Welcome to Foundation Home Loans. We are a specialist buy to let and residential mortgage lender, providing flexible solutions for your more complex cases.
Discover more about our new BTL Summer Special 5 year fixed rate at 4.59% with one free standard valuation and no application fee, as well as our current service levels of 1 day for DIP referral, application and underwriter review on Buy to Let...
Foundation Home Loans is fully supportive of the Government’s Homes for Ukraine Scheme.
If you are considering applying to be a sponsor under the Homes for Ukraine Scheme please find further details here:
https://homesforukraine.campaign.gov.uk/ and
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/homes-for-ukraine-scheme-frequently-asked-questions
Please fully consider your financial circumstances before participating in this Scheme.
Updated 09.08.2022
Time to answer:
30 seconds
Average time to answer broker desk calls.
Application review:
Buy to let - 1 day
Residential - 1 day
Maximum time to review a full mortgage application.
Underwriter review:
Residential - 1 day
Maximum time for underwriter to review once all requirements (including valuation) are met.
Product guides
Lending criteria
A case to place?
This is a summary of how to complete a portfolio template right first time, showing the different property types and ownership types of the properties in an example portfolio, demonstrating the mandatory fields and how they are formatted.
As existing products mature, the question is – how might this impact future profitability and could this impending rate shock stop some smaller landlords from adding to their portfolios?
Unfortunately, the Covid 19 pandemic affected many Self-Employed business owners and their staff. However, as a specialist lender who underwrites residential cases individually, we have worked hard to apply a risk-based and common-sense approach to manually underwriting these types of borrower, in order to offer the very best criteria and service possible.
Dynamics across the rental sector have always been fluid, and the requirements of a variety of rental properties continue to evolve in terms of length of tenancy, space, property type and location, especially with the emergence of a new remote working culture. A lack of supply and heightened demand is also combining to drive rental prices higher.
As of Thursday 4th August, we have launched a Summer Special Buy to Let product. The features of this product include:
Rental yield is one of the most important considerations for landlords and calculating this represents one of the simplest equations. However, more than 1 in 4 landlords (28%) don’t know their rental yield or are unsure how to calculate it.
With service timings of just 1 day for new applications and 2 days for underwriter review of full cases with valuation, we welcome mortgage applications and are pleased to offer two more Limited Edition products, this time for your residential clients.
It’s no secret that regulatory shifts and tax changes have impacted BTL margins in more recent times and that a strong proportion of landlords – especially those at the more professional end of the spectrum – are carefully evaluating a range of options to help reduce tax burdens, increase yield and manage their outgoings.
The data also revealed that 9 in 10 landlords are aware of the new EPC ‘C’ legislation. So what expert advice can you offer to landlords about the green mortgages available to them?
As of Thursday 21st July 2022, we have launched a new buy-to-let limited edition product.
Sustainability has become an essential goal for many different businesses over the last few years, where sectors would look at how environmentally conscious they are being. One of the main sectors that’s seeking out to include sustainability and tackle climate change is the housing market.
If you have a customer who is Self-employed and works in the Construction Industry, it’s always best to double check if they are on the CIS Scheme. Here is why:
As you know, we are a BTL specialist lender specialising in Limited Company and Portfolio Landlords.
We are pleased to advise that we have widened our criteria for our Professionals mortgage range, which offers enhanced loan-to-income limits for professionals.
We are a BTL specialist lender with thousands of portfolio landlords on our books, but why do brokers choose to use us for their portfolio BTL cases?
According to our most recent research, carried out in March 2022 in partnership with BVA BDRC, an all-time-high proportion of landlords, 62%, are reporting that tenant demand has grown, as cities recover from the Pandemic lockdowns.
As you may know, Foundation Home Loans lend up to 90% LTV for our F1 Residential borrowers and up to 85% LTV for our F1 Buy to Let Landlords for standard properties.
As of Tuesday 14th June 2022, we have expanded our range of Green mortgages to include large HMOs and MUBs, as well as new F2 Green products
Almost 9 in 10 landlords are fully engaged with the Minimum Level of Energy Efficiency’ (MEES) EPC ‘E’ standard, and most are using their savings to pay for the upgrades.
Every quarter, we work with BVA BDRC to survey around 700 landlords about their portfolios. For the first quarter of 2022, here’s what they told us.
