West One Residential Mortgage Criteria Explained: High LTVs, Credit Blips & Flexible Income Options

West One Residential Mortgage Criteria Explained: High LTVs, Credit Blips and Flexible Income Options

If you’ve struggled with credit blips, limited deposit or non-standard income, West One could be one of the most flexible options available. Their residential mortgage range, structured across Prime, Prime Plus, Near Prime and Extra tiers, offers some of the most generous high LTVs, credit allowances and income assessments in specialist lending. Unlike high-street banks that rely on rigid automated scoring, West One uses manual underwriting, which means a real person reviews your circumstances and the bigger story behind your finances.

This guide breaks down the full West One residential mortgage criteria using their latest criteria guide, including high LTV allowances, adverse credit rules, income acceptance and maximum borrowing levels. If you need a lender that looks beyond a credit score, this will help you understand where you stand.

---

What Makes West One Different from Other Specialist Lenders

West One is built for borrowers who fall outside traditional lending. Their approach is shaped around real-life complexity rather than trying to match everyone to a rigid set of rules. According to the West One guide, their residential range offers flexible criteria across tiers, with manual underwriting and product options that reach LTVs up to 97.5% on selected plans .

They can also accept self-employed applicants with as little as one year of trading history, depending on the plan, supported by clear affordability checking and underwriting discretion . This is extremely valuable for people newly self-employed or whose income patterns don’t line up with what high-street lenders expect.

Borrowers benefit from the balance between structured credit rules and human-led assessment. This includes not only higher LTVs, but also more generous LTIs, acceptance of multiple income sources, and a realistic approach to historic credit issues.

---

Understanding West One’s LTV Structure

One of the most attractive parts of West One’s criteria is its high LTV availability. Across their plans, the guide shows:

• Up to 97.5% LTV on selected Extra plans for purchases and remortgages when fees are added to the loan and other criteria are met
• Up to 95% LTV across Prime and Prime Plus residential products for eligible borrowers
• Up to 90% LTV across multiple risk tiers
• Up to 75% LTV for debt consolidation remortgages with all unsecured debts paid directly from advance funds

This is one of the highest sets of LTVs available in the specialist market, particularly because some plans allow these higher LTVs even where modest historical credit events are present.

The Extra range, in particular, makes high LTV borrowing possible for customers who need a more forgiving look at their financial history. Depending on the plan, borrowers may still qualify for higher LTV ranges while having older or lower-level adverse credit on their file.

---

How Much You Can Borrow Using West One’s LTI Rules

Borrowing power is one of the standout strengths in the west one residential mortgage criteria. The guide confirms several LTI structures:

• Up to 6.5x income is available through the LTI Boost feature when household income exceeds £50,000 and affordability metrics are met
• Up to 5x LTI is available across most Prime, Prime Plus and Near Prime plans
• Uncapped LTI is possible on selected 80% LTV products, meaning affordability and underwriter discretion determine borrowing level rather than a restrictive multiplier

For many borrowers, especially those with stronger income but limited deposits or inconsistent credit history, this can make a material difference in borrowing capacity.

The combination of high LTV and high LTI makes West One particularly useful for first-time buyers, single applicants in high-cost areas and remortgagers needing a larger advance to restructure finances.

---

What Types of Credit Issues West One May Accept

Credit blips don’t automatically rule you out of a West One mortgage. Their criteria are structured across tiers, each with its own credit allowances, as shown in the guide .

Examples include:

Defaults
Acceptable depending on age, value and whether settled. Older defaults generally fall within Near Prime or Extra tiers.

CCJs
Historic or lower-value CCJs are considered under similar conditions. More recent or high-value CCJs may limit LTV but can still be acceptable with a larger deposit.

Missed Payments
Occasional missed payments on unsecured credit are often acceptable across several plans when the rest of the profile is strong.

Arrears
Historical arrears can be considered, especially if over 12 months old and resolved. Mortgage arrears require careful assessment but are not automatically disqualifying.

Debt Management Plans
Applicants with active or completed DMPs may be accepted under specific tiers if payments have been consistent and affordability is strong.

The credit thresholds differ between Prime, Near Prime and Extra tiers, so even borrowers with recent credit events may have a viable route.

---

Flexible Income Options Accepted by West One

A standout part of the west one residential mortgage criteria is how they treat income. The guide confirms acceptance of a wide range of income sources including:

• Full-time and part-time employment
• Overtime, bonuses and commission (case-by-case inclusion)
• Self-employed applicants, often acceptable with one year of trading on qualifying plans
• Limited company directors using salary plus dividends or salary plus retained profits
• Day-rate contractors, umbrella workers and fixed-term contractors
• Pension income, investment income and rental income where evidenced
• Multiple-income households and applicants with mixed PAYE and self-employed sources

This flexibility is especially valuable for applicants navigating today’s employment landscape, where fewer people fit the traditional mould of long-term salaried employment.

Manual underwriting means an underwriter can take a sensible view of income stability rather than relying on automated assessments.

---

Property Types West One Will Lend On

West One supports a wide range of properties including:

• Standard construction houses and flats
• Leasehold properties within acceptable lease lengths
• New builds with recognised warranties
• Selected non-standard construction properties subject to valuer approval
• Properties under Government schemes (plan-dependent)

The guide indicates that properties with structural defects, non-recognised construction methods or significant refurbishment requirements may require additional checks or be excluded depending on tier .

---

Remortgaging Options with West One

Many borrowers turn to West One during remortgage because of the following benefits:

• High LTV remortgage options up to 97.5% where criteria are met
• Streamlined legal process for specific remortgage routes
• AVM (automated valuation) availability in suitable LTV bands
• Additional borrowing options on Prime plans
• Debt consolidation up to 75% LTV with direct settlement of unsecured debt balances

This makes West One a powerful option for borrowers who want stability after a credit event or need to restructure their finances due to previous high-rate borrowing.

---

Circumstances Where West One May Decline an Application

Despite being flexible, there are clear criteria where West One may decline. These include:

• Very recent defaults, CCJs or arrears that fall outside plan allowances
• Unstable employment or unverifiable income
• Persistent overdraft reliance shown on bank statements
• Large, unexplained credits or cash movements
• Affordability failure under required stress tests
• Property unsuitable under valuation or structural guidelines
• Deposits coming from restricted or unacceptable sources

These guidelines help ensure responsible lending and are outlined throughout the criteria guide.

---

How to Strengthen Your Application

A stronger application will typically include:

• Clean bank conduct for at least 90 days
• Settled or well-managed credit arrangements
• Clear evidence of income
• A traceable deposit source
• Detailed explanations for past financial issues
• Avoidance of any new unsecured credit
• A consistent employment pattern or stable self-employed position

We can help you assess your documents and prepare the strongest submission possible.

---

Final Thoughts

West One offers one of the most balanced and flexible mortgage ranges for people whose circumstances aren’t suited to traditional high-street providers. Whether you’re dealing with a smaller deposit, past credit issues, self-employed income, or higher borrowing needs, the west one residential mortgage criteria provide structured options across multiple tiers and risk bands.

This article provides general information only. For personalised guidance, regulated mortgage advice is required.