From residential to buy-to-let, Hinckley and Rugby for intermediaries gives UK brokers a flexible lending partner with criteria built for tricky client cases
- What products does Hinckley & Rugby offer intermediaries?
- What is Income Flex, and who is it for?
- What is Credit Flex?
- What is Flex Plus, and when should brokers use it?
- What is JBSP, and how does it work at Hinckley & Rugby?
- Does Hinckley & Rugby offer mortgages for skilled worker visa holders?
- What are the key criteria for Hinckley and Rugby’s buy-to-let mortgages?
- What are Hinckley & Rugby’s Green Mortgages?
- How do I submit a case to Hinckley & Rugby?
- FAQs about Hinckley & Rugby for intermediaries
Hinckley & Rugby Building Society is a mutual, FCA- and PRA-regulated lender (registration number 206043) based in Leicestershire. It lends across England, Scotland, and Wales using a manual underwriting approach designed for borrowers who don’t fit standard high-street criteria.
This guide covers its full specialist product range for mortgage brokers and intermediaries. All figures and details are current as at 28 May 2026.
What products does Hinckley & Rugby offer intermediaries?
Hinckley & Rugby offers eight distinct mortgage ranges through its intermediary portal:
- Income Flex
- Credit Flex
- Flex Plus
- JBSP
- Skilled Worker Visa (residential)
- Visa Buy-to-Let
- Buy-to-Let
- Green Mortgages
No credit search is run at Decision in Principle (DiP) stage – a full Equifax check only takes place once a fully packaged application is submitted.
What is Income Flex, and who is it for?
Income Flex is designed for borrowers whose income can’t be assessed with a standard payslip average. It is available at up to 95% LTV.
Which employment types does Income Flex cover?
Income Flex caters to employee types that high-street lenders would normally not cover. Some examples:
Income Flex policy by employee type
| Employee type | Income Flex policy | |
|---|---|---|
| Self-employed |
|
One year’s accounts or SA302s accepted; declining profits, loss years and accountant projections considered |
| Day rate contractors |
|
Assessed on contract day rate × 48 weeks; no minimum income requirement; minimum 3 months remaining on contract required |
| Zero-hours workers |
|
12 months’ evidence required; up to 80% LTV where this is the only or highest source of income |
| Agency workers |
|
Accepted up to 80% LTV |
| Umbrella company workers |
|
Accepted |
| Workers on probation |
|
Considered where the new and previous roles are similar, or where the borrower has been promoted |
What additional income sources can Income Flex include?
Alternative income sources do not fall under most lenders’ standard policy, but Hinckley & Rugby’s Income Flex accepts the following:
- Investment income: up to 100%, with two years’ SA302 evidence
- Bonus, commission and overtime: up to 100% with one year’s evidence; cannot exceed 100% of basic income
- Retained profits (limited company directors): up to 80% LTV; other conditions apply
- Lodger income: up to 100% of the government’s current tax-free allowance (£7,500 per annum); primary income must exceed £7,500 per annum
- Tronc payments (tips): up to 100% with a minimum of 12 months’ evidence
- Stipend income: up to 100% with 12 months’ evidence; if primary income, maximum 80% LTV may apply
All Income Flex applications are subject to full underwriting assessment. Visit the Hinckley & Rugby for intermediaries website for full details.
What is Credit Flex?
Credit Flex is available up to 80% LTV for owner-occupiers with an imperfect credit history. It is available for purchase and remortgage. For remortgage, the borrower must have owned the property for at least six months.
It is not available for applicants who:
- do not live in the property
- are existing Hinckley & Rugby members who want to switch or borrow more
- have outstanding payday loans
- cannot make a deposit of at least 20%
Because it accounts for complex credit history, Credit Flex carries a higher interest rate and is not suitable for applicants who qualify for standard products.
What adverse credit does Credit Flex consider?
Credit criteria by timeframe
| Last 3 months | No CCJsNo defaultsNo secured arrears
No payday loan activity of any kind |
|
| Last 6 months |
No payday loans of any kind |
|
| Last 12 months |
No active or recently registered debt management plans |
|
| Last 24 months | Mortgage / secured arrears
Up to 2 months late — mortgage or secured arrears; hire purchase or unsecured loan arrears Credit card, current account or utility late payments up to 5 months |
|
| Last 36 months | CCJs acceptedDefaults accepted
CCJs: max 2, combined value under £500 Defaults on utilities, credit cards or telecoms: total value up to £2,500 Mortgage or secured arrears up to 3 months late Payday loans accepted up to total value of £500 |
|
| Last 3 years | No IVANo bankruptcyNo debt relief order
Any historical instances must be fully satisfied |
For communication-related late payments, any number is considered, including settled defaults.
Can Credit Flex be combined with other specialist products?
No, Credit Flex cannot be combined with Income Flex or the Skilled Worker Visa range. See full Credit Flex criteria on the Hinckley & Rugby for intermediaries site.
What is Flex Plus, and when should brokers use it?
Flex Plus is Hinckley & Rugby’s most flexible specialist product, designed for borrowers whose circumstances are too complex even for Income Flex or Credit Flex. They could be clients with:
- highly irregular income
- significant adverse credit
- non-standard employment
- non-standard property types
Flex Plus is for borrowers who:
- are first-time property buyers
- buying a new home
- remortgaging property
This product is best suited to clients combining multiple issues, such as:
- a self-employed borrower with a complex credit history
- a client purchasing a non-standard property type with irregular income
- anyone whose situation falls outside the criteria of every other product in the range
See the Flex Plus criteria on the Hinckley & Rugby for intermediaries site. You can also speak to the BDM team before submitting.
