HSBC

LMS only deal directly with HSBC and the customer. For an update on a specific case please call the helpdesk.

For sole traders and partnerships, we'll need to see their last 2 years' SA302 and corresponding Tax Year Overviews

For limited companies, we'll need to see their last 2 years' signed audited or certified accounts (the most recent of which must be no more than 18 months old).

For limited liability partnerships, the evidence requirements vary depending on the tier of the partnership. See the self-employed income section of our lending criteria for more details.

An HSBC mortgage may extend beyond the intended retirement age of the main income earner if the applicant can clearly demonstrate they will be able to service the mortgage for its full term.

When assessing affordability, consideration is given to the period of time remaining until retirement - the nearer they are to retirement, the more robust their evidence of income needs to be.

We also consider the type of employment the customer is engaged and whether they're likely to able to continue working.

When assessing outgoings, we take into account the fact that expenditure may also decrease at retirement eg the costs associated with full time employment such as travel costs or costs associated with financial dependents.

In the case of interest only applications, the customer must also be able to demonstrate the ability to repay the capital at the end of the mortgage term.

Yes, UK citizens who are living or working overseas can apply for an HSBC mortgage to purchase a property in the UK, providing they live in an approved country.

All European Economic Area (EEA) Nationals and Swiss Nationals are treated as UK nationals.

We also accept applications from Non-EEA Foreign Nationals who have been granted the right of abode or indefinite leave to remain or enter in the UK by the Home Office.

We will only lend to applicants without the right of abode or indefinite leave to remain in the UK if they meet all the following criteria:

Non-UK Residents

For overseas customers looking to purchase a property in the UK please see the overseas customers section.

Please note, we can accept translations from a UK based translation company, provided we can verify them via their website. When submitting foreign language documents, please provide English translations as well as the original documents.

For online applications, we run an automatic address check so evidence may not be required.

If the customer's address cannot be verified electronically, we'll accept a wide range of documents as proof. Full details can be found on our packaging requirements page

For online applications, we run an automatic identity check so evidence may not be required.

If the customer's identity cannot be verified electronically, we'll accept a wide range of documents as proof. Full details can be found on our packaging requirements page

A customer who has missed payments on their credit commitments may be considered under exceptional circumstances. If you'd like to discuss a particular case with us, please call the intermediary helpdesk.

We do not currently accept Help to Buy applications via HSBC for Intermediaries. We do accept them directly in our branches and over the phone.

We can provide residential mortgage facilities to landlords, providing they do not meet the following definition of a Professional/Portfolio Landlord:

Applicants must be an owner occupier of a residential property which they have lived in for at least 6 months. For joint applications, at least one applicant must be an owner occupier of a residential property which they have lived in for at least 6 months.

A customer can apply to remortgage at any time after they have completed their purchase.

Please note that for properties owned for less than 6 months, we will require the applicant's solicitor to make additional checks.

For sole traders and partnerships, we'll need to see their last 2 years' SA302 and corresponding Tax Year Overviews

For limited companies, we'll need to see their last 2 years' signed audited or certified accounts (the most recent of which must be no more than 18 months old).

For limited liability partnerships, the evidence requirements vary depending on the tier of the partnership. See the self-employed income section of our lending criteria for more details.

We lend to customer on fixed-term contracts that have been employed continuously with the same employer for a minimum of 2 years and whose past history suggests the current contract is likely to be renewed.

We accept the applicant's salary (often referred to as director's remuneration or emoluments) along with their share of the last 2 years' average net profit after corporation tax. Please note, if their most recent set of accounts shows net profit lower than the 2-year average, we'll use this figure instead.

We ask for the last 2 years' P60s as proof of overtime. Please note, a maximum of 50% of the average of the last 2 years' average overtime can be considered as guaranteed income.

We accept income from overtime, bonuses and commission, where it is shown to be regular. A maximum of 50% of the average of the last 2 years can be used.

As evidence, we'll ask to see the customer's last 2 years' P60s. If bonus income can't be validated by P60s, we'll ask for the relevant payslips or a letter from the employer.

We may consider applicants on zero-hours contracts on a case-by-case basis if all their income is generated in the same line of work. Please call the intermediary helpdesk for more details.

We only accept benefit income if it can be guaranteed for the full length of the term.

Yes, we can consider income from a customer who has recently started a new job.

When assessing their application, we'll need to know whether they are on a probationary period, and if so the length of that period and how long is remaining. We'll also consider their employment track record and whether they have had any career gaps or changes of career plus previous P60s and significant increase in income from new role

As evidence, we'll usually ask for a combination of payslips, bank statements, P60s, tax returns and an employment contract or job-offer letter.

