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
Defaults registered between 3 to 12 Months
Our standard acceptability:

Not Acceptable

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we can potentially accept applicants that have had any Defaults 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 Defaults registered more than 3 months ago and less than 12 months ago on Buy to Let applications.

Last updated:

07 November 2019

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Defaults registered in last 3 Months
Our standard acceptability:

Not Acceptable

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we can potentially accept applicants that have had any Defaults 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 Defaults registered in the past 3 months on Buy to Let applications.

Last updated:

07 November 2019

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Defaults registered over 36 Months ago
Our standard acceptability:

Potentially Ignored

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we can potentially ignore Defaults 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 ignore any satisfied Defaults that were registered over 36 months ago (and satisfied at least 24 months ago) on Buy to Let applications.

Last updated:

08 June 2021

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Discharged Bankrupt (years)
Our standard acceptability:

3

Criteria definition:

Displays if we can accept discharged bankrupts on Buy to Let applications and if so how long a client has to have been discharged for. 

Our policy notes:

We can consider discharged bankrupts as long as they have been discharged at least three years, have no subsequent adverse registered credit and can provide a satisfactory explanation. Please refer these for consideration prior to an application being submitted.

Last updated:

31 May 2018

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Energy Performance Rating (EPC) rating 'F' or 'G'
Our standard acceptability:

Not Acceptable

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we can potentially offer Buy to Let mortgages on properties that have an EPC rating of 'F' or 'G'

Our policy notes:

Family Building Society will not offer Buy to Let mortgages on properties that have an EPC rating of 'F or 'G'.

Last updated:

07 November 2019

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Escalating Ground Rents
Our standard acceptability:

Not Acceptable

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we can potentially lend on Buy to Let applications for leasehold properties that have an escalating ground rent clause.

Our policy notes:

Family Building Society will not lend on leasehold properties where an escalating ground rent clause exists.

Last updated:

07 November 2019

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Estate Rentcharges
Our standard acceptability:

Not Acceptable

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we can potentially lend on Buy to Let applications for freehold properties where 'Estate Rent Charge' clauses exist.

Our policy notes:

Family Building Society will not lend on freehold properties where exists any estate charge obligations against the purchaser.

Last updated:

07 November 2019

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EU Nationals with a ‘pre-settled status’
Our standard acceptability:

Acceptable

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we can potentially consider buy to let applications from EU Nationals with a ‘pre-settled status’ under the EU Settlement Scheme

Our policy notes:

Family Building Society can potentially lend to EU Nationals with a ‘pre-settled status’ under the EU Settlement Scheme

Last updated:

02 August 2021

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EU Nationals with a ‘settled status’
Our standard acceptability:

Acceptable

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we can potentially consider buy to let applications from EU Nationals with a ‘settled status’ under the EU Settlement Scheme

Our policy notes:

Family Building Society can potentially lend to EU Nationals with a ‘settled status’ under the EU Settlement Scheme

Last updated:

02 August 2021

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Ex MOD properties
Our standard acceptability:

Acceptable

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we can consider lending on an ex MOD property on a buy to let application.

Our policy notes:

Family Building Society can potentially consider an application on an ex MOD property

Last updated:

15 January 2021

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Expat Buy to Let
Our standard acceptability:

Acceptable

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we can potentially consider Buy to Let applications from expats.

Our policy notes:

We can accept applications from expatriates from a restricted list of countries, as follows:

Austria, Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Falkland Islands, Finland, France ( France, Mayotte, New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, and Wallis and Futuna), Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jersey, Kingdom of the Netherlands (The Netherlands, Aruba, Curacao, Saint Maarten), Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom (including UK Crown Dependencies), and United States.

A note for our packager partners:

In addition, the Society has agreed on a policy through our packager partners for lending to expats in Bahrain, Bermuda, Hong Kong, Mauritius, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE on an exceptional basis.

Plus Antigua, China (inc Taiwan) and South Africa. But they will be subject to the additional requirements below:

•The monthly mortgage payments should be made from a UK bank account from where any rental payments are received.
•Any deposit monies are paid from or evidenced as held within a UK bank account
•Applicants must be working for recognised large organisations that have a UK presence.

Our outside policy allowances:

We can accept applications from British National Overseas Passport holders

Last updated:

05 June 2026

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ExPat Deposit source non-UK
Our standard acceptability:

Not Acceptable

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we can accept deposits that have originated outside of the European Economic Area (EEA) as an acceptable source of deposit for Expat Buy to Let applications.

Our policy notes:

Family Building Society will not consider expat applications where the source of deposit does not originate from the UK.

Last updated:

07 November 2019

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Expat minimum income
Our standard acceptability:

No Minimum

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we have a minimum income requirement when assessing expat applications and if so what is it

Our policy notes:

Family Building Society has no minimum income.

Last updated:

06 November 2018

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Expat Regulated Buy to Let (Let to Family Member)
Our standard acceptability:

Not Acceptable

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we can consider expat buy to let applications where the intention is to Let to a family member

Our policy notes:

Family Building Society does not accept Buy to Let mortgages from Expat applicants where the property will be Let to Family Member(s)

Last updated:

31 January 2018

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Expat UK Credit Profile Required
Our standard acceptability:

No

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we require expats to have a UK credit profile

Our policy notes:

Family Building Society does not require 'Expat' applicants to have a UK credit profile

Last updated:

11 December 2019

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Expat: Holiday Lets
Our standard acceptability:

We do not accept Expat Buy to Let applications

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we can potentially consider applications from expat borrowers that wish to Let the property on a Holiday Let basis.

Our policy notes:

Family Building Society will not consider 'Holiday Lets' on an expat Buy to Let basis.

Last updated:

19 March 2021

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Financial Associates with Adverse
Our standard acceptability:

Not Acceptable

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we can potentially accept Buy to Let applications from an applicant who is financially associated with someone who has adverse credit.

Our policy notes:

Family Building Society will not accept applicants that are financially associated with persons that have adverse credit.

Last updated:

07 November 2019

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First Time Buyers
Our standard acceptability:

Not Acceptable

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we can potentially consider applications from First Time Buyers.

Our policy notes:

Family Building Society does not accept Buy to Let applications from 'First Time Buyers'

Last updated:

22 May 2018

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First Time Landlords
Our standard acceptability:

Acceptable

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we can potentially consider applications from First Time Landlords.

Our policy notes:

Family Building Society can potentially accept Buy to Let applications from 'First Time Landlords'.

Last updated:

31 May 2018

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Flat/Maisonette Maximum LTV (New Build)
Our standard acceptability:

Not Acceptable

Criteria definition:

Indicates the maximum potential loan to value (LTV) we can accept where the property type is a NEW BUILD flat or NEW BUILD maisonette.

Our policy notes:

We do not accept new build flats/maisonettes.

Last updated:

31 May 2018

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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