figures show that the market is still very much in motion, with advisers and customers responding in real time to shifts in product availability, affordability, and wider sentiment.”
tom.dunstan@ft.com
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