According to our recent Q1 2022 Landlord Panel research carried out in conjunction with BVA BDRC, three in 10 leveraged landlords plan to remortgage in the next 12 months.
As you know, Foundation Home Loans lend on Multi-Unit Blocks, but what constitutes as a Multi-Unit Block? As part of our series on Specialist Property Buy to Let Mortgages, Gemma Lang explains:
It’s no secret that the last few years have been difficult, and 2022 brings its own challenges: the cost-of-living crisis is one of them.
A ‘How to’ guide by Gemma Lang, Regional Area Manager at Foundation Home Loans
As you know, we lend on Short Term Lets in England, Wales and Scotland, but what does “Short Term Let” really mean?
Our recent research, in partnership with BVA BDRC states that landlords are feeling more optimistic than they were a year ago, with the percentage of landlords feeling “good” or “very good” about their prospects being higher than they were in 2021.
As of Tuesday 17th May 2022, we have launched a new 2-year discount rate product on our F2 range for portfolio & non-portfolio landlords with some historic credit blips.
From 2025, under the current proposals all newly rented properties will be required to have an EPC rating of C or above. Currently, properties only require an EPC rating of ‘E’ or above for us to lend at Foundation Home Loans. Existing tenancies will have until 2028 to comply with the new rule changes.
As of Tuesday 10th May 2022, we have launched a new residential discount product targeted at professionals looking to maximise their income.
HMOs continue to be a strong option for professional landlords who are experienced in dealing with this property type or who have a support network in place to manage their extra demands.
One of the biggest questions landlords have been asking themselves in recent times is, to incorporate or not to incorporate. As ever, the answer lies within the circumstances of each and every landlord and their portfolios.
As of Thursday 14th April 2022, we have launched a new range of Residential Green ABC+ mortgage products. The new range includes fixed and discount rate options, with one free standard valuation.
As of 7th April 2022, we are offering a new BTL Green ABC+ range exclusively for properties with EPC rating of A-C. The new Green products include one free valuation and come with a 1% product fee.
We are excited today to announce that we have launched an expanded panel of solicitors for specialist property cases, including HMOs, large HMOs, and multi-unit properties.
The long-term stability and resilience shown by the UK housing market over the years continues to attract strong interest amongst a range of borrowers...
We have introduced a range of enhancements to our fee-assisted buy-to-let product range including fee cuts, the introduction of new 80% LTV products, and new limited edition specialist fee-assisted products.
We have today expanded our Green buy-to-let product range to specialist property types including short-term lets and standard HMOs (up to six occupants).
There’s no doubting that information on Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs), their increasing importance, and what that specifically means for landlords and their properties, has grown in recent weeks and months.
Our latest BVA BDRC Landlord Panel research for Q4 2021 discovered that around 4 in 10 rental properties currently have an EPC rating of ‘D’ or lower.
Just over half of landlords are now looking to purchase their next BTL property within a limited company structure, up 9% from Q3 2021...
In the latest iteration of our research in partnership with BVA BDRC, it was motivating to see landlord confidence increasing Year-on-Year across all the key metrics with - unsurprisingly in light of rampant house price growth - the largest uplift in confidence being capital gains, a rise of 18% Y-o-Y.
Every quarter, we review current yields and costs of common and specialist property types within the buy to let market for mortgage intermediaries.
Semi-detached properties overtake terraced houses as the most attractive purchase this quarter. The quarterly report on what a ‘typical’ portfolio looks like and how landlords are reacting to current market conditions.
Of those leveraged landlords who plan to remortgage in 2022, over half (55%) suggest they are likely to opt for a five-year fixed-rate mortgage and…
The Government’s Levelling Up White Paper focused heavily on the housing market, specifically looking at what it might do to turn, in its words, ‘Generation Rent’ into Generation Buy’. Here’s how we are part of that movement to increase the number of first-time buyers in every region of the country.
We have launched a new buy to let product range exclusively for Expat landlords.
2021 was an extremely busy year for the industry and for Foundation Home Loans. It saw a host of new challenges emerge for borrowers and opportunities present themselves across the intermediary market. As a result, we, like many other lenders have broadened our criteria to create something of a new landscape for intermediaries as we enter 2022.
We recently launched a full refresh and reprice of our core residential and buy to let product ranges which includes improved rates, competitive product features and enhanced borrower value.
