Our criteria is designed to be clear, flexible and easy to work with - because we know every case is different. We manually underwrite every application, which means we can take a more flexible view across income, property and credit.
Explore our full criteria below for detailed guidance, or use our AI Criteria Assistant for quick, tailored answers to your specific case.
Acceptable
Acceptable
Acceptable
Acceptable if the total value does not exceed £500 and are satisfied.
Unable to consider.
Unable to consider.
Acceptable if satisfied for a minimum of 12 months and is over 3 years old.
Acceptable if the total value does not exceed £5000 and are satisfied.
Acceptable if discharged for 3 years, with satisfactory credit history over that period and no defaults or CCJs registered in the last 6 years.
Acceptable
Unable to consider.
Acceptable if IVA has been settled in full for at least 36 months and no new adverse since it ended.
Acceptable where a maximum of 3 in last 12 months have occurred.
Acceptable where no more than a status 2 in previous 24 months.
Max of 2 in the last 24 months can be considered, must be satisfied and cannot have reached higher than a status 2.
Acceptable where older than 24 months.
Acceptable if possession satisfied over 3 years ago.
Acceptable
Acceptable with satisfactory explanation.
Minimum 36 months residency required
Can be considered
No maximum age at end of term if a repayment vehicle is in place.
Maximum age of 75 applies if repayment vehicle is Downsizing.
No maximum age at start of term.
No maximum age at end of term. Refer to current product range for appropriate products.
No Maximum age.
85 years.
No maximum age.
18 years
No Maximum age.
No Maximum age.
55 years.
Unable to consider.
Acceptable
Acceptable
Acceptable if the payday loan has been fully repaid.
Acceptable if satisfied over 36 months ago.
Acceptable
Acceptable in the following circumstances:
The sole applicant is a UK Crown or Service Personnel who may be intermittently posted abroad and therefore will not residing in the UK full time, but where the property will not be let upon completion (Should there be intention to let the property refer to the Buy to Let Criteria);
An applicant is a UK Crown or Service Personnel and the second applicant is a partner/spouse who will continue to reside in the UK full time and within the security property; and
An applicant is a UK Crown or Service Personnel and the second applicant is a partner/spouse who will continue to reside in the UK full time and within the security property; and
Their contractual remuneration/income is in (GBP) £Sterling, even if paid in a currency local to where they are resident.
Unable to consider.
Acceptable if the applicant has indefinite leave to remain, is an EU, EEA, or Swiss citizen with 'settled' or 'pre-settled' status or were born outside the UK and have evidence of receiving UK naturalisation.
Unable to consider.
No minimum income requirement.
No minimum.
Acceptable
Acceptable
Acceptable for applicants who are returning to the UK with secured permanent employment and are paid in £Sterling (GBP). Self-employed applicants should refer to our team.
Unable to consider.
Acceptable but treated as self-employed subject to a minimum of 6 months remaining on current contract with 2 years history supported by 2 years SA302s. Income averaged over the last 2 years.
12 months minimum.
46 weeks
No minimum income requirement.
No minimum time remaining requirement.
Acceptable
Unable to consider.
3 months with current employer and 12 months continuous employment history. Must have no gaps of more than a month in the previous 12. Any probation periods must be completed before the mortgage completes.
Minimum of 12 months.
Assessed the same as a self-employed applicant using accounts and SA302s.
Minimum of 24 months. Can consider applicants who recently joined LLP if the business has been trading for at least 2 years.
Acceptable with evidence of the new offer of employment. Mortgage can't complete until first salary received and completion of any probationary period.
Acceptable with evidence of the pay rise. Mortgage can't complete until first salary received and completion of any probationary period.
Acceptable but can't complete until probationary period is completed, but if applicant changed jobs within same profession and have history in that field, completion can take place in that period.
Acceptable if they own 4 or more properties and will be treated as self-employed, subject to affordability assessment.
Unable to consider.
Unable to consider.
20% Maximum.
Unable to consider.
Acceptable subject to plausible explanations.
Unable to consider.
