Market Harborough Building Society (MHBS) is a long-standing mutual institution founded in 1870. Based in Leicestershire, it operates as a traditional building society with a modern twist.
While it serves the local community with savings and standard mortgages, on a national level, it has carved out a reputation as a specialist lender for complex cases. It is widely known in the industry for its "can-do" attitude towards high-net-worth individuals, expats, and properties with unusual features like large acreage or annexes.
If you’d like to compare Market Harborough’s range of mortgage with other products and lenders from across the market, you can use our free comparison tool below:
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Lender Details
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About Market Harborough Building Society
MHBS focuses on "Bespoke Lending." They exist to serve borrowers who fall outside the rigid criteria of larger banks.
They are particularly strong in the Bridging Finance and High Net Worth markets, often handling loans between £200,000 and £5 million.
Mortgage & Finance Products
MHBS lends on properties across England and Wales. Their product range is extensive and designed for non-standard situations.
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Specialist Residential:
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Complex Income: They accept 100% of bonus/overtime and are flexible with self-employed income (often using the latest year’s figures rather than an average)
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Complex Properties: They lend on properties with over 10 acres of land, annexes, multiple titles, and Grade I or II listed buildings
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Joint applications:They allow up to 4 applicants on a mortgage, with all 4 incomes used for affordability
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Residential & Refurbishment: Short-term loans to break chains, downsize, or fund light/heavy refurbishment
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Long-Term Bridging: Unusually, for High Net Worth clients, they can offer bridging terms of up to 5 years (60 months), whereas most lenders cap this at 12–18 months
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Buy-to-Let & Holiday Let:
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Holiday Lets: They allow owners to stay in the property for up to 60 days a year. They also accept Airbnb income.
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Expats:They lend to UK nationals living almost anywhere in the world, including Australia, USA, and Hong Kong, looking to buy UK property
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Top Slicing: They allow you to use your personal income to top up the rental shortfall if the rent doesn't cover the mortgage stress test
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High Age Limits: For residential mortgages, they lend up to age 85. For Buy-to-Let and Bridging, there is no maximum age limit
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Pros and Cons of Market Harborough
Here is a balanced overview of choosing MHBS for your finance:
Pros:
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Manual Underwriting: You get a tailored decision. If you are a wealthy entrepreneur with messy accounts, or buying a house with an annex for your parents, MHBS is far more likely to say yes than a high-street lender
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Property Flexibility: They are one of the best lenders for "lifestyle" properties (equestrian facilities, large grounds, or homes with independent granny flats)
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Bridging Flexibility: Their 5-year bridging term for wealthy clients is a unique feature that offers huge breathing space compared to the standard 12-month bridge
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Expat Friendly: They are a go-to lender for Brits working abroad who want to buy a family home to return to or an investment property
Cons:
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Minimum Loan Sizes: For many of their specialist products, the minimum loan is £200,000. They are not the right lender for small mortgages or low-value properties
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Higher Rates: Because they manually assess complex risks, their interest rates are typically higher than the rates offered by large lenders like Nationwide or HSBC.
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Slower Process: While efficient, a manual "Credit Committee" decision can take longer than an instant digital offer from a mainstream bank
Customer Service and Reviews
Market Harborough Building Society has an outstanding reputation for service.
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Trustpilot: They consistently hold an "Excellent" rating (typically 4.5+ out of 5). Reviews frequently praise specific staff members for being "knowledgeable," "friendly," and "human"
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Broker Feedback: In the mortgage industry, they are highly rated for their "Best for Brokers Promise," which guarantees direct access to underwriters and notice of product withdrawals. They are frequent winners of "Best Specialist Lender" awards
How to Apply
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Through a Broker: For Bridging, Expat, and Complex Residential deals, you generally must use a mortgage broker. These products are often "intermediary only" because they require professional packaging to present the case to the credit committee. If you would like us to act as an intermediary for you either with MHBS or any other lender, get started now to speak to a helpful adviser
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Direct: For simple local mortgages, you can contact the society directly via their branches or via their website. However, keep in mind that this method will not give you the opportunity to compare their range with other lenders’.