First Start Criteria (Please also see "How First Start Works")

Criteria Type Description
Minimum Loan £15,001 for purchases, £25,001 for remortgages.
Maximum Loan £1 million.
Loan Tiers 95% up to £350,000, 90% up to £500,000, 85% up to £750,000, 80% up to £850,000, 75% up to £1m. Fees may be added. Conditions apply.
Age Minimum Age for child at application is 18. Maximum age for sponsor at application is 60.
Term To normal Retirement Age of the child subject to a minimum term of 10 years (shorter terms considered by exception where the underwriter is satisfied that ability to pay exists). Maximum of 35 years.
Overpayments Up to 10% of the mortgage balance may be repaid each year without incurring any early repayment or administration charges providing each overpayment is a minimum of £2,000. This is calculated on the outstanding mortgage balance as at the previous 31st March each year.
Income Multiples Uses the main earning sponsor's income as the primary source and the main child's income as the secondary source, either on a joint or + 1 basis. 4.5 x main allowable income plus 1 x second allowable income or 4 x joint income.
Refinance Debt Consolidation up to 95% LTV subject to clean credit history (see General Lending Criteria) where all other standard lending criteria is satisfied.
Transfer of Equity No borrower can be released from the mortgage unless at the time of application for release, the loan to value is less than 95%. Should we require a valuation report, the borrower will be responsible for the cost.
Property Properties that were built within the last 12 months, or that are being purchased for the first time since conversion are acceptable up to 75% LTV.
Lending Fee £195 (due on completion but payment can be deferred until the mortgage is fully repaid).


Please note our First Start product is a joint mortgage between a parent (sponsor) and child. Not available to sole applicants. Our normal application form should be used.

General Lending Criteria

Criteria Type Description
Employment Status Employed, Self Employed, Fixed Term Contracts, Short Term Contracts, and Probation periods are all considered.
Loan Types Repayment and Interest Only. No Further Loans.
Lending Areas England, Scotland and Wales (unless otherwise stated).
Early Repayment Charge In addition to any product specific early repayment charge we also charge a lending fee (£195), which is due on completion but payment can be deferred until the mortgage is fully repaid. For part repayments an additional fee applies.
Clean Credit History For last 3 years:
  • No mortgage/rent/loan arrears
  • Max 2 consecutive missed payments on credit/store cards
  • Max 1 CCJ to £250, not in the last 12 months
  • Comms/mail order arrears ignored unless scale/frequency is a cause for concern.
Portability All mortgages are portable when redeeming and completing on a new Bristol & West Mortgages mortgage. Conditions apply - please ask for details.
Insurance If applicants arrange their own buildings insurance a fee of £25 is payable to Bristol & West Mortgages to cover our additional administration costs.
Free Legals for Remortgages If stated in the Offer of Loan, Bristol & West Mortgages will pay for the legal fees and disbursements (excluding additional work, see below) and any additional leasehold charges providing the remortgage transaction is handled via Legal Marketing Services, and is completed. The firm of Solicitors instructed will act for us only. If applicants wish to arrange their own legal representation they will be responsible for the legal costs and disbursements incurred. Please Note: Bristol & West Mortgages will not pay for charges relating to additional work outside the scope of a standard remortgage transaction. This includes further valuation reports, related legal services, transfer of equity, deed of postponement, deed of grant, deed of variation, merger of freehold or leasehold title, change of name, telegraphic transfer of surplus funds to borrower, local searches for loans over £750,000, or if an exceptional amount of work is required to correct a defective title. For further details please see our ‘Free Legals for Remortgagers’ information sheet.
Arrangement Fees Payments should not be made at application stage. Bristol & West Mortgages will deduct the fee from the loan amount upon completion or add it to the loan amount.
Property Owner We only accept transactions where the seller is the owner or registered proprietor of the property, and has been so for at least 12 months. For all remortgage business the registered owner or proprietor must have owned the property for a period of at least 12 months.
Property Properties built within the last 12 months, or being purchased for the first time since conversion are acceptable up to 75% LTV. Please note that for Buy to Let mortgages, we do not accept flats or maisonettes built within the last 12 months or being purchased for the first time since conversion.