We require security for any mortgage. This means that we will take a first legal charge over your property as security to protect the Society against loss in the event that you fail to meet your mortgage commitments.

All our mortgages are provided subject to status. When you apply for a mortgage with us we will take into account your personal and financial circumstances, the amount you want to borrow and the value of your home. Our decision whether to lend will be based on these factors along with any criteria specific to the mortgage product you have chosen for example if the product has a minimum loan size or specific loan to value criteria.

We will generally be able to lend to you if:

• You are in permanent employment and have been for six months or more, or
• You are self-employed and have been for two years.
• You are over 18 and will be no more than 85 years old at the end of the mortgage term.
• You are a citizen of the European Union.
• You do not have any County Court Judgements recorded against your name, and have not been declared bankrupt or been in arrears with your mortgage or another credit commitment.

We will consider a mortgage to buy any property that meets the following criteria:

• It is in England, mainland Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland (we will not lend on properties in the Scottish Isles).
• It is of acceptable construction. This generally means built of brick or stone with a tile or slate roof. A mortgage valuation will be used to confirm the suitability of the property.
• For leasehold properties there must be at least 70 years remaining on the lease at the time of application.
• If you are remortgaging, the property must be your main residence and you must be living in the property.

We are unable to offer mortgages for freehold flats, or flats in blocks that have more than five storeys in total, or for flats/maisonettes above certain types of commercial premises. The maximum LTV we will consider for flats/maisonettes situated above commercial premises is 75%. If the flat/maisonette is an ex-local authority/housing association property, we will only lend where there is no more than five storeys in the block and up to a maximum of 70% LTV.