Criteria A-Z

As we manually underwrite our mortgages we're much more flexible with our criteria than most. Using our common sense approach (and our ears!) means we can cater for a wide spectrum of solutions for your clients, no matter their circumstances.

Browse criteria by A-Z below or search criteria by keyword to find what you need.

Take a look at what we have to offer
Buy to Let Criteria
Can Consider Earned Income in Rental Assessment (Topslicing)

Our standard acceptability

No

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we can potentially consider applicants earned income in addition to the rental income for a property when calculating the maximum mortgage that can be borrowed.

Our policy notes:

Family Building Society will not consider earned income in affordability assessment where the UK property is to be a Buy to let.

Last updated:

06 November 2018

Can extend mortgage offer

Our standard acceptability

Yes

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we can potentially extend a clients mortgage offer beyond the standard expiry.

Our policy notes:

Documentation and the valuation may need to be updated if these items exceed six months old.

Last updated:

31 May 2018

Can use actual existing rent when higher than valuers estimate

Our standard acceptability

No

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we can potentially use the actual rent received from an existing tenant when it is higher than the valuer's estimate. For example, this situation could arise on remortgage applications where, in the valuer's opinion, the market rent is lower than what the landlord is currently receiving.

Our policy notes:

Family Building Society will not use the current rent received from the current tenant for affordability assessment when it exceeds the valuers estimate.

Last updated:

22 May 2018

Can use valuers rental estimate even if higher than actual existing rent

Our standard acceptability

No

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we can potentially use the valuer's estimate when assessing loan affordability even if the actual rent being received is less than the estimate. For example, this situation could arise on remortgage applications where the existing tenant is paying below the market estimate (based on the valuer's rental valuation).

Our policy notes:

Family Building Society will use actual rent if lower than the valuers estimate

Last updated:

22 May 2018

CCJs registered between 12 to 24 Months

Our standard acceptability

Not Acceptable

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we can potentially accept applicants that have had any CCJs registered more than 12 months ago and less than 24 months ago on Buy to Let applications. Other factors will also be taken into consideration such as, but by no means limited to, number of adverse, value and the overall credit profile of an applicant.

Our policy notes:

Family Building Society will not consider applicants that have had CCJs registered more than 12 months ago and less than 24 months ago on Buy to Let applications.

Last updated:

07 November 2019

CCJs registered between 24 to 36 Months

Our standard acceptability

Not Acceptable

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we can potentially accept applicants that have had any CCJs registered more than 24 months ago and less than 36 months ago on Buy to Let applications. Other factors will also be taken into consideration such as, but by no means limited to, number of adverse, value and the overall credit profile of an applicant.

Our policy notes:

Family Building Society will not consider applicants that have had CCJs registered more than 24 months ago and less than 36 months ago on Buy to Let applications.

Last updated:

07 November 2019

CCJs registered between 3 to 12 Months

Our standard acceptability

Not Acceptable

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we can potentially accept applicants that have had any CCJs registered more than 3 months ago and less than 12 months ago on Buy to Let applications. Other factors will also be taken into consideration such as, but by no means limited to, number of adverse, value and the overall credit profile of an applicant.

Our policy notes:

Family Building Society will not consider applicants that have had CCJs registered more than 3 months ago and less than 12 months ago on Buy to Let applications.

Last updated:

07 November 2019

CCJs registered in last 3 Months

Our standard acceptability

Not Acceptable

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we can potentially accept applicants that have had any CCJs registered in the past 3 months on Buy to Let applications.. Other factors will also be taken into consideration such as, but by no means limited to, number of adverse, value and the overall credit profile of an applicant.

Our policy notes:

Family Building Society will not consider applicants that have had CCJs registered in the past 3 months on Buy to Let applications.

Last updated:

07 November 2019

CCJs registered over 36 Months ago

Our standard acceptability

Not Ignored

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we can potentially ignore CCJs that were registered more than 36 months ago on Buy to Let applications. Other factors will also be taken into consideration such as, but by no means limited to, number of adverse, value and the overall credit profile of an applicant.

Our policy notes:

Family Building Society will not ignore any CCJs that were registered over 36 months ago on Buy to Let applications.

