Foundation Home Loans

Office address: 5 Arlington Square, Bracknell, Berkshire RG12 1WA 
Website: www.foundationhomeloans.co.uk 
Year established: 1998 
Company type: financial services 
Employees: 150+ 
Expertise: buy to let mortgages, limited company buy to let, HMOs and multi-unit blocks, short term lets, residential mortgages 
Parent company: Athene Holding 
CEO and key people: Pete Ball (CEO), Dominic Maher FCIPD (COO) Noelle Doherty (CFO), Grant Hendry (director of sales), Tom Jacob (director of product & marketing), George Gee (commercial director), Chris Lomas (IT director) 
Financing status: corporate backed or acquired 

Foundation Home Loans is a specialist mortgage lender based in Bracknell, Berkshire, known for its tailored services to the Buy to Let market and residential mortgages. provides flexible mortgage solutions via intermediaries for clients with complex needs, including portfolio landlords and HMO property seekers. It has more than 150 employees and over 25 partnerships with networks, clubs, and packagers. 

History of Foundation Home Loans 

Foundation Home Loans was founded in 1998 as RFC Mortgage Services. The company was acquired by GMAC in 2000, transitioning to GMAC-RFC. By 2002, it ranked as the UK’s 13th largest lender and rose to the 10th position by 2006.  

Following the credit crunch in 2010, it was acquired by Fortress Investment Group, refocusing as a mortgage servicer. The name changed to Paratus AMC in 2011, and in 2015, it introduced the brand Foundation Home Loans. The company appointed its new CEO at the end of 2023, marking the start of a new leadership. 

Products and Services of Foundation Home Loans 

Foundation Home Loans provides an array of products and services that are tailored to the needs and requirements of its clients. Key offerings include:  

  • buy to let mortgages: specialised products designed to meet the demands of portfolio landlords 

  • residential mortgages: offers flexible financing options for residential properties 

  • professional mortgages: tailored for professionals with specific financial needs 

  • green mortgages: supporting borrowers making environmentally friendly choices 

  • expatriate mortgages: tailored for UK nationals living abroad, offering a range of mortgage options 

  • mixed use BTL properties mortgages: specifically designed for properties that combine residential and commercial use 

Culture at Foundation Home Loans 

Foundation Home Loans is committed to upholding certain core values that guide their operations and interactions, ensuring business is conducted with integrity and respect. These principles are vital for maintaining high standards of service and building lasting relationships with their clients and partners. Their foundational values that drive every aspect of the company's work: 

  • fair: commitment to unbiased and consistent decision-making 

  • accountable: ownership of actions to enhance customer efficiency 

  • customer first: prioritising strong customer relationships 

  • transparent: clear and open communication 

Foundation Home Loans seeks to eradicate modern slavery and human trafficking within its business and supply chain by adhering to the Modern Slavery Act 2015. This commitment is important not only for complying with legal standards but also for maintaining the company's integrity and trust with stakeholders. They practise this commitment through: 

  • conducting annual compliance attestations with third parties 
  • including modern slavery clauses in new and existing contracts |
  • enhancing due diligence processes for suppliers 
  • continuous improvement of policies related to modern slavery 
  • training employees to recognise and prevent human trafficking 

Foundation Home Loans addresses gender equality and reduction of the gender pay gap, understanding the importance of fair pay. The company works to close the pay disparity between male and female employees, aligning with legal requirements and supporting a more motivated and equitable workforce. Initiatives to address this issue include: 

  • regularly reviewing and adjusting pay and bonus gaps 
  • implementing unbiased recruitment and promotion strategies 
  • providing training programs aimed at reducing unconscious bias 
  • publishing annual gender pay gap reports to monitor progress 
  • encouraging female representation in all company levels through targeted leadership programs 

About Foundation Home Loans CEO Pete Ball and Key People 

Pete Ball has served Foundation Home Loans as its CEO since 2023. Ball has over 30 years of experience in the industry, with significant prior roles at Together, Harrods Bank, Virgin Money, Bank of America, and Valtech. He possesses extensive expertise in banking, business analysis, strategy, change management, stakeholder management, and more.

Key personnel supporting Ball in operating and leading the company include: 

  • Dominic Maher, as company COO, oversees operational functions and ensures seamless execution of company policies 

  • Noelle Doherty, as CFO, manages the company's financial strategies and safeguards fiscal integrity 

  • Grant Hendry, serving as director of sales, drives sales strategies and optimises market penetration efforts 

  • Tom Jacob, director of product & marketing, leads product development and marketing, enhancing brand visibility and market impact 

  • George Gee, as commercial director, focuses on business growth and commercial opportunities, strategising for competitive advantage 

  • Chris Lomas, IT director, spearheads technological advancements and IT solutions, driving innovation across the company 

The Future at Foundation Home Loans 

Foundation Home Loans is aiming for continuous growth, with strategic expansions in its product offerings and partnerships. Recent initiatives include the introduction of new mortgage products tailored for multiple properties on a single title and holiday lettings. 

Collaborations with key partners like Fiducia Commercial Network and the addition of the company to the FIBA lender panel highlight its commitment to enhancing service delivery and market reach. These activities are designed to improve the company's standing in the competitive mortgage lending market, ensuring sustainability and innovation in its operations. 

Foundation launches limited edition remortgage products

They come with reduced fees, cashback incentives, and no application costs

Mortgage Business Expo unveils programme for London event

Attendees can explore sessions on market trends, specialist finance, and many other topics

Multiple lenders drop rates as mortgage competition heats up

New BTL, remortgage and fixed rates all drop

Foundation cuts rates on BTL and resi products

Key reductions include portfolio landlord rates, HMO financing, and green property mortgages

Why being a mortgage broker remains a fantastic career

Broker who returned to advising after 10 years, shares her 'greatest reward'

Foundation completes £550 million securitisation

It also announces new and repriced residential and BTL products

Foundation expands criteria to include consumer buy-to-let

It aims to cover scenarios typical of accidental landlords

Specialist lenders reduce mortgage rates

Recent bank rate cut and swap rate dip have enabled lenders to reprice

Foundation hires regional account manager for the south

The role involves helping firms optimise their buy-to-let advice propositions

Mortgage lenders implement rate cuts

Foundation slashes rates by up to 30bps, Paragon Bank by up to 20bps, and MPowered by up to 22bps