Buy-to-let borrowers are benefiting from increased competition, which is driving down fees and charges, as well as forcing lenders to offer longer-term fixed rates, according to the latest Buy to Let Mortgage Costs Index from Mortgages for Business.

On average the effect of fees and charges on buy-to-let mortgages was to raise the overall cost for comparison by 0.54% pa in Q3. This is significantly lower than the average of 0.67% extra in fees and charges seen at the start of 2013, and down from 0.58% in the second quarter of 2014.

However, the firm warned that beneath this overall trend there is also a growing divide between fees for buy-to-let borrowers at different loan to value ratios.

Charges for low LTV (up to 65% of property value) and medium LTV (from 65% to 75%) buy-to-let mortgages have fallen dramatically.

By contrast, charges for high LTV (80% and above) loans have increased. In Q1 2013 the effect of these, at 0.71%, was broadly in line with that for medium LTV loans. Yet since then charges have mounted, to add an additional 0.84% to the average cost of buy-to-let borrowing at higher LTVs in the third quarter of 2014.

David Whittaker (pictured), managing director of Mortgages for Business, said: “Healthy competition is good news for landlords, who can now choose from a pool of in excess of 700 different buy to let mortgages. Meanwhile, the wider benefits of more buy-to-let funding are being felt by everyone in the private rented sector – including tenants who have seen a growing supply of homes to let this year.

“This is a vote of confidence in landlords, at a time when lenders remain under serious pressure to maintain the safest possible loan books.

“Yet the details are even more encouraging. Prioritising middle and lower LTVs is prudent – but the most encouraging signs are lenders offering landlords what they need. Longer-term fixed rates are the best option for landlords looking to protect their future income and minimise any risk associated with interest rate rises, and there are now many more of these options available.”

Five-year deals now make up almost one in five fixed rate mortgages on the market, at 19%, up rapidly from 15% in the second quarter of this year.

By contrast, three year fixed rate deals have dropped from 19% to 17% of all products in Q3, while two-year fixes, standing at 54%, still dominate in absolute terms but have also dropped from 57% of products in Q2.

Whittaker added: “As we predicted at the start of the year, buy-to-let lending looks set to total at least £25 billion in 2014.

“However, as the industry starts to look ahead to 2015, the most positive signs aren’t from the headline figures – but in the detail of how lenders are responding to demand for longer-term deals.

“Intrinsically, all landlords tend to have a long view. Careful buy-to-let borrowers will not be thinking about the precise timing of the first rise in Bank Rate but rather what variable mortgage rates might look like in two or three years’ time. So looking ahead, we may see a further increase in longer term fixed rate mortgage products as lenders respond to an increased demand for products that provide more stability.”