Unable to consider.
Unable to consider.
18 months.
12 months. If between 6-12 months, we'll need to see a projection with details of what it's based on included.
Standard Product Range
Self employed income 24 months +
Complex / Non-Standard Income:
Less than 12 months in employment - And or in probation. If in probation then complex
12–23 months self-employed or contract work
Future use of employment income or projections
Acceptable
Unable to consider.
Acceptable
Acceptable where minimum 12 months in the position.
Unable to consider as an income type.
Unable to consider as an income type.
Acceptable where not used as sole income and only up to 50% and can be evidenced with most recent award statement and bank statements showing income.
Acceptable up to 50% where evidence of most recent child benefit award statement and bank statements showing income can be provided.
Unable to consider as an income type.
Unable to consider as an income type.
Acceptable up to 100% with evidence of most recent award statement and latest bank statement showing carers allowance credit.
Unable to consider as an income type.
Acceptable but only as secondary income and only up to 30%.
Unable to consider as an income type.
Acceptable where not used as sole income and only up to 50%. Must be evidenced with most recent award statement and 6 months bank statements.
Acceptable if the applicant is in gainful employment. Standard allowance and children categories only. Last 3 months Universal Credit award statements required.
Acceptable up to 50% where the loan is 80% LTV or lower.
Acceptable.
Acceptable
Acceptable where 12 months history can be documented with payslips or a P60.
Acceptable
Acceptable.
Can be considered as second applicant only. Speak to our team.
Unable to consider.
Acceptable.
Can be considered as second applicant only. Speak to our team.
Acceptable subject to minimum 18 months history and evidence of further contract.
Acceptable subject to minimum 18 months history in same type of employment and minimum 6 months remaining on current contract.
Unable to consider.
Acceptable subject to 12 months history in same occupation.
Acceptable with 3 months payslips and P60.
Acceptable.
Acceptable but not if unsustainable going forward or temporary. Payslips/P60 requried to evidence.
Acceptable
Acceptable with last 3 payslips for evidence.
Acceptable at 50%.
Acceptable.
Acceptable.
Acceptable subject to employment being confirmed by a qualified external accountant and a P60.
Acceptable.
Unable to consider.
Acceptable at 50% subject to 3 months history evidenced by payslips.
Acceptable at 50% subject to 3 months history evidenced by payslips.
Unable to consider.
Acceptable.
Acceptable
Unable to consider.
Acceptable if they have a minimum of 12 months in second job.
Acceptable.
Acceptable.
Acceptable subject to minimum 12 months history in same occupation.
Acceptable if they can be evidenced on payslips/P60.
Acceptable with evidence of investment income.
Acceptable at 50% of the rental income for affordability assessment.
Acceptable at 50% of the net income.
Acceptable.
Acceptable with evidence of value with a reward letter or equivalent proof and duration.
Acceptable.
Unable to consider.
Acceptable at 50%.
Acceptable
Acceptable.
Acceptable with a reward letter or equivalent proof and duration.
Acceptable.
Acceptable.
Acceptable if deemed payable for life.
Acceptable.
Unable to consider.
Acceptable.
Acceptable with evidence of sustainable income for the duration of the mortgage.
Acceptable.
Acceptable.
Acceptable.
Acceptable.
Acceptable using the share of net profit after tax.
Acceptable.
Unable to consider.
Acceptable.
Acceptable.
Will include when assessing affordability
Can ignore when assessing affordability
Will include when assessing affordability
Will include when assessing affordability
Will include when assessing affordability
Will include when assessing affordability
Will include when assessing affordability
Can ignore when assessing affordability
Will include when assessing affordability
Will include when assessing affordability
Will include when assessing affordability
Will include when assessing affordability
We'll use the outstanding balance of any additional residential mortgages when assessing affordability as opposed the monthly payment, based on our standard stress rate.
Consideration for additional costs will also be taken into account:
Acceptable.
Acceptable.
Acceptable if from family.
Unable to consider.
Unable to consider.
Unable to consider.
Unable to consider.