According to our most recent owner-occupier survey, 67% of all homeowners, or those who want to become homeowners, would consider a lower mortgage rate based on their property’s Energy Performance rating an appealing element when looking at product features.
We have recently launched a range of new buy to let products at 85% LTV for the very first time.
Today we have enhanced our owner-occupied proposition further with new 90% LTV fee-assisted fixed rates, as well as two additional products for our recently launched Professionals range.
Which lenders do you think of for those residential borrowers who don’t quite meet mainstream criteria? With Foundation Home Loans, residential mortgages are as easy as ABC.
The five-year fixed-rate is available for mortgage loans between £250k and £1m – at a rate of 3.04% fixed for 5 years for a fixed product fee of £1,995
According to our research, four out of five renters want to own a property in the future however cite a number of financial barriers as potentially stopping them from meeting this goal.
We have today announced cuts to both our two and five year fixed rates at higher LTVs within our residential F1 range for borrowers with complex income or near mainstream credit.
Here are 3 top tips on how you can help us to speed up your self-employed applications whilst evidencing income for maximum borrowing.
At Foundation, we offer Professionals mortgages as part of our growing range of residential mortgages for owner occupiers with complex income or a need for specialist underwriting.
At Foundation, we offer a range of mortgages for professionals, which allow your eligible borrowers to access a loan amount of up to six times their income.
In recent times, we’ve seen landlords take many different approaches to their portfolios but one constant is the search for greater yield.
Even if your client has complex income, employment or debt which does not meet mainstream criteria, there are more ways you can help them now:
A softening of criteria amongst lenders is reported to have seen brokers challenged with a rush of newly self employed applicants with just one year’s worth of accounts.
Despite self employed landlords being hardest hit by the pandemic, only 1% of landlords expect to lose their business as a result of Covid-19, according to our new research.
Our latest research show that almost two thirds of self employed individuals believe it is more difficult for them to secure a mortgage.
We have launched a new ‘limited edition’ two year discounted variable product with no Early Repayment Charge for buy to let and limited company buy to let borrowers.
Our Solicitor Panel is managed by ULS technology, and we took that decision to support you, the broker.
On the back of such an uncertain period for many people, it’s vital for lenders to establish a real understanding of how people view their homes (whether rented or owned), how/why any views may have shifted and how people have adapted. Not to mention, future property objectives and their perceptions of the current mortgage market.
Many questions have been asked of employed and self-employed people over the course of the pandemic and, as a lender and as an industry, we are constantly evaluating how to better service their borrowing needs.
Today we launched ‘Green ABC+’ fixed rate products for both buy to let and owner occupied mortgages, with rates and cashback based on the property’s energy performance rating.
Anyone can check the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) of a property on the government's EPC register below.
We have launched new buy to let limited editions with both no fee and flat fee options which are highly competitive on both rate and fees, giving an attractive total cost for individual and limited company landlord borrowers.
The return to studying without Covid restrictions represents great news for students and landlords alike as towns with large student populations have long proved attractive investment opportunities, as shown by our continued landlord interest in mortgages for HMOs.
We have launched new owner occupier remortgage limited editions with no fees, and buy to let flat fee limited editions for both individual and limited company landlord borrowers.
All lenders have been forced to modify their approach as a result of the pandemic.
The buy to let sector has experienced many ups and downs over the years but it has always come out the other end stronger.
A growing number of landlords and homeowners are becoming more environmentally conscious when it comes to their homes and investments... but is it enough?
For portfolio landlords, the quest to maximise yield (price versus income) is a constant one, and several UK regions are currently fitting this agenda.
Today we have launched a full re-release of our entire buy to let product range with fees reduced by up to a full 1% at the same time as rate reductions of up to 0.25%, plus the introduction of a new Short Term Let product with a flat fee.
We are seeing sustained interest from landlords who are looking to both diversify and expand their portfolios.
Today, we have launched a further limited edition five year, fixed rate buy to let product specifically for portfolio landlords, with no product or application fees.
We have launched a set of ‘no fee’ 75% LTV two year fixed rate limited edition buy to let products exclusively for portfolio landlords.
What does the future hold? Robots are now a critical part of what we do but the need for human assessment of clients’ complex situations is where Specialist Lenders lead. Mark Whitear, Head of Commercial Development, explains all.
We've launched a new limited edition five year, fixed rate buy to let product specifically for portfolio landlords.
As of today, we have opened up our green mortgage products to landlords purchasing property.
