Nottingham Building Society has announced a series of updates to its buy-to-let lending criteria – including an increase in its maximum mortgage term to 40 years, up from the previous 35 year limit.
The shift has been built to provide landlords with more flexibility when structuring borrowing, while also supporting a growing number of accidental landlords where longer terms can help manage affordability and repayment profiles.
Alongside the extended mortgage term, the Society has refreshed its buy-to-let criteria to provide brokers with greater flexibility across borrower type, portfolio structure, and property profile. This includes opening lending to first time landlord borrowers, as well as introducing more flexible lease length requirements where properties continue to meet the Society’s minimum end of term standards.
The Nottingham has also refreshed its approach to portfolio coverage as part of a broader effort to support more consistent and transparent assessments of background portfolios, while maintaining its core affordability framework.
These changes build on the mutual’s wider programme of lending enhancements introduced across 2026. Recent updates have included expanding lending on ex-local authority flats and updating its approach to concessionary purchase transactions, enabling private landlords to sell properties to existing tenants at a discounted price.
Matt Kingston, sales director at Nottingham Building Society, said: “The buy-to-let market continues to evolve, and landlords are operating in a very different environment to even a few years ago. Borrowing structures, portfolio management, and the types of customers entering the market are all changing.
“These updates are about recognising that reality and giving brokers more flexibility when placing cases. Extending the maximum mortgage term, opening our criteria to first-time landlord borrowers, and adopting a more transparent portfolio stress rate all help create a more practical framework for landlords managing their investments today.
“We’re focused on making thoughtful changes that reflect how the property market actually works today, while maintaining responsible lending standards. These enhancements give brokers more confidence that viable buy-to-let cases can find a home with us.”