We don't use Equifax when assessing applications.
We don't use Experian when assessing applications.
We use Transunion as a credit reference agency when assessing applications.
We don't use credit scoring when assessing applications.
Acceptable but not if the purchase was under value, purchased from family/friend or purchased in a private sale.
Acceptable subject to providing a copy of the Will and Grant of probate.
Unable to consider.
Unable to consider.
Unable to consider.
Acceptable but borrower must be able to afford 70% of the repayment. We'll need to see income/expenditure, intended term and age as well as status of guarantor.
Acceptable.
Unable to consider.
Unable to consider.
5.5x based on both Gross and Net income affordability. Always check affordability calculator.
5.5x based on both Gross and Net income affordability. Always check affordability calculator.
Acceptable where no discount is being offered.
Acceptable but mortgage term cannot extend beyond age 75 of any of the borrowers.
Proprietor must have an income & must be able to afford 50% of monthly mortgage payment & essential expenditure (council tax, utilities etc). Joint borrower cannot also reside in the property.
Acceptable.
Acceptable if they're not a family member.
We have no DTI ratio.
Max of 4 accepted.
Up to 4 incomes accepted.
Maximum term of 40.
No maximum term.
Minimum of 5.
Minimum of 3 months.
Unable to consider.
1 used with a hard footprint.
Acceptable.
Acceptable if not for repaying business or tax debts.
Acceptable.
Unable to consider.
Acceptable.
Acceptable.
Acceptable.
Acceptable.
Max 95% LTV.
Maximum 90% LTV.
Maximum 90% LTV.
Maximum 80% LTV.
Unable to consider.
Maximum 80% LTV. No debt consolidation in the last 3 years, max loan amount £30k and value of unsecured debt in the background is no higher than £25k.
Acceptable.
Maximum 75% LTV.
Maximum 95% LTV.
Maximum 75% LTV.
Unable to consider.
Unable to consider.
Unable to consider.
Unable to consider.
6 months unless inherited or remortgaging bridging finance used to purchase security property.
Can be ignored if above £2,000.
Will consider most types except for any non-provable income.
LPA not required.
Refer to available products.
Unable to consider.
No minimum equity requirement.
Unable to consider.
Acceptable but only in local postcode prefixes BL, CH, CW, M, OL, SK, WA or WN. RTB1 document to be provided with application.
Joint Borrower Sole Proprietor and remortgages not considered for Right to Buy.
Estimated Final Value.
Unable to consider.
Unable to consider.
Hard footprint is done during credit search.
Potentially acceptable, but always refer to our team first.
Unable to consider.
Unable to consider.
Acceptable if applicant has minimum 5% deposit.
Acceptable.
Unable to consider.
Unable to consider.
Acceptable.
Unable to consider.
Acceptable.
Acceptable.
Acceptable as long as it's non-repayable.
Acceptable.
Unable to consider.
Acceptable.
Unable to consider.
Unable to consider.
Unable to consider.
Acceptable.
Acceptable but LTV for mortgage purposes must be based on lower of purchase price or valuation.
Acceptable up to a maximum LTV of 95%.
Acceptable where property has a minimum of 3 bedrooms.
Acceptable.
Acceptable subject to product availability.
We require a minimum equity of £200k minimum equity in all cases except Retirement Interest-Only, Buy to Let and Professional Mortgages.
We have no minimum income requirement.
Our acceptable repayment vehicles are:
We are unable to consider an interest-only application without a repayment vehicle.
We have no minimum equity requirement for Buy to Let or Holiday Let mortgages.
We have no minimum income requirement.
Our acceptable repayment vehicles are:
We are unable to consider an interest-only application without a repayment vehicle.
We have no minimum equity requirement for Retirement Interest-Only (RIO) mortgages.
We have no minimum income requirement.
Our only acceptable repayment vehicle for a RIO mortgage is the sale of mortgaged property, triggered at the point the borrower vacates the property to move into long-term care/ sheltered accommodation or the borrower dies.
We are unable to consider an interest-only application without a repayment vehicle.