We have recently changed our criteria to allow first time buyers access to almost every single one of our residential products.
The importance attached to the advice process in sourcing appropriate and responsible solutions to combat the challenges of homebuying has never been more apparent, yet some potential borrowers continue to go it alone.
It will come as little surprise that the effects of the last 18 months are now resulting in rising demand for flexible underwriting for complex income residential cases; and this is true for both employed and self employed borrowers.
Today, we have launched a new Limited Edition, remortgage only 5 year fixed buy to let product priced at 3.19% available up to 75% LTV and a maximum loan of £1M.
As a lender, we are always striving to assess landlord profiles, what they are looking for from a lender, what a ‘typical’ portfolio might look like and how various landlords are reacting to current market conditions.
Watch our Head of Sales, Grant Hendry, and Julian Sampson, Partner and Head of Lending at TWM Solicitors explain the legal side of Limited Company lending and just how to get your clients over the line.
Like many lenders, we’re currently experiencing a surge in interest from landlords who are looking to diversify their portfolios.
We've refreshed our residential product offering, which will allow first-time buyers to access more of the range.
Every quarter, in conjunction with BVA BDRC, we ask around 900 landlords for their insight on every aspect of the buy to let market, including portfolio sizes, borrowing intentions and view of the current markets.
Today, we have made a number of rate reductions across our five year fixed rate mortgage range for landlord borrowers, and introduced a new 65% LTV Green Reward Remortgage.
The residential sector is becoming increasingly complex for many types of potential borrowers.
Here at Foundation Home Loans, we’re experiencing a surge in interest from landlords who are looking to diversify their portfolios.
I’m sure we can all appreciate the highs and lows experienced across the self-employed community over the past 12 months and some of the existing shortfalls when it comes to their mortgage requirements.
With further lockdown restrictions set to be lifted, we can look forward to raised spirits and increased activity.
At Foundation Home Loans we find solutions for financial needs...
We've launched a number of new products, including fee assisted options for purchases as well as remortgages, two fixed fee HMO and multi unit blocks (MUB) deals, in addition to rate reductions on our 80% LTV products.
Green mortgage options are expected to be a growing option for landlords and owner-occupiers over this next decade and we are pleased to be among the trail blazers with our ‘Green Reward’ remortgages.
With Q1 2021 now behind us, it seems like a good time to take stock of what has happened during those first three months, and what the rest of the year might bring.
Today, we have reduced the product fees on our three limited edition, limited company buy to let products.
As some lockdown restrictions are lifted, the scale of the impact on household finances and its likely consequences on the UK economy remain to be seen.
Today, we've launched a new suite of residential products, including 90% LTV, large loan, fee assisted and more for those borrowers who just miss out on the high street.
With the majority of 2020 and the early part of 2021 having a significant impact on many individuals’ income and financial situations, we anticipate that the self-employed particularly will require specialist residential finance going forward, whose propensity for complex income structures often throws them out of mainstream lending criteria.
Today, we've launched a Green Reward Remortgage as part of our residential range.
An important trend is that interest from new investors, ‘first time landlords’ continues to grow.
With the majority of 2020 and the early part of 2021 having a significant impact on many individuals’ income and financial situations, we anticipate that an increased number of cases will require specialist residential finance going forward.
We've cut a number of rates across our standard and HMO ranges, and we've launched a new limited edition limited company buy to let five year fix and two new short term let products.
Green mortgages and green finance are areas which represent huge potential for lenders, intermediaries and borrowers.
What’s the difference between a limited company portfolio landlord, compared to a portfolio held by an individual or group of individuals?
Why is it so advantageous to use a specialist solicitor for a specialist case? And why does it help to use a solicitor who already works closely with your lender?
Covid-19 has changed the financial landscape for businesses and individuals across the country.
As of today, we have launched two new exciting limited edition, limited company buy to let products.
We believe that the move to improve carbon emissions in the property sector remains critical in 2021. Here are 6 reasons to speak to us about a green mortgage for your landlord clients in 2021.
We continue to develop our product proposition to service the specific needs of the modern landlord in the modern mortgage market. Whether through the addition of lower-value properties, HMOs or multi-unit blocks.
We may still be in Q1 but there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic that landlords will remain active over the course of 2021 as shown in our latest research carried out by BDRC.
Despite shifting market dynamics and lingering economic uncertainty, the fundamental principles underpinning the UK private rented sector remain strong.
