Our Blog

Expert insights on mortgages, protection, and property finance from the FG & Cook team.

29 October 202615 min read

Can Mortgage Lenders Use Income From a Second Job?

Many mortgage lenders can use income from a second job, but having two payslips does not automatically mean both salaries will be counted in full.

23 October 202620 min read

What Is a Joint Borrower Sole Proprietor Mortgage?

A Joint Borrower Sole Proprietor mortgage, usually shortened to JBSP, allows more than one person to be named as a borrower while only the proprietor, or proprietors permitted under the lender's structure, owns the property.

20 October 202610 min read

Can I Get a Mortgage on a Concrete or PRC House?

A concrete house can often be mortgaged, but if it is a designated defective PRC system the lender may require evidence of an approved structural repair before considering it acceptable security.

16 October 20269 min read

Can I Get a Mortgage on a Timber-Framed House?

Timber-frame construction does not automatically prevent a mortgage, but the lender may look closely at the exact system, age, outer wall materials, condition, warranty information and future marketability.

13 October 202616 min read

How Does a Shared Ownership Mortgage Work?

Shared Ownership can reduce the amount you need to borrow to get onto the property ladder, but it is not simply a smaller version of an ordinary house purchase.

9 October 20269 min read

Can I Get a Mortgage on a Property Containing Asbestos?

A property containing asbestos can often still be mortgaged, but the outcome depends on the material, its condition and location, whether it affects the building’s construction or saleability, and what the lender’s valuer requires.

7 October 20269 min read

Can Damp Make a Property Unmortgageable?

Damp does not automatically make a property unmortgageable, but significant or unexplained moisture can lead to further reports, repairs, a mortgage retention or, in more serious cases, a lender declining the property.

30 September 202620 min read

Can I Get a Mortgage With No Deposit?

100% mortgages are available to some UK buyers. Learn how no-deposit mortgages work, current lender criteria, family-backed options and the risks to consider.

28 September 20267 min read

What’s the difference between mortgage protection and income protection?

Mortgage protection and income protection sound similar, but they cover very different risks. This blog explains what each one does, and whether you need one or both.