Maximum loan size of £750,000.
Maximum LTV of 70%.
Maximum LTV of 60%.
Maximum LTV of 60%.
Minimum of £25,000.
Minimum of £25,000.
Offers valid for 6 months (180 days).
Not available.
Variable products allow 25%, fixed allow 10%. Refer to current products.
Yes.
Acceptable.
Max loan of £1,800,000.
Max 75% LTV.
Max of 5 stage payments.
No minimum stage payments.
Acceptable.
Yes, retention product will be offered.
Flexible payment schedule acceptable.
Funds will be released in arrears of each stage completed.
A reinspection fee of £65 will be charged with completion of each stage.
Unable to consider.
Acceptable.
Unable to consider.
Unable to consider.
Unable to consider.
85% maximum LTV considered but excludes city centre apartments and converted office blocks.
90% maximum LTV considered but excludes city centre apartments, converted office blocks or ex-local authority.
85% maximum LTV acceptable. Any builder incentives disclosed by using the CML Incentive Form, will be treated as a reduction in purchase price for maximum mortgage amounts and LTV requirements.
95% maximum LTV acceptable. Maximum advance of £300k.
Unable to consider.
Unable to consider.
Unable to consider.
Acceptable.
Acceptable.
Acceptable.
Only England, Wales and Isle of Wight are acceptable.
No maximum threshold.
Unable to consider.
Max of 10 storeys but must have a lift and be leasehold.
Maximum of 4 storeys.
Unable to consider.
Minimum of £125,000.
Min of £140,000.
Min of 85 years at completion and 50 years remaining at the end of the mortgage term
50 years remaining.
Unable to consider.
Unable to consider.
Unable to consider.
Acceptable.
Acceptable.
Unable to consider.
Unable to consider.
Acceptable.
Acceptable.
Acceptable.
Acceptable.
Acceptable.
Acceptable.
Unable to consider.
Unable to consider.
Acceptable.
Unable to consider.
Unable to consider.
Unable to consider.
Yes.
Unable to consider.
Unable to consider.
Acceptable subject to valuers comments.
Unable to consider.
Unable to consider.
May be required dependent on the number of storeys and subject to valuers comments. If our valuer requries additional information regarding EWS1 form, the property will be unacceptable until it is provided.
Unable to consider.
Acceptable if partial and evidence of mutually enforceable covenants for support and maintenance. Freehold flats unable to be considered.
Unable to consider.
Unable to consider.
Unable to consider.
Acceptable but we will consider valuers comments in any decision.
Unable to consider.
Unable to consider.
Unable to consider.
Unable to consider.
Unable to consider.
Unable to consider.
Unable to consider.
Unable to consider.
Unable to consider.
Acceptable.
Acceptable subject to satisfactory valuation report.
Acceptable if constructed post 1970.
Unable to consider.
Unable to consider.
Unable to consider.
Unable to consider.
Acceptable if the mine entrance is more than 20 metres from the property, not within security boundary and the property being insurable. Subject to satisfactory valuation report.
Acceptable but not if above or adjacent to pubs, bars, restaurants, takeaways or any business that might have an adverse impact on value or saleability of the security property.
Acceptable but not if above or adjacent to any business that may adversely affect value or saleability of security property.
Unable to consider.
Unable to consider.
Unable to consider.
Unable to consider.
Unable to consider.
Unable to consider.
Unable to consider.
Acceptable subject to valuers comments.
Acceptable if habitable.
Acceptable subject to valuers comments and insurability.
Acceptable with appropriate indemnity
Acceptable.
Unable to consider.
Acceptable.
Acceptable.
Acceptable.
Unable to consider.
Minimum of 39 Square metres.
Acceptable.
Acceptable.
Unable to consider.
Unable to consider.
Unable to consider.
Acceptable subject to valuers comments and there's no adverse impact on value of saleability of security property.
Unable to consider.
Acceptable subject to valuers comments.
Unable to consider.
Acceptable subject to valuers comments.
Unable to consider.
