Shawbrook has improved its credit criteria to support landlords investing in maintenance accommodation.
During 2024, Shawbrook’s Internal data registered an increase of 14% in landlords investing in Multi-Unit Freehold blocks (MUFBs), and the momentum in this space was transported in 2025.
To meet this demand, the lender now offers loans to portfolios and larger blocks of flats that are operated as maintenance accommodation.
Main criteria highlights include:
Maximum loan amounts remain based on market rental under an insured Shorthold rent (AST), as confirmed by valuation, with a maximum of 75% loan-to-value (LTV) available in their buy-to-let product range.
For portfolios with 10 or fewer units, no additional evidence is required.
For portfolios of more than 10 units, two years of accounts for established assets or a cash flow for prediction is required for new assets to assess the income generated on an evening basis.
In commentary on the changes, Shawbrook said the director of real estate Daryl Norkett: “During 2024 we saw a significant increase in landlords investigating investments in MUFBs, and this continued in 2025 as more landlords want to diversify their portfolios.”