👉 When Other Lenders Say No, We Find a Way 👈

In today’s lending environment, many mortgage cases fall outside the conventional. This one involved a fully gifted deposit, a sole-trader applicant, and a property combining residential use with multiple holiday lets — all on a single title.

Exactly the kind of challenge The Stafford for Intermediaries is built to solve.

The Case at a Glance

  • Purchase price: £680,000
  • Deposit: 30%, fully gifted by the applicants’ parents
  • Property: Residential home plus three holiday let flats on one title
  • Applicants: One employed, one self-employed sole trader (income assessed using latest year’s figures)

The Challenge

Most lenders would have declined this case. The combination of a mixed-use property (with holiday lets), a fully gifted deposit, and self-employed income created a profile that didn’t sit within standard criteria.

The concern?

  • Holiday let income and residential use on the same title.
  • No deposit contribution from applicants.
  • Sole trader income requiring a realistic and current affordability assessment.

Our Solution

As a mutual building society in Staffordshire, we reviewed the case using our manual underwriting approach — assessing each element individually, with a real understanding of the borrower’s position.

  • Gifted deposit accepted with no requirement for applicant contribution.
  • The property was deemed suitable for residential lending as the commercial element (holiday lets) accounted for less than 40% of the title.
  • Affordability was assessed using the most recent year’s self-employed income, which reflected a stable, realistic trend in the applicant’s profession.

The result?

A lending solution that respected the complexity of the case, supported the clients’ goals, and provided the broker with a result their high-street lenders couldn’t.

Why Mortgage Brokers Work with The Stafford

When brokers need a lender who takes a more thoughtful, case-by-case approach, we stand apart. Our model is based on:

  • Manual underwriting – No automated decision-making
  • Local decision-making – Lending led by real experience
  • Dedicated BDM support – Your named account manager is here to help
  • Complex case capability – Proven results in non-standard lending

Whether it’s holiday let mortgages, sole-trader mortgage applications, or mixed-use property lending, our approach is rooted in clarity, flexibility, and relationships — not algorithms.

Place Your Complex Case with Confidence

Working with The Stafford for Intermediaries means partnering with a lender who understands the real world, and makes lending decisions accordingly.

To discuss your case or find out how we support mortgage brokers:

Contact Emma Parker, National Accounts Manager

Email: brokers@srbs.co.uk

Phone: 01785 223212