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
Owner Occupier Criteria
Buy to Let Criteria
Property Construction: Tower Block with Cladding
Our standard acceptability:

Not Acceptable

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we can potentially consider lending on a property in a tower block with cladding

Our policy notes:

Family Building Society will not lend on a tower block of flats that have cladding

Last updated:

16 September 2020

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Property Construction: Wholly Timbered
Our standard acceptability:

Not Acceptable

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we can potentially consider wholly timbered property

Our policy notes:

Family Building Society will not lend on a wholly timbered property

Last updated:

11 September 2020

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Property Construction: Woolaway
Our standard acceptability:

Not Acceptable

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we can potentially consider a woolaway property

Our policy notes:

Family Building Society will not lend on a woolaway property

Our outside policy allowances:

These are declared defective under the Defective Housing Act and the Society can only consider those that have been adapted and have a PRC certificate.

Last updated:

16 September 2020

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Property Developers
Our standard acceptability:

Acceptable

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we can potentially accept applications from property developers

Our policy notes:

Family Building Society can potentially accept Buy to Let applications from individuals they deem property developers.

Last updated:

31 May 2018

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Property factor: Spray foam insulation
Our standard acceptability:

Not Acceptable

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we can potentially consider properties where there is spray foam insulation

Our policy notes:

Family Building Society is unable to lend on properties with spray foam insulation

Last updated:

03 August 2022

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Property Factors: Mine Shafts
Our standard acceptability:

Acceptable

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we can potentially lend on a property that is close to a mine shaft for Buy to Let applications.

Our policy notes:

Family Building Society can potentially consider lending on properties that are close to a mine shaft.

Last updated:

12 February 2020

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Property factors: Next to commercial (Class A1 – shops and retail outlets)
Our standard acceptability:

Acceptable

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we can potentially lend on a property where it borders Class A1 commercial premises. Class A1 businesses are shops and retail.

Our policy notes:

The Society can usually lend on properties bordering Class A1 commercial premises although these should be referred to ensure they are accpetable.

Last updated:

02 September 2021

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Property factors: Next to commercial (Class A2 – professional services)
Our standard acceptability:

Acceptable

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we can potentially lend on a property where it borders Class A2 commercial premises. Class A2 businesses are professional services.

Our policy notes:

The Society can usually lend on properties bordering Class A2 commercial premises.

Last updated:

02 September 2021

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Property factors: Next to commercial (Class A3 – food and drink)
Our standard acceptability:

Not Acceptable

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we can potentially lend on a property where it borders Class A3 commercial premises. Class A3 businesses are for food and drink.

Our policy notes:

The Society will usually not lend on properties bordering Class A3 commercial premises.

Last updated:

02 September 2021

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Property factors: Next to commercial (Class A4 – drinking establishments)
Our standard acceptability:

Not Acceptable

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we can potentially lend on a property where it borders Class A4 commercial premises. Class A4 businesses are drinking establishments.

Our policy notes:

The Society will usually not lend on properties bordering Class A4 commercial premises.

Last updated:

02 September 2021

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Property Factors: Overhead power lines
Our standard acceptability:

Not Acceptable

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we can potentially lend on properties that have overhead power lines running above them.

Our policy notes:

The Society will not lend on properties with powerlines overhead.

Last updated:

17 August 2023

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Property Factors: Property needing Refurbishment before Letting
Our standard acceptability:

Not Acceptable

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we can potentially consider Buy to Let applications where refurbishment is required

Our policy notes:

Family Building Society will not consider a Buy to Let application where the property requires refurbishment before it can be Let.

Last updated:

07 November 2019

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Property Factors: Underpinned within last 10 years
Our standard acceptability:

Not Acceptable

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we can potentially lend on properties that have been underpinned in the last 10 years on Buy to Let applications

Our policy notes:

Family Building Society will not lend on properties that have been underpinned in the last 10 years

Last updated:

07 November 2019

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Property Issues: Overage Clause
Our standard acceptability:

Acceptable

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we can potentially consider a property with an Overage Clause

Our policy notes:

Family Building Society can potentially consider a property with an Overage Clause for loans up to 50% LTV

Last updated:

28 January 2021

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Property Ownership: Possessory Title
Our standard acceptability:

Not Acceptable

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we can potentially lend on Buy to Let applications for properties that only have possessory title.

Our policy notes:

Family Building Society will not lend on properties that are subject to a possessory title.

Last updated:

07 November 2019

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Property Ownership: Shared access or shared services
Our standard acceptability:

Acceptable

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we can potentially consider a property with shared access or shared services

Our policy notes:

Family Building Society can potentially consider a property with shared access or shared services

Last updated:

16 September 2020

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Property Ownership: Splitting of a title deed on completion
Our standard acceptability:

Acceptable

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we can potentially consider an application where the splitting of a title deed will take place on completion

Our policy notes:

Family Building Society can potentially consider an application where the splitting of a title deed will take place on completion

Last updated:

16 September 2020

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Property Ownership: Tenancy in Common with Unequal Shares
Our standard acceptability:

Not Acceptable

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we can potentially lend on Buy to Let applications on properties where the joint ownership is set up on a tenants in common basis where each owner has an unequal share. For example, Applicant 'A' owns 70% of the property and Applicant 'B' owns 30%.

Our policy notes:

Family Building Society will not consider joint applications where the property ownership will be as tenancy in common with unequal shares.

Last updated:

07 November 2019

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Property Ownership: Trust
Our standard acceptability:

Not Acceptable

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we can potentially lend on Buy to Let applications for properties that are owned by a trust.

Our policy notes:

Family Building Society will not lend on properties that are owned by a trust.

Last updated:

07 November 2019

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Property Type: Basement flat
Our standard acceptability:

Acceptable

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we can potentially lend on a basement flat

Our policy notes:

Family Building Society can potentially lend on a basement flat

Last updated:

16 September 2020

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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