Compare Mortgage Rates from Zephyr Homeloans Against the Market

Mortgage Products

Zephyr is strictly a Buy-to-Let lender. They focus on the "complex" end of the market.

• Specialist Buy-to-Let:

  • Portfolio Landlords: They have no limit on the number of properties you can own in the background.

  • Limited Companies: They are experts in lending to SPVs (Special Purpose Vehicles) and trading limited companies.

  • No Minimum Income: They generally do not require a minimum personal income, provided the rental income stacks up (though you usually need to be an existing homeowner).

• Complex Properties:

  • This is their main strength. They lend on:

    • HMOs (Houses in Multiple Occupation) up to 12 bedrooms.

    • MUFBs (Multi-Unit Freehold Blocks) up to 12 units.

    • Flats above Commercial: (e.g., above shops or restaurants).

    • Deck Access Flats: (Balcony access), which many lenders refuse.

    • New Builds: They lend up to 75% LTV on new build flats.

• EPC / Green Products:

  • They offer discounted interest rates for properties with an EPC rating of A, B, or C.

Pros and Cons of Zephyr Homeloans

Here is a balanced overview of choosing Zephyr for your portfolio.

Pros:

• Manual Underwriting: They do not rely on a simple "computer says no" credit score. A human underwriter reviews the case. This is vital if you have a complex background or a property that doesn't fit standard boxes.

• Property Flexibility: If you are buying a block of 6 flats or a flat above a shop, Zephyr is one of the "go-to" lenders.

• Aggressive Affordability: They offer generous stress tests, particularly for 5-year fixed rates and Limited Companies, allowing you to borrow more against the rental income than high-street banks might allow.

• Stability: Being part of the Computershare group means they are not a small, risky "peer-to-peer" lender; they have significant institutional backing.

Cons:

• Broker Only: You cannot apply directly. You must use a professional mortgage intermediary.

• Speed: Manual underwriting is thorough but slower than automated lenders. It can take a few weeks to get an offer, whereas TMW might do it in days.

• Fees: As a specialist lender, their arrangement fees can be higher (often 1.5% to 2% or higher for specific products) compared to vanilla lenders.

Customer Service and Reviews

• Consumer Reviews: It is difficult to find direct consumer reviews for "Zephyr Homeloans" on platforms like Trustpilot because they deal almost exclusively with brokers.

  • Note: You might find reviews for Topaz Finance (their parent company), but be careful—Topaz also manages "closed books" of old mortgages from other defunct lenders (like Rosinca/Heliodor). Negative reviews for Topaz often relate to those old legacy loans, not the active Zephyr brand.

• Broker Reputation: In the industry, Zephyr is well-regarded for their Business Development Managers (BDMs). Brokers value them for their ability to verify a "weird" property before submitting the application.

How to Apply

1. Find a Specialist Broker: You must use a mortgage broker to access Zephyr. They do not accept direct applications from the public - get started here and we’ll match you with one.

2. Assessment: Your broker will usually run a "pre-submission" check with a Zephyr BDM to ensure your property (especially if it's an HMO or block of flats) meets their specific criteria.