At Shawbrook, we understand that not every borrower fits the traditional mould. That’s why our retail mortgage offering - delivered through our specialist brands The Mortgage Lender and Bluestone Mortgages Limited - is designed to support customers with complex needs, unique circumstances, or non-standard income.

The Mortgage Lender

Mortgages for Unique Income

We understand that not every borrower fits the traditional mould. That's why our retail mortgage offering, delivered exclusively through mortgage brokers, is designed to support your customers for real life.

The Mortgage Lender is there for the self-employed, those with credit blips, the buy-to-letters, and everyone in between. That's what we call real life lending. 

With cutting edge technology supported with human-based decisioning, The Mortgage Lender take the time to understand complex income needs including:

  • Self-employed and freelancers
  • Buy-to-Let solutions supporting a wide range of landlords' needs
  • Borrowers with credit blips
  • Shared ownership range
  • Customers seeking flexible lending solutions

Bluestone Mortgages

Mortgages for Complex Credit

It’s easier than ever for clients to find themselves in financial difficulties. Banks and other lenders quickly brand mortgage-seekers with poor credit as ‘unlendable’.

Bluestone Mortgages give credit where it’s due. That means that where others see ‘unlendable’, we see a community of people that deserve to be considered for a loan based on their circumstances, not their credit. 

Using technology to smooth the mundane parts of the process allows underwriters the time to see the client behind the credit score and support cases that high street lenders may have declined previously:

  • Support for those with CCJs
  • Borrowers with non-traditional income
  • First time buyers with low credit scores
  • Right to buy

Understanding the specialist mortgage market

The 2025 Home-A-loan Specialist Lending Report is Shawbrook's latest deep-dive into the evolving world of specialist retail mortgages. This comprehensive study explores the changing face of homeownership in the UK, with a focus on:

    • The rise of non-standard borrowers
    • Shifting trends in income types and employment
    • The growing demand for flexible lending solutions
    • Data-driven insights into borrower behaviour and market dynamics

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More Insights

Our mortgage brands each have their own hubs, sharing news, views, and know-how across every aspect of the mortgage industry we work with. 

Logo for The Mortgage Lender with the tagline “real life lending,” and the text “Powered by Shawbrook” below, accompanied by the Shawbrook logo.

The Mortgage Lender content hub

Real stories of how we’ve helped clients and intermediaries as well as updated on how we do it too, with news, research and opinion.

Logo for Bluestone Mortgages with the words "Powered by Shawbrook" and the Shawbrook logo underneath. The text "Blue" is in blue, "stone." is in gray, and the rest is in black.

Bluestone Mortgages media hub

A wide range of news and views on the mortgage industry with a focus on specialist lending and underserved customers.

Shawbrook logo featuring a stylized pink "S" icon on the left and the word "shawbrook" in lowercase pink letters on a white rectangular background with a black border.

Shawbrook insights hub

Insights and trends on the property market with a focus on professional landlords.