Buy-to-let lenders who are members of the Council of Mortgage Lenders are adopting a new statement of practice, designed to provide clarity about how responsible buy-to-let lenders operate.

The statement reflects existing good practice and aims to ensure that there is a clear explanation of the obligations of buy-to-let borrowers on their mortgages. It signposts additional information from other organisations about the responsibilities of being a landlord, and is endorsed by the Residential Landlords Association, the Association of Residential Letting Agents, the Association of Mortgage Intermediaries, the Intermediary Mortgage Lenders Association, and the British Bankers Association (BBA).

31 lenders representing an estimated 90% of the buy-to-let market have already adopted the statement of practice. All CML members who offer buy-to-let mortgages are expected to adopt it over the course of 2015.

Next year, when the ‘consumer’ buy-to-let lending framework is established under the FCA to comply with the Mortgage Credit Directive, buy-to-let lending will fall into one of three types:

• Mortgages regulated by the FCA like residential mortgages. These are when the property is either partly occupied by the borrower or let to an immediate family member.
• Mortgages regulated by the FCA under the Mortgage Credit Directive Order 2015. These are "consumer" BTL as defined by the Order.
• Mortgages not regulated by the FCA. These are mortgages which are predominantly for a business purpose.

The statement of practice will cover any residential buy-to-let lending not otherwise covered by FCA regulation.