Central Trust

Central Trust is both. It is a direct lender, meaning you can apply for a secured loan on its website without using a broker. It also has a dedicated intermediary channel with a broker portal for authorised firms. This dual-channel approach is unusual in the specialist second charge market, where most lenders operate exclusively through intermediaries. Both routes lead to the same product, the same underwriting team, and the same criteria.

Whether to apply direct or through a broker is a practical decision. If you are confident that Central Trust is the right lender for your situation and want to manage the process yourself, a direct application is straightforward. If you are unsure which lender best fits your circumstances, or if your case has any complexity, a regulated broker can compare Central Trust against other lenders before you commit to any formal application. Checking eligibility through Squared Money puts you in touch with a specialist broker who can make that comparison for you.

Up to 90% on residential second charge mortgages, subject to credit status and the lender's assessment of the individual case. Buy-to-let second charge mortgages are capped at 80% LTV. Applications secured against properties in Northern Ireland are subject to a 70% LTV cap, regardless of property type or credit profile. Central Trust's 90% residential ceiling is one of the highest in the second charge market, though it is worth noting that borrowers at the higher end of the LTV range will typically face higher rates to reflect the additional risk to the lender.

The LTV is calculated against the property value minus the outstanding first mortgage. So if your property is worth £200,000 and you have £100,000 outstanding on your mortgage, the maximum combined debt (first charge plus second charge) would be £180,000 at 90% LTV, leaving a maximum second charge loan of £80,000. The LTV and equity calculator can help you model this for your specific numbers. The guide to understanding LTV ratios explains the mechanics in more detail.

Yes. Central Trust lends across the whole of the UK, including Northern Ireland, Scotland (including Scottish isles), England, and Wales. Northern Ireland homeowners face a more limited market for second charge mortgages than those in England and Wales, as many specialist lenders do not extend coverage there. Central Trust describes itself as the UK's leading second charge mortgage lender in Northern Ireland and is prominently featured on major broker panels for Northern Ireland cases.

The key consideration for Northern Ireland applicants is the 70% LTV cap, which applies regardless of credit profile or property type. This is lower than the 90% maximum available on residential properties in the rest of the UK. A borrower with limited equity in a Northern Ireland property may find the accessible loan amount is constrained by this cap rather than by their income or credit profile. The Premier product range launched in February 2026 is currently only available in England and Wales; Northern Ireland applications use the standard product range.

Central Trust's published position is that it considers all credit histories. This includes borrowers with CCJs, defaults, accounts in arrears, debt management plans, cautions or restrictions against their property, and cleared IVAs. The lender accepts up to two missed payments in the last 12 months. For mortgage or secured loan arrears, up to two months of arrears in the last 12 months is considered where the most recent six months have been paid in full. Smaller unsecured arrears, under three months old, or under £300, or under £3,000 and satisfied, are typically disregarded. All adverse entries require an explanation from the borrower.

Considering all credit histories is not the same as approving all applications. Each case is assessed individually against the lender's current underwriting criteria. A borrower with severe or very recent adverse credit may still be declined or offered a lower LTV and a higher rate than a borrower with a clean profile. The guide to secured loans for bad credit explains how specialist lenders typically approach impaired credit profiles and what borrowers can reasonably expect. The guide to how secured loans affect your credit score covers the impact of applications and active loans on your credit file.

The Premier product range is a newer tier launched by Central Trust in February 2026. It is available for second charge mortgage applications in England and Wales only. It offers lower rates than the standard range, with rates from 6.69% per annum at the time of launch (subject to change). The Premier range is designed for lower-risk, cleaner cases where a borrower wants the most competitive pricing and the fastest process.

The process behind the Premier range is fully paperless for qualifying applications. Automated valuation models, Land Registry searches, and proof of income checks are run automatically on the system without requiring documents to be signed or submitted manually. Central Trust's CEO described it as "one of the most streamlined processes in the market" at launch. For borrowers in Scotland or Northern Ireland, or those with more complex credit or income profiles, the standard range continues to apply. A broker can confirm which product tier is appropriate for a specific case.

Yes. Central Trust accepts 100% of most major benefit types for affordability purposes. This includes disability-related payments, tax credits, housing benefit, and pension credit among others. Importantly, benefits-only applications are accepted, meaning a borrower does not need employment or self-employment income alongside their benefits to qualify. This distinguishes Central Trust from many second charge lenders that require at least some earned income as part of the application.

All income must be evidenced regardless of its source. Benefit income is typically evidenced with recent award letters or bank statements showing consistent payments. The affordability assessment applies to all applicants: the lender needs to be satisfied that the borrower can maintain repayments over the full loan term, taking into account their income and existing financial commitments. Benefit income that is time-limited or due to end before the loan term completes may be treated differently from permanent entitlements.

Central Trust states that borrowers may receive their loan in as little as three days on prepared cases. A more typical timeline is seven to ten days from application to completion, though timescales depend on the complexity of the case, how promptly documents are provided, and whether a physical valuation is required. The Premier product range is designed to speed up the process further for qualifying cases in England and Wales through its fully automated approach to valuations, Land Registry checks, and income verification.

The second charge mortgage process involves several steps regardless of speed: the initial affordability assessment, a credit search, a property valuation or AVM, and the legal process of registering the second charge with the first mortgage lender. Cases where the first mortgage lender's consent takes time, or where property or income circumstances require additional verification, will take longer. A broker can give a more realistic indication of timeline for a specific case before application. The guide to how long a secured loan takes explains each stage of the process.

Yes. Central Trust Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority under firm reference number 739724. The company is registered in England and Wales (Company No. 07020381) and is a member of the Finance and Leasing Association, to whose Lending Code it adheres. As a regulated second charge mortgage lender, Central Trust is required to carry out affordability assessments, issue standardised mortgage disclosure documentation, and maintain complaints procedures that give borrowers access to the Financial Ombudsman Service.

Central Trust is the lender within Norfolk Capital Group. Other companies in the group have their own FCA registrations and operate in different parts of the market. When you apply for a loan with Central Trust, whether directly or via a broker, the loan is issued by Central Trust Limited under FRN 739724. You can verify this on the Financial Services Register at fca.org.uk.