If the customer advises they will return to work on the same terms, the last months' payslips of normal pre-maternity leave income can be used.

If they plan to return to work on reduced hours, the reduced income will be calculated on a pro-rata basis based on previous evidenced income, or supported by an employer's letter if available.

For more on how we assess maternity leave income, see our lending criteria

We use gross annual income (defined as basic salary plus permanent allowances such as a territorial allowance) to calculate net monthly pay after income tax and national insurance deductions.

We need to know about all payslip deductions (such as for pensions, childcare, student loans and season tickets).

Ground rent and service charge costs for leasehold properties are recorded under 'Basic essential expenditure'.

We assess Buy to Lets in the background as part of our income and expenditure assessment taking into account the full costs associated with the Buy to Let, not just the rental income.

There is no minimum floor area. We rely on our valuers to advise us whether a property is good security for our loan and how marketable it is - regardless of its size.

We define a new build property as one that will be occupied for the first time and/or has been built and completed within the last 24 months.

Although we can approve mortgages on properties not yet built subject to satisfactory valuation, we will not release funds until the property has been completed. A re-inspection may be required if the surveyor advises one is necessary in their original valuation.

Standard lending criteria apply subject to:

The value of any incentive must be deducted from the purchase price when calculating LTV.

Timber-framed properties constructed between 1920 and 1965 are considered unacceptable for mortgage purposes due to inferior building regulations in relation to vapour barriers.

Period timber-frame properties and those constructed post-1965 will be considered, subject to the valuer's comments and with a maximum LTV of 80%

If Japanese Knotweed has been identified within 7 metres of a property's garden fence, the valuer will follow the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors' guidelines to assess the risk.

We can only lend if we are provided with a treatment schedule and a completion certificate confirming that the weed has been eradicated that there is a guarantee of at least 10 years in place.

We will consider applications for properties with leased solar panels, providing the indexed LTV is less than 90%. In line with the guidance given by the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML), we will ask our solicitor to obtain the following:

No, we don't have dual pricing. Brokers have access to exactly the same rates as the staff in our branches.

Acceptable repayment strategies for interest-only loans are:

For more details, see Interest Only Repayment Strategies.

We need to confirm and document the source of an applicant's deposit to complete the mortgage. Whether evidence of deposit is required will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Information about gifted deposits can be found in our lending criteria.

Currently, we do not allow HSBC mortgages to be transferred to a different property via our intermediary service. Please ask your customer to contact us directly.

Lump sum and overpayments can be made at any time to our tracker mortgages.

Our fixed rate and discount mortgages have an annual overpayment allowance equivalent to 10% of the outstanding mortgage balance, giving customers the flexibility to increase their monthly repayments or make lump sum payments up to this amount if they wish.

The overpayment allowance is refreshed annually on the anniversary of the drawdown or the start of the new rate following a switch and will be based on the current balance at the time. If the customer switches rates before this anniversary date, a new overpayment allowance will commence from the date the new rate begins. An Early Repayment Charge will apply to any overpayments made above the annual allowance (either regular or ad hoc).

Where overpayments are made on an ad hoc basis, we continue to collect the same monthly payment as before, unless the customer instructs us to reduce their monthly payment.

If a customer asks to set up a flexible regular overpayment, we send them a confirmation letter containing a projection of the savings (both interest and term) they could make if they continue to maintain the overpayment.

If the customer subsequently makes any changes to their direct debit, payment date or payment amount or if the interest rate changes, we automatically recalculate and reschedule the monthly payment based on the current balance, interest rate and remaining agreed term. We also send a new projection of savings from the date of the change to the end of the loan. Please note, the savings already made prior to the reschedule are not included in the revised projection.

Applicants who choose to add part of the booking fee to their mortgage instead of paying it in full at the outset, would need to pay £99 once their application has been approved (for booking fees of £999 or less), with the remaining balance of the booking fee added to their loan. Where the booking fee is greater than £999, the customer would need to pay £249 once their application has been approved with remaining balance of the booking fee added to their loan. If the customer chooses to add the booking fee to their loan, please make them aware they will pay more interest over the term of the loan than if they pay the booking fee in full at the outset.

Applicants who choose to add part of the booking fee to their mortgage instead of paying it in full at the outset, would need to pay £99 once their application has been approved (for booking fees of £999 or less), with the remaining balance of the booking fee added to their loan. Where the booking fee is greater than £999, the customer would need to pay £249 once their application has been approved with remaining balance of the booking fee added to their loan. If the customer chooses to add the booking fee to their loan, please make them aware they will pay more interest over the term of the loan than if they pay the booking fee in full at the outset.