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

New Build Warranty: Zurich Municipal "New Build"

Our standard acceptability

Acceptable

Criteria definition:

Indicates if Zurich Municipal "New Build" is an acceptable new build warranty for us on new build properties.

Our policy notes:

This is acceptable.

Last updated:

31 May 2018

Check affordability Contact your BDM Illustration request

Non Owner Occupier

Our standard acceptability

Not Acceptable

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we can potentially accept an applicant that is a non-owner occupier for a Buy to Let application.
This is not to be confused with a First Time Buyer or First Time Landlord.

Our policy notes:

Family Building Society does not accept Buy to Let applications from 'Non Owner Occupiers'.

Last updated:

31 May 2018

Check affordability Contact your BDM Illustration request

Number of credit reference agencies used

Our standard acceptability

Criteria definition:

Indicates the number of credit reference agencies we may use during the entire application process.

Our policy notes:

The Society uses Equifax for credit searches.

Last updated:

02 September 2021

Check affordability Contact your BDM Illustration request

Offer expiry time (New Build)

Our standard acceptability

150

Criteria definition:

Displays the number of days a NEW BUILD Buy to Let mortgage offer is valid for.

Our policy notes:

Our offers are valid, as a standard, for five months for discounted products and to a specific date for fixed rates (see our product guide).

Last updated:

31 May 2018

Check affordability Contact your BDM Illustration request

Offer expiry time (Standard)

Our standard acceptability

150

Criteria definition:

Displays the number of days a STANDARD Buy to Let mortgage offer is valid for.

Our policy notes:

Our offers are valid for five months, as a standard, for discounted products or to a specific date (see our product guide) for fixed rates.

Last updated:

31 May 2018

Check affordability Contact your BDM Illustration request

Offset Mortgages Available?

Our standard acceptability

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we can offer Buy to Let offset mortgages (subject to product availability).

Our policy notes:

Family Building Society does not offers offset mortgages.

Last updated:

27 November 2025

Check affordability Contact your BDM Illustration request

Overpayment facility as standard (percentage)

Our standard acceptability

Criteria definition:

Indicates the amount you can usually overpay (subject to product availability) without penalty on our Buy to Let mortgages.

Our policy notes:

Borrowers can overpay up to 10% without penalty.

Last updated:

31 May 2018

Check affordability Contact your BDM Illustration request

Ownership of Adjoining Property (Related Transaction)

Our standard acceptability

Not Acceptable

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we can potentially lend on a property where the adjoining property is also owned by one of the applicants.

Our policy notes:

Family Building Society does not lend on properties where the applicant also owns the adjoining property.

Last updated:

21 August 2019

Check affordability Contact your BDM Illustration request

Permission to Self Occupy Holiday Let Property

Our standard acceptability

We do not accept Holiday Let applications

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we can potentially consider applications from borrowers that wish to Let the property on a Holiday Let basis and occupy the property themselves from time to time. For example whilst the property is predominantly Let on a Holiday Let a few weeks a year the applicant would like to stay in the property.

Our policy notes:

Family Building Society does not lend on properties that are intended to be Let as a 'Holiday Let'

Last updated:

22 May 2018

Check affordability Contact your BDM Illustration request

Politically exposed persons

Our standard acceptability

Not Acceptable

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we can potentially accept Buy to Let applications from an applicant that is considered a politically exposed person.

Our policy notes:

Family Building Society will not consider an applicant that is classed as a politically exposed person.

Last updated:

07 November 2019

Check affordability Contact your BDM Illustration request

Portable mortgages as standard

Our standard acceptability

Yes

Criteria definition:

Indicates if our Buy to Let mortgages are portable as standard.

Our policy notes:

Our products are portable.

Last updated:

31 May 2018

Check affordability Contact your BDM Illustration request

Portfolio Applicants Minimum Income Requirement

Our standard acceptability

No Minimum

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we specifiy a minimum income an applicant must earn in order to be considered for a Buy to Let mortgage where the applicant is considered a portfolio landlord.

Our policy notes:

The Society does not have a minimum income for Buy to Let.

Last updated:

30 April 2019

Check affordability Contact your BDM Illustration request

Portfolio Landlord Minimum Experience

Our standard acceptability

No Minimum

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we require a minimum amount of experience (IN MONTHS) if lending to what we consider to be a portfolio landlord.

Our policy notes:

The Society does not insist on a minimum period of experience.

Last updated:

31 May 2018

Check affordability Contact your BDM Illustration request

Portfolio Landlords Position and Definition

Our standard acceptability

Accepted

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we can accept 'Portfolio' landlords and IMPORTANTLY how they define a portfolio landlord.

Our policy notes:

Family Building Society specifies a 'Portfolio Landlord' as 4 or more completed qualifying rental properties that are mortgaged. The number of qualifying properties that constitutes a 'Portfolio Landlord' is All applicants combined Buy To Let properties. A qualifying property:

Includes Privately owned Buy to Let rental properties
Includes Company owned Buy to Let rental properties
Includes Consent to Let properties
Includes Holiday Lets

Last updated:

31 May 2018

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Post Offer Changes

Our standard acceptability

Yes

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we will allow post-offer changes

Our policy notes:

Family Building Society can potentially allow post offer changes

Last updated:

03 August 2023

Check affordability Contact your BDM Illustration request

Power of Attorneys

Our standard acceptability

Not Acceptable

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we can potentially accept Buy to Let applications from an applicant that is acting with Power of Attorney.

Our policy notes:

Family Building Society will not consider an applicant from someone acting as a power of attorney.

Last updated:

07 November 2019

Check affordability Contact your BDM Illustration request

Premium lease agreements (tenancies where a proportion of the rent is paid upfront)

Our standard acceptability

Not Acceptable

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we can potentially consider applications where the applicant's tenant will be paying their rent as an advance payment.

Our policy notes:

Family Building Society does not accept 'Premium Lease Agreements' where a prospective tenant is paying their rent as an advanced payment.

Last updated:

31 May 2018

Check affordability Contact your BDM Illustration request

Previously Repossessed (years ago acceptable)

Our standard acceptability

Not Acceptable

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we can accept Buy to Let applications from applicants that have previously been repossessed and if so how many years need to have passed to be acceptable.

Our policy notes:

Unfortunately, we are unable to lend to any borrower who has been previously repossessed.

Last updated:

31 May 2018

Check affordability Contact your BDM Illustration request

Properties with Asbestos

Our standard acceptability

Not Acceptable

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we can potentially lend on a property where there is evidence of asbestos present.

Our policy notes:

Family Building Society does NOT lend on properties where Asbestos is identified.

Last updated:

31 May 2018

Check affordability Contact your BDM Illustration request

Property being purchased at auction

Our standard acceptability

Acceptable

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we can potentially consider an application where the property will be purchased at auction

Our policy notes:

Family Building Society can consider an Buy to Let application where the property will be purchased at auction

Last updated:

16 September 2020

Check affordability Contact your BDM Illustration request

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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

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. 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:

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.

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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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