Acceptable subject to valuers comments.
Acceptable subject to valuers comments.
Acceptable subject to valuers comments.
Unable to consider.
Acceptable but must have min floor area of 39 Sq Metres.
Maximum limit of 20% and doesn't attract business rates and no modifications are necessary to support the saleability of the property as a residential dwelling.
Unable to consider.
Unable to consider.
Unable to consider.
Acceptable at maximum loan £300k and can't consider part & part in this scenario.
Max 75% LTV. Income should cover both mortgage (outstanding balance will be stressed at our stress rate) & running costs of properties will be included in the affordability assessment.
Unable to consider.
Unable to consider.
Unable to consider.
Acceptable.
Unable to consider.
Acceptable but occupier should be close family member (parent/child) Not to be let out on commercial basis.
Unable to consider.
Acceptable if it will be rented to close family (parent/child). Will be subject to satisfactory assessment of saleability and satisfactory valuation report.
Unable to consider.
Acceptable subject to valuers comments.
Unable to consider.
Acceptable.
Unable to consider.
Acceptable
Acceptable.
Acceptable subject to valuers comments.
Acceptable.
75% maximum.
Maximum of 6.
No maximum.
Maximum of 4.
No minimum.
Minimum value of £200,000.
39 sq metres minimum.
Unable to consider.
£140,000 minimum.
Acceptable for purchase or remortgage of UK property.
All applicants must be British nationals
Rental income must be in GBP - Sterling.
Minimum Income £30,000 (GBP Sterling or equivalent)
Contract of employment for working abroad is needed
Must have a UK credit profile.
Not available for Holiday Lets
Expatriate applicants (personal or shareholders of Ltd Co) can be resident in any country with the exception of:
Acceptable.
Acceptable.
Acceptable.
No minimum
No minimum requirement.
Acceptable.
Acceptable if going straight into employment.
Acceptable if the SPV is registered in England & Wales for owning the purpose of owning property.
No minimum trading period.
Unable to consider.
Acceptable.
No minimum income requirement or experience required.
Maximum age of 75.
Minimum experience of 24 months
Acceptable.
Acceptable.
Acceptable.
Acceptable to use own property on occasion.
Acceptable.
Acceptable for affordability.
Acceptable for affordability.
ICR based assessment. Varies between products, refer to our Buy to Let Stress Rates guide for details.
Unable to consider.
Acceptable.
75% Maximum.
Acceptable. All affordability based on personal income.
Source of deposit cannot come from another of the applicant's companies.
ASTs must be a minimum 6 months.
Maximum of 2 tenants on any AST.
Student ASTs are unable to be considered.
Acceptable
Applicant must have own savings for all applications.
Unable to consider.
Acceptable.
Maximum of 2 plots.
Acceptable if applicant is only purchasing one plot of the development.
Unable to consider.
Acceptable.
Acceptable.
Max loan of £1,800,000.
Max 75% LTV.
Max of 5 stage payments.
No minimum stage payments.
Acceptable.
Yes, retention product will be offered.
Flexible payment schedule acceptable.
Funds will be released in arrears of each stage completed.
A reinspection fee of £65 will be charged with completion of each stage.
Max term of 40 years.
Acceptable.
Acceptable.
Acceptable.
Acceptable.
Day one remortgages acceptable.
Acceptable.
Acceptable.
Acceptable.
Acceptable.
Acceptable.
We require building regulations to be approved prior to completion.
Acceptable but the conveyancer must have a minimum of 2 partners and hold law society permissions for dual representation.
Unable to consider.
Acceptable.
Acceptable.
Can accept direct or via packager.
Acceptable.
Acceptable.
Acceptable but must have approved planning permission.
Must start within 3 month timeframe.
Maximum 80% end value LTV.
Maximum 75% LTV.
No maximum acreage.
No minimum.
No minimum acreage.
Unable to consider.
Full planning permission required.
Unable to consider.
Acceptable.
No maximum.
Will be held until completion and final sign off of the works.
No retention will be held.
Estimated Final Value.