Compare Mortgage Rates from Kent Reliance Against the Market

Kent Reliance is a specialist bank that provides mortgages for complex property investments and tricky residential cases that don't fit the mould of high street lenders.

They are a go-to lender for mortgage brokers who have clients with non-standard circumstances, particularly professional landlords and high-net-worth individuals. They are part of the specialist lending group OneSavings Bank (OSB).

September 2026 Update: Following a strategic brand realignment by parent company OSB Group, Kent Reliance is no longer accepting new mortgage applications for residential, buy-to-let, or shared ownership products. OSB Group has transitioned new lending to its dedicated sister brands: Rely (for new buy-to-let), Precise Mortgages (for complex residential, adverse credit, and bridging), and InterBay (for commercial property). Kent Reliance remains fully active for existing borrowers completing product transfers, rate switches, and shared ownership staircasing.

Important Note: Kent Reliance works almost exclusively through mortgage brokers. You cannot usually apply to them directly but you can compare the latest rates they are offering for free using our mortgage-sourcing tool below:

Who are Kent Reliance?

Think of Kent Reliance as the problem-solvers of the mortgage world. While high street banks use automated systems for straightforward applications, Kent Reliance uses manual underwriting. This means an experienced human assesses every single case on its individual merits.

Their expertise lies in understanding complex scenarios. They are not the right choice for a simple first-time buyer mortgage, but they are an excellent option for a professional landlord looking to finance a large House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) or someone with a complex income structure buying a unique home.

Mortgage Criteria & Policy Overview

Kent Reliance built its market presence on specialist manual underwriting, serving portfolio landlords, limited company SPVs, self-employed borrowers, and complex property structures. While new direct business has ceased, the criteria detailed below govern existing account management, product transfers, staircasing applications, and historical portfolio assessments.

Key Criteria Thresholds

Income & Affordability Rules

• Residential Income Multipliers: Standard residential mortgages utilise an affordability-based net disposable income calculator, yielding typical income multiples between 4.5x and 5.0x gross annual income.

• Shared Ownership & Staircasing: Kent Reliance remains a primary lender for shared ownership mortgages. Existing borrowers can staircase up to 100% of the property's open market value, with affordability calculated on the increased share plus remaining rent and service charges.

• Joint Borrower Sole Proprietor (JBSP): Allows up to 4 applicants on the mortgage contract with all incomes combined for affordability, enabling non-occupying family members to assist home buyers.

Self-Employed & Contractor Criteria

• Trading History Requirements: Accepts self-employed applicants with a minimum of 1 year's verified accounts for self-employed mortgages, though LTVs on single-year trading records are capped at 75%. Borrowers seeking 80%–90% LTV require 2 or more years of accounts or SA302 tax year overviews.

• Limited Company Directors: For directors holding a 25% or greater shareholding, income is calculated using PAYE salary plus share of post-tax net corporate profits (or pre-tax profit depending on product tier).

• Day-Rate Contractors: IT, finance, and professional contractors are assessed using contract day rate multiplied by 46 to 48 weeks, provided a 12-month continuous contracting history (or 2-year background in the same industry) is evidenced.

Buy-to-Let, HMO & Portfolio Landlord Criteria

Kent Reliance was historically recognized as one of the UK’s premier underwriters for complex buy-to-let mortgages and professional portfolio expansion:

• HMOs & Multi-Unit Freehold Blocks (MUFBs): Extensive underwriting appetite for large HMO mortgages with up to 10 lettable bedrooms, student lets, and MUFBs containing up to 10 self-contained flats on a single freehold title.

• Limited Company SPVs: Underwrites Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) and trading limited companies with up to 4 directors/shareholders, requiring personal guarantees from major shareholders.

• Stress Testing & ICR Limits:

  • Limited Company SPVs: 125% ICR across standard BTL, HMOs, and MUFBs.

  • Individual / High Rate Taxpayers: 140%–145% ICR for basic/higher rate taxpayers (160% for complex multi-lets in personal names).

