Many lenders don't know how to treat fostering allowances as income. We work with specialists who do. Whether you foster with a local authority or an independent agency, we can find a lender who will include your fostering income in affordability and give you access to the mortgage you deserve.

Fostering allowances are a legitimate and reliable source of income, but most high street lenders don't recognise them. We work with lenders who will include your LA or independent agency fostering payments in your affordability assessment, helping you access more of the market.
Already a homeowner and looking to remortgage? Whether you want to release equity, switch to a better rate, or move to a new property, we work with lenders who will treat your fostering income fairly and won't ask you to justify it as a secondary or informal source.

Many high street lenders won't lend beyond age 70, but specialist lenders will look further. They will also consider pension income in later life planning. Whether you are an experienced carer approaching retirement or just starting out, we can find the right option for your circumstances.

When your fixed rate ends, we search the whole market to find you the best remortgage deal. Most lenders offer free valuations and free legal fees through their appointed solicitor for standard remortgages.

Alongside foster carer mortgage products, these government schemes may also help you get on the property ladder sooner or with a smaller deposit.

Different lenders take different approaches. Some treat foster carers as self-employed, requiring two years of tax calculations and assessing net profit after the carer's allowance. Others use remittance slips and a letter from your fostering agency confirming that payments will continue, allowing up to 100 percent of the allowance to be counted. We know which approach each lender takes and will match you to the one that maximises your borrowing.
The minimum deposit requirement for foster carers is 5 percent, the same as for standard applicants. A larger deposit will give you access to lower interest rates and a wider choice of lenders, which can make a significant difference to your monthly payments over the life of the mortgage. We will help you identify the best rate available at your deposit level.
Yes. Most lenders count fostered children as dependants in their affordability assessment, which can reduce how much you are able to borrow. However, the fostering allowance you receive is also counted as income, which partially offsets this. We factor both sides into our research from the start and present your application to the lender most likely to offer the best outcome.
The rates available to you depend on the lenders willing to accept fostering income, which is a smaller pool than the mainstream market. Fewer lenders means fewer rate options, so working with a whole-of-market broker is particularly important for foster carers. We will search every lender who accepts this income type to ensure you get the most competitive rate available.
Yes to both. For a remortgage, you will need lenders who are comfortable using 100 percent of your fostering income, which we can identify for you. Buy-to-let mortgages are assessed in the same way as for any other applicant, with rental income stress-tested against the mortgage payment. A typical deposit of 25 percent is required for buy-to-let. We can advise on both.
Fostering income is treated inconsistently across the mortgage market, and approaching the wrong lender can result in a declined application and a mark on your credit file. A fee-free, whole-of-market broker takes the time to understand your full income picture and matches you to the right lender from the outset. There is no cost for our service on mortgages over £100,000, and we handle everything from first enquiry through to completion.
For official GOV.UK guidance on fostering:
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