Nottingham Building Society has made further changes to its mortgage criteria to make it easier for borrowers with different financial situations to get on the property ladder.
The lender has simplified requirements for self-employed applicants, now accepting borrowers with at least two years’ trading supported by two full years of accounts.
Previously, applicants needed three years or two years plus a projected third year.
Additionally, the society has increased the maximum loan-to-value (LTV) for new build flats from 80% to 85%, allowing buyers in the South and across the UK to access newly built homes with smaller deposits.
Nottingham Building Society has also removed its LTV cap for lending into retirement, which used to be set at 80%.
There is now no cap, giving more flexibility to borrowers planning for later life.
Matt Kingston, sales director at Nottingham Building Society, said: “Progress in lending doesn’t always come from headline-grabbing products — it often comes from removing the small but significant barriers that stop people moving forward.
“Whether it’s self-employed borrowers navigating inconsistent criteria, customers planning for later life, or buyers trying to access new build homes, these changes are about making the process clearer, fairer, and more aligned with real-world circumstances.
“We’ve been very deliberate in the changes we’ve made over recent months.”
Kingston added: “They’re part of a broader shift towards a more flexible, specialist approach that recognises how people live and work today — and that momentum won’t slow down in 2026.”
