Mortgage Lending Criteria vary from lender to lender and they change fairly regularly.
Set by the mortgage lender’s underwriters, the criteria are decided upon as part of the lender’s risk management of their entire ‘lending book’s’ portfolio.
Some lenders will be prepared to accept what they consider to be riskier mortgage terms in return for a higher return on the loan. Others are keen to keep risk lower and therefore lend more ‘vanilla’ debt to less risky borrowers. But it’s not just the profile of the borrower that will be part of the lender’s lending criteria.
In fact, that is just a small part of the underwriting process. In addition, lenders will have policies with regard to;
- Maximum Loan Value
- Loan to Value %
- Number of applicants that may apply on any one loan
- Minimum deposit amount
- Personal Circumstances (i.e. married or single, employed or self-employed, past employment history, adverse credit history, etc)
- Address history (including BFPO addresses)
- Policy with regard to shared ownership
- Remortgage policy
- Early repayment policy & fees
- Mortgage Type (i.e capital repayment or interest only, etc)
- Valuation Charges and Admin Fees
- Acceptable Property Types (e.g. Thatched houses, flats over shops, multi-storey flats over say 5 stories, etc)
- Acceptable Tenure (i.e long leases / leases under 50 years, etc)
- Supporting documentation and affordability criteria
- Stress Test Criteria (i.e changes due to loss of income or increased interest rates)
Nationality & Immigration status
Each mortgage lender will have different terms and in most cases these terms are non-negotiable. The bad news is that finding the right lender to lend you a mortgage can be very time consuming. The good news is, Mortgage Required can offer you advice and mortgage options based on lender’s criteria and your own personal circumstances. It’s what we do.
One lender’s ‘no thanks’ can be another lender’s ‘yes please’! Why not contact us to see just how we can help you through the process?
For more information or to speak to a mortgage adviser, contact us on 01628 507477.
Related articles:
Download our Free First Time Buyers Guide
Recent posts
From 18th May 2026, Lloyds Banking Group is launching a ‘£5k Deposit mortgage’ to help first-time buyers get onto the property ladder sooner.
Homeowners could be faced with paying over £3,000 more per year on their mortgage if the conflict in the Middle East continues, following new analysis from INTEREST from Moneyfacts.
Best UK Mortgage Rates this Week
7 days ago
Here are the lowest fixed mortgage rates of the week, available to first-time buyers, home movers, buy-to-let, and those remortgaging.
Call us for more information: 01628 507477 or email: team@mortgagerequired.com.
Renters' Rights Act
15 days ago
The Renter’s Rights Bill became law at the end of October, which means it has been signed off by the King, and it is now the Renters’ Rights Act. Despite this becoming law, these changes are likely to start changing within the next six months, with the aim of being fully implemented throughout 2026 and into 2027.
Green Mortgages | Rewards and Benefits
15 days ago
Mortgage lenders are starting to recognise their “Green” responsibilities when it comes to the different products they offer.
Costliest Streets in Great Britain
19 days ago
Recent data from Rightmove shows the most expensive streets in Great Britain, with the majority being situated in the capital.
The Bank of England Governor, Andrew Bailey, has advised that, due to the “very big energy shock” the economy is facing, they won’t be in a rush to increase UK interest rates.
Many homeowners don’t realise that a simple act or oversight could invalidate their home insurance policy. Home insurance is essential in protecting your most valuable assets; however, it is important to understand what affects your cover to ensure you are fully protected.
More information
Trusted by
