Virgin Money has announced changes to stress test rates when assessing affordability for buy-to-let mortgages.

The interest stress test rate is being reduced from 5% to 4.5% on five year (and longer) fixed rate products. The required rental cover remains at 145%.

Interest stress test rates on buy-to-let remortgages, where there is no additional borrowing, changes from 5.5% to 5% at 125% of rental income.

Sarah Green, director of intermediary mortgages at Virgin Money, said: “In line with the market we are offering reduced stress test rates across several of our products which demonstrates our ongoing commitment to supporting our intermediary partners and the buy-to-let market.”