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

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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Property Type: Coach house

Our standard acceptability

Acceptable

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we can potentially consider a coach house property

Our policy notes:

Family Building Society can potentially lend on coach houses

Last updated:

16 September 2020

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Property Type: Ex local auth flat/maisonette

Our standard acceptability

Not Acceptable

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we can potentially able to lend on ex local authority flats/maisonettes.

Our policy notes:

We would not lend on this property type.

Last updated:

31 May 2018

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Property Type: Ex local authority house/bungalow

Our standard acceptability

Acceptable

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we can potentially lend on ex local authority houses/bungalows.

Our policy notes:

These are acceptable.

Last updated:

31 May 2018

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Property Type: Flat above commercial food outlet

Our standard acceptability

Not Acceptable

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we can potentially accept flats above a commercial food outlet.

Our policy notes:

We would not accept this sort of property.

Last updated:

31 May 2018

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Property Type: Flat above commercial offices

Our standard acceptability

Acceptable

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we can potentially accept flats that are above commercial offices.

Our policy notes:

Prestige locations only. Properties should have separate title and access. Valuer to confirm the property is readily saleable.

Last updated:

31 May 2018

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Property Type: Flat above commercial pub

Our standard acceptability

Not Acceptable

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we can potentially accept flats that are above a pub.

Our policy notes:

We would not consider this type of property.

Last updated:

31 May 2018

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Property Type: Freehold flats and maisonettes

Our standard acceptability

Not Acceptable

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we can potentially accept a flat or maisonette where the tenure is freehold.

Our policy notes:

Freehold flats/maisonettes are not acceptable.

Last updated:

31 May 2018

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Property Type: Grade 1 listed building

Our standard acceptability

Not Acceptable

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we can potentially consider lending on property classified as a Grade 1 listed building. Categories of listed buildings in England & Wales: Grade I: buildings of exceptional interest. Grade II*: particularly important buildings of more than special interest. Grade II: buildings that are of special interest, warranting every effort to preserve them.

Our policy notes:

The Society is unable to lend on Grade 1 listed properties.

Last updated:

16 August 2023

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Property Type: Grade 2 Listed Building

Our standard acceptability

Acceptable

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we can potentially consider lending on property classified as a Grade 2 Listed Building. Categories of listed buildings in England & Wales: Grade I: buildings of exceptional interest. Grade II*: particularly important buildings of more than special interest. Grade II: buildings that are of special interest, warranting every effort to preserve them.

Our policy notes:

The Society will lend on Grade II listed properties.

Last updated:

17 August 2023

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Property Type: Studio flat

Our standard acceptability

Not Acceptable

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we can potentially lend on studio flats.

Our policy notes:

Studio flats are not normally acceptable.

Last updated:

31 May 2018

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Property Type: Studio Flat Minimum Floor Area (Sq Metres)

Our standard acceptability

We do not lend on studio flats

Criteria definition:

Indicates the area in square metres required when lending on studio flats for Buy to Let lending.

Our policy notes:

Family Building Society does not lend on studio flats.

Last updated:

31 May 2018

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Property usage: Agricultural restrictions

Our standard acceptability

Not Acceptable

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we can potentially accept properties that have agricultural restrictions.

Our policy notes:

The Society will not usually lend on properties with agricultural restrictions.

Last updated:

03 August 2022

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.

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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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