Nottingham Building Society has announced a series of updates to its buy-to-let lending criteria – including an increase in its maximum mortgage term to 40 years, up from the previous 35 year limit.
The shift has been built to provide landlords with more flexibility when structuring borrowing, while also supporting a growing number of accidental landlords where longer terms can help manage affordability and repayment profiles.
Alongside the extended mortgage term, Nottingham Building Society has refreshed its buy-to-let criteria to support affordability and access at a time when landlords across the market are navigating higher interest rates, changing portfolio dynamics, and evolving tenant needs.
The updates provide landlords with greater flexibility across borrower type, portfolio structure, and property profile. This includes opening lending to first time landlord borrowers, enabling customers entering the rental market for the first time to build sustainable investments, as well as introducing more flexible lease length requirements where properties continue to meet the Society’s minimum end of term standards.
Nottingham Building Society has also refreshed its approach to portfolio coverage as part of a broader effort to support more consistent and transparent assessments of background portfolios.
Matt Kingston, sales director at Nottingham Building Society, said: “The buy-to-let market continues to evolve, and landlords are operating in a very different environment to even a few years ago. Borrowing structures, portfolio management, and the types of customers entering the market are all changing.
“Extending the maximum mortgage term, opening our criteria to first-time landlord borrowers, and adopting a more transparent portfolio stress rate all help create a more practical framework for landlords managing their investments today.
“We’re focused on making thoughtful changes that reflect how the property market actually works today, while maintaining responsible lending standards. These enhancements give brokers more confidence that viable buy-to-let cases can find a home with us.”
