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.

Owner Occupier Criteria

Buy to Let Criteria

Let to Rent

Our standard acceptability

Not Acceptable

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we will allow an applicant to remortgage their current residential property onto a Buy to Let mortgage and then move into rented accomodation as opposed to purchasing a new main residence.

Our policy notes:

Family Building Society will not consider Buy to Let remortgage applications where the property is currently the applicants main residence but will now be Let and the applicant will be moving into separate rented accomodation

Last updated:

07 November 2019

Check affordability Contact your BDM Illustration request

Limited Company (SPV) applicant definition

Our standard acceptability

Directors & Shareholders

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we consider both 'Directors AND Shareholders' as applicants or 'Directors' only when assessing applications from Special Purpose Vehicle Ltd Companies.

Our policy notes:

Family Building Society considers both 'Directors AND Shareholders' as applicants when assessing applications from SPV Limited Companies.

Last updated:

19 July 2019

Check affordability Contact your BDM Illustration request

Limited Company (SPV) maximum number of applicants

Our standard acceptability

Criteria definition:

Indicates the maximum number of applicants we can consider when lending to Special Purpose Vehicle Limited Companies.

Our policy notes:

Family Building Society can consider Buy to Let applications from SPVs with a maximum number of applicants of four.

Last updated:

31 May 2018

Check affordability Contact your BDM Illustration request

Limited Company (SPV) Minimum trading period

Our standard acceptability

No Minimum

Criteria definition:

Indicates if there is a minimum trading period for 'Special Purpose Vehicle Limited Companies' and if so how long IN MONTHS this is.

Our policy notes:

The Society will only lend to newly created limited company SPVs.

Last updated:

22 May 2018

Check affordability Contact your BDM Illustration request

Limited Company (SPV) shareholders required to provide personal guarantees

Our standard acceptability

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we require shareholders in a 'Special Purpose Vehicle' Limited Company to provide personal guarantees as well as the 'Directors'.

Our policy notes:

Family Building Society does NOT require shareholders that are not directors to provide personal guarantees on SPV Ltd Company applications in addition to the Directors of the company.

Last updated:

27 November 2025

Check affordability Contact your BDM Illustration request

Limited Company (Trading) applicant definition

Our standard acceptability

Does not lend to Trading Ltd Companies

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we consider both 'Directors AND Shareholders' as applicants or 'Directors' only when assessing applications from Trading Ltd Companies.

Our policy notes:

Family Building Society does not accept Ltd Company Buy to Let applications

Last updated:

22 May 2018

Check affordability Contact your BDM Illustration request

Limited Company (Trading) maximum number of applicants

Our standard acceptability

Does not lend to Trading Ltd Companies

Criteria definition:

Indicates the maximum number of applicants we can consider when lending to Trading Limited Companies

Our policy notes:

The Society does not lend to trading limited companies.

Last updated:

22 May 2018

Check affordability Contact your BDM Illustration request

Limited Company (Trading) Min Trading Period

Our standard acceptability

No Minimum

Criteria definition:

Indicates if there is a minimum trading period for 'Trading Limited Companies' and if so how long IN MONTHS this is.

Our policy notes:

There is no minimum trading period for the SPV. However, the SPV must be a distinct company with its own assets and liabilities, as well as its own legal status and created for the specific objective of the holding of BTL property.

Last updated:

22 March 2021

Check affordability Contact your BDM Illustration request

Limited Company (Trading) shareholders required to provide personal guarantees

Our standard acceptability

Does not lend to Trading Ltd Companies

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we require shareholders in a 'Trading' Limited Company to provide personal guarantees as well as the 'Directors'.

Our policy notes:

Family Building Society does not lend to trading limited companies.

Last updated:

08 November 2021

Check affordability Contact your BDM Illustration request

Limited Company Buy to Let

Our standard acceptability

Accepted

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we can potentially accept Buy to Let applications from Limited Companies

Our policy notes:

Family Building Society can consider Ltd Company Buy to Let applications with SIC codes 68100, 68209 & 68320

We can consider for domestically based applicants and for Expat's living in any of our considered acceptable countries.

Last updated:

27 November 2025

Check affordability Contact your BDM Illustration request

Limited Company Buy to Let (Special Purpose Vehicle SPV)

Our standard acceptability

Accepted

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we can potentially accept Buy to Let applications from Limited Companies where the Ltd company is set up as a 'Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV)'.

Our policy notes:

Family Building Society can potentially accept Buy to Let applications from Ltd Companies set up as a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) with the SIC codes 68100, 68209 & 68320

Last updated:

10 January 2025

Check affordability Contact your BDM Illustration request

Limited Company Buy to Let (Trading Company - No SPV)

Our standard acceptability

Not Accepted

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we can potentially accept Buy to Let applications from Trading Limited Companies. Trading Limited Companies are companies that are not set up exclusively for the purpose of buying property for example a trading ltd company that sells furniture as its primary function.

Our policy notes:

Family Building Society does NOT accept Buy to Let applications from TRADING Ltd Companies.

Last updated:

22 May 2018

Check affordability Contact your BDM Illustration request

Limited Company Maximum Age of Director / Shareholder / Applicant at application

Our standard acceptability

Criteria definition:

Indicates the maximum age an applicant can be at application.

Our policy notes:

Family Building Society can consider Buy to Let applications from Ltd Companies where the applicant is aged 89 or under at point of application.

Last updated:

27 November 2025

Check affordability Contact your BDM Illustration request

Ltd Co BTL: Source of deposit is from applicants other company

Our standard acceptability

Not Acceptable

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we consider a Limited Company Buy to Let application where the source of deposit is from applicants other company

Our policy notes:

Family Building Society will not consider a Limited Company Buy to Let application where the source of deposit is from applicants other company.

Last updated:

16 September 2020

Check affordability Contact your BDM Illustration request

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.

Edit my local BDM

Your Local BDM:

Neil Cadwallader

Neil has over 19 years experience in Financial Services. Neil focuses around South Wales and the West of England area. Contact Neil for help with your clients' mortgages.

Edit my local BDM

Your Local BDM:

Stuart Heavens

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

Edit my local BDM

Your Local BDM:

Amar Mashru

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

Edit my local BDM

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.

Edit my local BDM

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.

Edit my local BDM

Your Local BDM:

Grace Bennett

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

Edit my local BDM

Your Local BDM:

Gina England

Gina has a vast amount of experience with both simple and complex lending solutions. If you're in the East or West Midlands, please contact Gina for help with your clients' mortgages.

Edit my local BDM

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.

Edit my local BDM

We do not currently have a BDM covering your area. Please contact our Mortgage Helpdesk:

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

We may record any telephone calls we have with you in the interest of staff training, monitoring customer service or for security purposes.

Edit my local BDM