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There is no doubt about it, the buy-to-let mortgage market is in the doldrums – so you all the help you can get if you are to secure further buy-to-let finance.

At the peak of the buy-to-let market there were literally thousands of buy-to-let mortgages in all shapes and sizes – mortgages that needed no proof of rental income, offset buy-to-let, buy-to-let for those with adverse credit, buy-to-let that needed no equity and buy-to-let for the self employed.

But that's all changed. Since the credit crunch most buy-to-let have either cut their mortgage products to nearly zero or have left the market completely .

So now there are only a few lenders who are willing to lend buy-to-let mortgages. Of course, because there is no competition in the market, the lenders are able to be very selective in who they offer credit to and how much they give. Because they have the pick of the market they can effectively cap the mortgages themselves so only the best borrowers get hold of credit.

Not only that, but they will demand documentation that proves without doubt that you have what it takes to be a landlord and manage a property. They will want to see past accounts, credit scores and even letters from accountants – anything to give them 100% assurance that you will be able to pay them each and every month.

So you need a professional buy-to-let mortgage adviser to hold your hand through every step of the process. They will be able to tell as and when it's best to borrow, how much you should borrow ad who you need to go to to get the mortgage. They will tell you what to apply with, what to say and who to say it to – a buy-to-let is the indispensable guide that every landlord needs in 2009 to have any chance of getting hold of the right mortgage.

To keep up with the latest News and comment on the UK buy to let market visit the Buy to Let Mortgage Blog