We have made significant rate reductions today on our residential and buy to let products.
Today we have launched our exciting new Green Reward remortgage product.
No extension of the current stamp duty reduced rates period has been announced, and we have to work on the basis that it won’t be forthcoming.
We have cut rates on many of our 80% LTV residential products today and introduced two new 85% LTV products.
One of the core parts of our lending proposition, given that we only offer our mortgages via advisers, is responding to feedback and seeking to find solutions to the issues raised.
Today we’ve introduced exciting new limited edition, limited company buy to let products with reduced product fees.
Just because the stamp duty deadline has been shunted back 3 months, we must all still plan for the impact it will have on our new business pipelines.
As of today, we have cut the rate on our five year buy to let fixed rate mortgage at 75% LTV.
We've recently expanded our resources across the underwriting, new business and sales teams.
Our very own Grant Hendry and TWM solicitor Julian Sampson recently sat down to discuss the upcoming stamp duty deadline.
Our key valuer partners have announced that they are to continue with physical valuations in England and Wales despite the new national lockdown.
Back in November, the Chancellor Rishi Sunak further extended the furlough scheme to provide additional support for a variety of businesses and individuals.
The response to the ‘reopening’ of the housing market after the first lockdown in 2020, especially from a specialist lending perspective, was incredible.
With so many specialist property types or properties with specialist uses, Gemma Lang, our Regional Account Manager for the East of England, tells us what specialist property mortgages we can help you with.
Following your feedback, we have made improvements to our broker portal to enable us to get to underwriting your residential cases sooner.
The housing and mortgage markets have been buoyant during the 3rd Quarter and into Q4, fuelled largely by the SDLT temporary reduced rates for house purchases completing before 31st March 2021.
It’s testament to the UK’s continued appetite for homeownership, government intervention and sustained commitment from lenders that we're in this quite remarkable position at the end of 2020.
The impact of the second national lockdown was far less severe than the initial lockdown period on the property and mortgage markets.
We now accept ‘no search indemnity insurance’ for purchase and remortgage transactions, with the exception of purchases and/or remortgages of HMO and MUB properties.
Recent mortgage data from CACI suggests there is likely to be significant number of product maturities in December - valued at £33.18bn - while 2021 could see the total maturity figure hitting £250bn.
Our latest research via BVA BDRC landlord survey for Q3 shows that HMO properties outrank all other property types by quite some way.
We understand that getting your clients cases through can often be a time-consuming process.
The landscape has been rocky for property investors for the last three years.
We're here to support those extra-ordinary clients with unsual income sources or those recently self-employed who may now no longer be fitting the criteria of mainstream lenders.
We have listened to your feedback and simplified the supporting documentation required for residential mortgage applications.
As our lives continue to adapt, we lenders are constantly listening and evolving how best to interact with our adviser partners and their clients/our customers.
We've listened to your feedback and made our limited company cases even more straightforward.
We've put together our top tips to speed up your clients’ residential application.
As the property and mortgage markets change, so do the needs of your clients and the types of expertise you must offer.
We are used to dealing with complex limited company structures, particularly companies using Directors’ loans as deposit.
As experts, we can find you a solution for a broader range of landlord situations.
BDM Gemma Lang shares six questions to help you key in your clients’ application smoothly.
The residential lending landscape has changed immeasurably, particularly in the specialist sector.
We've put together our top tips to speed up your clients’ BTL application.
Rightmove reported a 1.9% increase in asking prices in June compared to March.
My job is usually visiting brokers at their homes, offices, or if I’m lucky a beer garden.
As physical valuations return, here is an important message from one of our valuer partners.
Our CEO and our Head of National Accounts discuss the cost of borrowing amidst this pandemic.
Our key valuer partners have announced that they are resuming physical valuations in England.
We announced late last week that we would return to new lending today. And now we want to share with you a brief overview of what that looks like.
We are delighted to tell you that from Monday 18 May, we will be accepting new business.
During our recent webinar - working through the new abnormal - we asked what questions you'd like answered.
We can’t dress things up, this is a crisis. One that has been extremely sharp.
2020 vision is often referred to as having hindsight. Lots of people are probably thinking, ‘If only’?
We teamed up with Mortgage Introducer to bring you a webinar on working through the new abnormal.
Each lender has their own individual approach to generate and service new and existing business.
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