Packaging guide

Our minimum standard packaging requirements

This guide provides the minimum documentation needed to assess an application. We may require further evidence to support your application.

Agency workers and zero hours 

For customers working through agencies or zero-hour arrangements we require 12 months continuous employment.

  • 3 months current income evidence.
  • Payslip dated 12 months ago to evidence continuous Income Or statement of HMRC earnings.

Special note

  • NHS Bank Staff require only 3 months history.
  • Locum Doctor income can be assessed at 100%.

Bank statements

We may request up to 3 months bank statements, our systems will inform you how many we need depending on your application.

Please ensure bank statements show receipt of salary and income received.

Benefit income

Benefit-supported affordability. Please note that benefits used in affordability cannot exceed 50% of total application income.

Acceptable income sources

Universal credit (for affordability we use an average of the latest 3 months credits)

  • Latest 3 months award statements.

Child benefit

  • Award letter or latest 3 months bank statements.

PIP/DLA

  • Current award letter.

Carer's allowance

  • UC statement or award confirmation.

CIS subcontractors

Construction Industry Scheme Sole Sub-contractor basis.

Income used

Average of 3 months income annualised over 46-weeks.

  • Latest 3 months CIS vouchers.
  • Latest 3 months bank statements showing salary credits/income received.

Special note

Commitments: all personal commitments will be assessed i.e. loans, these cannot be declared as offset expenses, as the income is being treated as taxed at source.

Employed applicants

Customers employed on a permanent PAYE contract. 

Basic salary only

  • Latest payslip.

Additional regular earnings such as bonus, overtime, shift allowance or commission

  • Latest 3 payslips evidencing income.
  • If paid 6-monthly or quarterly, documented evidence must be provided (i.e. a minimum of 2 payslips or P60).

Guaranteed bonus, overtime, shift allowance or commission

  • Most recent 3 payslips or P60.
  • If paid 6-monthly or quarterly, documented evidence must be provided (i.e. a minimum of 2 payslips or P60).

Commission only income

  • Latest 3 payslips and 3 years P60s.

New job/probationary employees

Continuous employment within the same occupation may allow a probationary period to be disregarded.

Under 3 months employment

  • Employment contract.
  • Latest payslip (if available).

3+ months employment

  • Latest payslip.

Employed via a family member

  • Latest 3 payslips evidencing income.
  • Latest 3 months bank statements showing salary credits/income received.

Fixed-term contractors

Applicants employed on fixed-term contracts.

  • Current contract.
  • Latest payslip.

Additional requirements

Customers must:

  • Be in same profession for 12 months+.
  • Show continuity of contract work.

Foreign national and expat proposition

Accepted visa types

Skilled worker, health and care worker, global talent, UK ancestry, spouse/family visa, pre-settled status, British national overseas, armed forces exemption.

Dependant visas are acceptable where they form part of a joint application. In these cases, the primary applicant must either be a UK national or hold one of the eligible immigration statuses listed above.

Minimum packaging

  • Gov.uk share code.
  • Standard income evidence.
  • Deposit evidence.
  • US persons require IRS form W-9

If credit file unavailable:

  • Last 3 months bank statements.
  • Overseas debt statements.

Life Happens proposition

Suitable for customers with historic adverse credit who have since demonstrated financial stability.

Minimum packaging

  • Standard income evidence.
  • Explanation of what caused adverse history.
  • IVA discharge certificate if applicable.
  • DMP schedule to evidence repayments over last 12 months, if applicable.

Maintenance income

Court ordered and informal maintenance arrangements are acceptable.

  • Minimum 3 months receipt & copy of Court agreement/CSA agreement.
  • Informal arrangement evidenced through 6 months bank statements.

Make it Possible proposition

Suitable for customers with strong affordability looking to maximise their borrowing capacity.

  • Standard income evidence.
  • 3 months’ payslips to evidence bonus, overtime & commission received on a monthly & quarterly basis.
  • Confirmation & evidence of how applicants will continue to pay their mortgage into retirement (pension deduction via payslip or evidence of contributions via bank statement).

Special note

  • Maximum retirement age must not exceed 75.
  • There must be a minimum of 10 years remaining until the applicants intended retirement age.
  • There must be no more than 50% of the mortgage term within retirement.

Pension income

Retired applicants or those using pension income.

State pension

  • Annual statement, or
  • Bank statement showing receipt along with evidence of applicants National Insurance number.

Private occupational pension

One of:

  • Latest annual pension statement.
  • Latest pension payslip.
  • Recent pension provider letter.
  • Latest P60.

SIPP

  • Latest annual valuation statement.

Lending into retirement but not yet retired evidence

  • Pension statement.

Proof of Deposits

We require proof of deposit on all purchase applications. Please ensure you provide evidence applicable to your applicants to support the full deposit.

Rental income

Customers with residential investment property income.

Income used

Rental income used for affordability is the rental profit shown on the SA302, minus any finance cost deductions identified on the SA302.

  • Last 2 years SA302s, and
  • Last 2 years Tax Year Overviews.

RIO – Retirement Interest-Only  

We can assist people over 55 to:

  • Buy a residential property with an interest-only mortgage, using the sale of their house as the repayment strategy.
  • Remortgage from a standard interest-only mortgage, using the house sale as the repayment strategy.
  • Release equity to make home improvements or enjoy their retirement.

Special note

Affordability is based on sole survivor income. This means that for joint applicants, we must be satisfied that the mortgage remains affordable if the highest-earning applicant were to pass away.

We can assess transferable benefits; however, where these are being relied upon for affordability, evidence of entitlement and confirmation that the benefits are transferable to the surviving applicant will be required.

Minimum packaging

State pension 

  • Annual statement, or
  • Bank statement showing receipt.

Private/occupational pension 

One of:

  • Annual pension statement.
  • Pension payslip.
  • Pension provider letter.
  • P60.

SIPP

  • Latest annual valuation statement (4% of current fund value is used for affordability).

Self-employed

Sole traders, partnerships and limited company directors with 25% or more shareholding.

  • Last 2 years SA302s, and
  • Last 2 years Tax Year Overviews.

Additional information useful upon assessment of application

  • Explanation for significant year on year increases in net profit.
  • Explanation for recent business growth.
  • Explanation for material fluctuations in turnover, gross profit and/or net profit.

Additional evidence may be requested by underwriters such as:

  • Business bank statements.
  • Personal bank statements.
  • Full accounts.
  • Contracts.