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 larger variety of life stages and circumstances for your clients than many other lender.

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
Property Factors: Next to Commercial (Sui Generis)
Our standard acceptability:

Not Acceptable

Criteria definition:

Indicates if a lender can potentially lend on a property where it borders Sui Generis commercial premises.

Our policy notes:

Family Building Society will not lend on properties that border class 'Sui Generis' commercial premises.

Last updated:

07 November 2018

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:

Family Building Society will not lend on properties that have overhead power lines running above them.

Last updated:

06 November 2018

Property Factors: Part Renovated (Is Habitable)
Our standard acceptability:

Acceptable

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we can potentially lend on properties that are 'part renovated' but are in fact considered habitable by a surveyor.

Our policy notes:

Family Building Society can potentially lend on properties that have been part renovated that are likely to be considered habitable by a surveyor. Subject to valuers comments.

Last updated:

07 November 2018

Property Factors: Part Renovated (Not Habitable)
Our standard acceptability:

Not Acceptable

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we can potentially lend on properties that are 'part renovated' and considered non-habitable by a surveyor.

Our policy notes:

Family Building Society will not lend on properties that have been part renovated that are likely to be considered NOT habitable by a surveyor.

Last updated:

07 November 2018

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

Acceptable

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we can potentially lend on properties that have been underpinned in the last 10 years.

Our policy notes:

Family Building Society can potentially lend on properties that have been underpinned in the last 10 years.

Last updated:

07 November 2018

Property has self contained annex
Our standard acceptability:

Not Acceptable

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we can potentially accept applications on properties that contain a self-contained annex within the grounds of the property.

Our policy notes:

Properties with annexes are outside of policy.

Our outside policy allowances:

Properties with annexes can be considered but these will need to be referred to an underwriter prior to submission of an application.

Last updated:

20 April 2017

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 with lending up to 50% LTV.

Last updated:

28 January 2021

Property Ownership: Possessory Title
Our standard acceptability:

Acceptable

Criteria definition:

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

Our policy notes:

Family Building Society can potentially consider lending on properties that are subject to a possessory title.

Last updated:

07 November 2019

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

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:

11 September 2020

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

Acceptable

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we can potentially lend on residential 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 consider joint applications where the property ownership will be as tenancy in common with unequal shares.

Last updated:

07 November 2019

Property Ownership: Trust
Our standard acceptability:

Not Acceptable

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we can potentially lend on residential 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:

09 September 2019

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

30

Criteria definition:

Indicates the area in square metres required when lending on studio flats.

Our policy notes:

We may consider some applications on an exceptional basis where the property is of suitable quality, readily marketable, and acceptable to the valuer and underwriter. Each case will be assessed individually, and acceptance is not guaranteed.

Last updated:

14 May 2026

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

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:

11 September 2020

Property Type: Commonhold Properties
Our standard acceptability:

Acceptable

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we can potentially lend on commonhold properties.

Our policy notes:

Family Building Society can potentially lend on commonhold properties.

Last updated:

10 May 2018

Property Type: Ex local auth flat/maisonette
Our standard acceptability:

Not Acceptable

Criteria definition:

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

Our policy notes:

We would not lend on this property type.

Last updated:

03 July 2017

Property Type: Ex local authority house/bungalow
Our standard acceptability:

Acceptable

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we are potentially able to lend on ex-local authority houses/bungalows.

Our policy notes:

These are acceptable.

Last updated:

17 July 2017

Property Type: Farmhouse (where farmhouse and land are contiguous)
Our standard acceptability:

Not Acceptable

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we are potentially able to lend on farmhouses where the farmhouse and land are contiguous.

Our policy notes:

These are not acceptable.

Last updated:

17 July 2017

Property Type: Flat above commercial food outlet
Our standard acceptability:

Not Acceptable

Criteria definition:

Indicates if we are able to potentially accept flats above a commercial food outlet.

Our policy notes:

We would not accept this sort of property.

Last updated:

03 July 2017

Affordability Calculator

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