Compare Mortgage Rates from Cumberland Building Society Against the Market

Who are The Cumberland?

As a mutual institution, The Cumberland is owned by its members, not by shareholders. This allows them to focus on providing personal service and supporting their local communities. While they have a strong regional identity, they offer their specialist mortgages across the mainland UK.

Their key strength is their human underwriting. Every single mortgage application is assessed by an experienced person who understands complex financial situations. They are famous for their in-depth knowledge of the UK tourism and hospitality industry, making them an obvious choice for anyone buying a property in that sector.

What are they known for?

The Cumberland has a stellar reputation in the broker community for their specialist knowledge. They are a market leader in several key niches.

Holiday Let Mortgages

This is their core specialism. They are arguably one of the UK's leading lenders for holiday let properties. Their underwriters understand:

• The seasonality of rental income.

• The difference between personal and commercial holiday lets.

• The unique property types found in tourist hotspots like the Lake District, Cornwall, and the Scottish Highlands.

Hospitality Mortgages

Beyond standard holiday lets, they are also experts in providing finance for small hospitality businesses, such as:

• Bed & Breakfasts (B&Bs)

• Guesthouses

• Small hotels

Flexible Residential Lending

While known for their specialist products, they also apply their manual underwriting approach to standard residential mortgages. This makes them a great choice for applicants with:

• Complex or multiple income streams.

• Unusual property types.

• Those who are self-employed and value an underwriter taking the time to understand their business.

Pros and Cons of a Cumberland Mortgage

Pros:

• Unrivalled Holiday Let Experts: Market-leading knowledge and products for the UK holiday let market.

• Human, Common-Sense Underwriting: Every case is assessed by a person who can be flexible.

• Personal Service: Known for their accessible and knowledgeable mortgage team.

• Hospitality Specialists: A go-to lender for B&Bs and guesthouses.

Cons:

• Niche Focus: They are not a "vanilla" lender. If you have a simple case, you may find cheaper rates on the high street.

• Rates Can Reflect Specialism: The interest rates for their specialist products will be higher than standard residential deals to reflect the complexity.

• Strong Regional Identity: While they lend UK-wide, their brand is most recognised in the North of England and Scotland.

How to apply

The Cumberland offers two main routes to get a mortgage:

1. Directly: You can apply yourself by speaking to their mortgage advisers over the phone or in one of their branches (which are primarily in Cumbria, Lancashire, and SW Scotland).

2. Through a Mortgage Broker (recommended): You can also use an independent mortgage adviser. This is the most common route for borrowers outside of their core branch network.

If you want to explore The Cumberland’s mortgage range and find out whether they are the right lender for you, get in touch to set up a free, no-obligation chat with a broker who specialises in their products and services.