What is JBSP, and how does it work at Hinckley & Rugby?
JBSP (Joint Borrower Sole Proprietor) allows family members or friends to be named on the mortgage to boost affordability, without being named on the property title deeds. Hinckley & Rugby merged its JBSP criteria into its core residential range, which means JBSP is now available across core products.
Here are key JBSP criteria:
- Up to four borrowers accepted on a joint application
- Non-family members are accepted as joint borrowers
- Maximum LTV of 95% where joint applicants are close family (parents, spouse, or siblings); 80% for all other joint applicants
- Affordability calculated on an income multiple of 4.49 for the two highest earners
- Non-proprietor applicants must receive independent legal advice before completion
Hinckley & Rugby issues a disclaimer: joint borrowers who are not named on the title deed should seek independent legal advice. Some in the industry warn that joint borrowers may not fully grasp the financial commitment.
Does Hinckley & Rugby offer mortgages for skilled worker visa holders?
Yes. Hinckley & Rugby for intermediaries offers residential mortgages for holders of Skilled Worker, Health and Care, Global Talent and Ancestry visas, available up to 95% LTV. There are no minimum UK residency requirements and no minimum time remaining on the visa.
What are the key criteria for skilled worker visa residential mortgages?
The main requirements under this product type’s residential mortgage offering are:
- Minimum individual income of £41,700 – waived for NHS, private hospital and teaching roles
- One year’s employment track record required
- LTV restricted to 90% where UK residency is under 12 months
- Deposit must be held in a UK bank account
- New-build purchases accepted; builder deposits of up to 5% accepted with no adjustment to the purchase price for LTV purposes
Borrowers under this scheme must be able to show a UK proof of address.
More skilled professionals are moving to the UK with strong incomes and big plans. 🏘️💸
— Hinckley and Rugby for Intermediaries (@MortgageRequest) August 28, 2025
Many are self-employed and underserved by lenders.
Our skilled worker visa criteria makes lending possible, not painful.
Learn more: https://t.co/kkpvTXxtQd pic.twitter.com/Atb6eAIOuo
What is the Visa Buy-to-Let range?
Hinckley & Rugby for intermediaries offers a dedicated Visa Buy-to-Let range at up to 75% LTV for visa holders looking to purchase or refinance UK property. Key features include:
- no minimum UK residency requirement
- minimum individual income of £41,700 – waived for those working in the NHS, private hospitals, or teaching roles
- manual underwriting on every case
- applicants who don’t own a UK residential property must confirm their residency status as a requirement for the application
- limited companies not accepted; top-slicing not permitted
For full criteria including ICR calculations and loan size parameters, speak to your BDM or check the latest criteria directly with Hinckley & Rugby before submitting.
What are the key criteria for Hinckley and Rugby’s buy-to-let mortgages?
Standard buy-to-let mortgages are available up to 80% LTV for personal and limited company landlords. Portfolio landlords are assessed under separate criteria.
Top-slicing is an option under all buy-to-let products except visa BTL.
Visit Mortgage Introducer’s buy-to-let mortgage rates page for other options.
What are Hinckley & Rugby’s Green Mortgages?
Hinckley & Rugby offers Green Mortgages for borrowers committing to use at least 50% of the additional funds to make their homes energy efficient. Here are some examples of these upgrades:
- heating modifications
- installation of renewable energy tools
- resilience measures against flooding
The product is available on both residential and buy-to-let properties. Hinckley and Rugby has partnered with green retrofit specialist Retrogreen to help borrowers plan and manage improvement works.
Head to our section on green mortgage rates to see how Hinckley & Rugby competes with other lenders.
How do I submit a case to Hinckley & Rugby?
All cases are submitted via the Hinckley & Rugby for intermediaries portal. Use the affordability calculators to test the numbers and check the packaging requirements before submitting.
For complex cases — particularly Flex Plus, Credit Flex, or Visa Buy-to-Let — call the team first to confirm the case fits criteria. Find your regional BDM at the Meet the Team page or use LiveChat on the intermediary site.
FAQs about Hinckley & Rugby for intermediaries
Frequently asked questions
Does Hinckley & Rugby run a credit search at DiP stage?›
No. A full Equifax credit check only takes place once a fully packaged application is submitted. The DiP stage does not affect your client’s credit file.
Can Income Flex and Credit Flex be used on the same case?›
No, the two products cannot be combined. Credit Flex also cannot be used alongside the Skilled Worker Visa range.
What is the difference between Credit Flex and Flex Plus?›
Credit Flex has a defined criteria matrix for specific adverse credit issues. Flex Plus is for cases too complex for any fixed criteria — combining income issues, credit problems, and non-standard property types.
If Credit Flex doesn’t fit, Flex Plus is the next conversation to have with the team.
Can visa holders purchase new-build properties?›
Yes. Builder deposits of up to 5% are accepted with no adjustment to the purchase price for LTV purposes, allowing visa holders to access up to 90% LTV gross.
What types of improvement qualify for a Green Mortgage?›
Hinckley & Rugby Green Mortgages are available to borrowers committing to use at least 50% of the additional funds on eligible energy efficiency works. Qualifying improvements include:
- insulation
- double glazing
- heat pumps
- heating controls
- solar panels
- flood resilience measures
Retrogreen, Hinckley & Rugby’s green retrofit partner, can help borrowers plan and manage the works end to end.