  • 5-Year Fixed Rates: Stressed at the initial pay-rate for both purchases and remortgages.

• Unlimited Portfolio Size: No cap on the total number or value of background properties held by portfolio landlords, subject to full portfolio stress testing (minimum 125% ICR across the background portfolio).

Adverse Credit Tolerances

Kent Reliance maintained a strict tier-based credit assessment policy. For existing borrowers or legacy applications, credit events are evaluated based on age and satisfaction:

• CCJs & Defaults: Requires 0 CCJs or defaults in the last 36 months for standard pricing tiers. Historical CCJs or defaults registered over 36 months ago are accepted if satisfied prior to application. Small communications or utility defaults under £300 are generally ignored regardless of date.

• Mortgage & Secured Arrears: Must show 0 missed secured payments in the trailing 12 months (and 0 in 24 months for high LTV tiers).

• Unsecured Credit Arrears: Minor unsecured arrears (credit cards, mail order) are reviewed on a case-by-case basis under full manual underwriting.

• Insolvency Events: Bankruptcies, IVAs, or Debt Management Plans (DMPs) must be fully discharged or satisfied for a minimum of 3 years (36 months). Borrowers requiring lower credit thresholds are directed to sister lender Precise Mortgages for bad credit mortgages.

Property & Construction Acceptance

• Minimum Property Valuation: Minimum open market value of £75,000 for standard residential and BTL properties.

• High-Rise & Flats: Flats in high-rise blocks are accepted up to 80% LTV subject to RICS surveyor valuation and valid EWS1 fire safety certification where applicable.

• Non-Standard Construction: Poured concrete, steel-framed, and timber-clad properties are evaluated manually on merit, provided a specialist valuer confirms good marketability and structural integrity.

Pros and Cons of a Kent Reliance Mortgage

Pros:

• Buy-to-Let Experts: Market-leading knowledge and product range for professional landlords and complex property types.

• Human Underwriting: Every case is assessed by a person, allowing for common-sense decisions.

• Flexible Criteria: They excel at finding solutions for borrowers with complex income or property scenarios.

• Accepts Limited Companies: A go-to lender for landlords operating through a corporate structure.

Cons:

• Broker-Only Access: You cannot approach them directly, you must use a mortgage adviser.

• Higher Costs: Their rates and fees are higher than standard high street mortgages, which reflects the specialist nature of their lending and the higher risks involved.

• Not for Simple Cases: They are not the right lender for straightforward, "vanilla" mortgage applications.

Customer Review Consensus

As a long-established specialist brand within the OSB Group, Kent Reliance attracts feedback from experienced property investors, mortgage brokers, and existing account holders across independent financial review platforms:

• What Borrowers & Brokers Praise: Kent Reliance receives consistent praise from professional landlords and mortgage advisers for its deep technical expertise in specialist lending. Reviewers frequently highlight their manual underwriting flexibility on complex deals - such as multi-unit freehold blocks (MUFBs), large HMOs, limited company SPVs, and shared ownership staircasing - where automated high-street algorithms consistently reject applicants.

• Common Grievances: Negative feedback primarily focuses on administrative processing speeds and strict underwriting requirements. Because every file undergoes thorough manual document checks, borrowers note that application turnarounds can take longer than mainstream high-street banks. Furthermore, recent digital portal migrations and website updates have drawn criticism from existing clients experiencing temporary login friction when managing accounts online.

Broker Verdict

How to apply

You must go through a registered mortgage intermediary (a broker) to get a mortgage from Kent Reliance.

The process is:

1. You find a mortgage broker who specialises in buy-to-let or complex residential cases.

2. The broker will assess your circumstances and decide if Kent Reliance is the right fit.

3. The broker will then package your application and submit it to Kent Reliance on your behalf, managing the process for you.

Get started here to speak to a broker who has a deep working relationship with Kent Reliance and can help you access their products and services.