Last updated:

07 November 2019

Company BTL affordability assessment

Our standard acceptability

ICR based

Criteria definition:

This relates to the potential rental calculation we will apply. 

Our policy notes:

Normal BTL ICR requirements apply.

Last updated:

03 August 2023

Consumer Buy to Let (position and definition)

Our standard acceptability

Acceptable

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we can lend when we consider the transaction to be a 'Consumer Buy to Let (CBTL)' and what our definition of a consumer buy to let is. A CBTL is often referred to as an accidental landlord.

Our policy notes:

Family Building Society can potentially accept applicants classed as a 'Consumer Buy to Let (CBTL)'

Last updated:

10 May 2018

Contract Reassignment

Our standard acceptability

Not Acceptable

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we can potentially accept a situation whereby the purchaser is looking to buy a new build property from a third party (not the builder/developer). An example of this is whereby a third party has secured the property off plan and exchanged contracts but has not completed. They then sell the contract to a new purchaser. This is known as 'contract reassignment'. Sometimes this is for a premium of the original purchase price and sometimes it is without a premium.

Our policy notes:

These are not acceptable.

Last updated:

31 May 2018

Credit Checks with Equifax

Our standard acceptability

Yes

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we use Equifax as a credit reference agency when assessing applications.

Our policy notes:

We currently use Equifax for our credit search facility

Last updated:

31 May 2018

Credit Checks with Experian

Our standard acceptability

No

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we use Experian as a credit reference agency when assessing Buy to Let applications.

Our policy notes:

We currently don't use Experian for our credit search facility.

Last updated:

31 May 2018

Credit Checks with Transunion (formerly Callcredit)

Our standard acceptability

no

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we use Transunion (formerly Callcredit) as a credit reference agency when assessing applications.

Our policy notes:

We currently don't use Callcredit for our credit search facility

Last updated:

31 January 2018

Credit Scores?

Our standard acceptability

No

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we use 'credit scoring' to assess a client(s) mortgage application usually at agreement in principle (AIP) stage.

Our policy notes:

We don't credit score applications. Applications are assessed individually based on their own merit by underwriters.

Last updated:

31 May 2018

Criminal Convictions

Our standard acceptability

Acceptable

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we can potentially accept applicants that have a criminal record.

Our policy notes:

Family Building Society can potentially accept applicants with criminal convictions.

Last updated:

15 January 2021

Affordability Calculator

Find out how much your residential client may be able to borrow. To see affordability for a Buy to Let client, use our Buy to Let calculator

Find Your Local

Business Development Manager

Your Local BDM:

Sam Morrison

Working out of our head office, as our phone-based BDM in Epsom, Sam has a wealth of knowledge regarding our processes and criteria and covers a variety of postcodes across the UK.
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Your Local BDM:

Neil Cadwallader

Neil has over 19 years experience in Financial Services from pensions and investments to mortgages. Neil focuses around South Wales and the West of England area. Contact Neil for help with your clients' mortgages.
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Your Local BDM:

Stuart Heavens

Stuart focuses on the South Coast area. Contact Stuart for help with your clients' mortgages.
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Your Local BDM:

Amar Mashru

Amar focuses on the Central London area. Contact Amar for help with your clients' mortgages.
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Your Local BDM:

Arif Kara

Arif was previously a mortgage adviser, and focuses on North and West London. Contact Arif for help with your clients' mortgages.
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Your Local BDM:

Nathan Waller

Nathan, previously a mortgage broker, focuses on Cambridgeshire, East Sussex, Essex, Suffolk, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk and Kent. Contact Nathan for help with your clients' mortgages.
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Your Local BDM:

Grace Bennett

Grace focuses around the West M25 area. Contact Grace for help with your clients' mortgages.
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Your Local BDM:

Darren Deacon

Darren has over 28 years' Financial Services experience and focuses on both the East and West Midlands as well as the Southwest. Contact Darren for help with your clients' mortgages.
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Your Local BDM:

Paul Roberts

Paul has over 30 years' experience and focuses on the North (inc. M62 corridor), Yorkshire and the North East. Contact Paul for help with your clients' mortgages.
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We do not currently have a BDM covering your area. Please contact our Mortgage Helpdesk:

Opening hours: Monday - Friday: 9am - 5.30pm. Saturday: Closed

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