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Looking at a home with two kitchens (or more)? Or maybe you already own one and want to remortgage? It’s a curveball many face — and can complicate a mortgage application. Not every lender will accept properties with multiple kitchens, but with the right approach, broker and lender, there are options.
At Strive, we specialise in non-standard property mortgages and know which lenders are open to homes with more than one kitchen, annexes and unusual layouts. Here’s what you need to know.
Why Some Properties Have More Than One Kitchen
Properties with more than one kitchen come in many shapes: a main house with a self-contained annex or granny flat, large family homes with a second prep area, homes formerly split into flats or adapted for multi-generational living. Separate cooking spaces increasingly suit extended families or shared living.
Will Lenders Offer Mortgages on Properties with More Than One Kitchen?
Some will, some won’t — it depends entirely on how the property is configured and how the extra kitchen is used. Every lender has its own criteria. What one lender accepts, another may refuse.
With the right structure, it’s absolutely possible to secure a mortgage. Key: find a lender that understands your specific layout and use case.
Which Lenders Accept (and Don’t Accept) Properties with More Than One Kitchen
While some lenders will consider a property with two kitchens, it always depends on the layout, use, and overall setup. Lenders want to see that it functions as a single residence rather than two self-contained homes.
That said, a number of lenders almost certainly won’t lend on multi-kitchen properties, regardless of the circumstances. This doesn’t mean every other lender will accept them — it just highlights which ones are very unlikely to.
Notably, Coventry Building Society and Santander are among those that don’t consider properties with more than one kitchen. Others in the same position include:
| Policy | Lenders |
|---|---|
| Do Not Consider Properties with More Than One Kitchen | Progressive Building Society, Perenna, Beverley Building Society, Dudley Building Society, Family Building Society, Darlington Intermediaries, Cambridge Building Society, Hanley Economic Building Society, Santander, The Loughborough Building Society, Newcastle for Intermediaries, Leeds Building Society, Saffron for Intermediaries, Suffolk Building Society, Nottingham Building Society, Monmouthshire Building Society, Tipton Building Society, Vernon Building Society, Principality Building Society, Coventry Building Society, The Mortgage Lender, Kensington Mortgages |
Why Lenders Sometimes Say No
The big red flags for lenders: when a property looks like multiple dwellings in one. For example:
- Separate tenancies or leaked into Airbnb use
- Individual entrances or postal addresses
- Independent utility meters or separate council tax records
Lenders need to see the property as one residence, rather than something that can easily be split into separate homes or let out.
Annex or Granny Flat Mortgages
Many lenders are comfortable with a property that has a small annex (especially if intended for family use) and shares utilities/access with the main house.
Problems start when the annex appears fully self-contained—with its own services, independent kitchen, entrance, etc. That can trigger specialist criteria, or the mortgage being treated as non-standard or investment rather than pure residential.
Here’s a guide on mortgages for properties with an annexe, which ties directly into this scenario.
Deposit Requirements
Having a second kitchen doesn’t mean you always need a massive deposit. For standard residential purposes, some lenders may still offer as little as 5% deposit, assuming the property qualifies as one dwelling. For buy-to-let or MUFB (multi-unit freehold block) setups, you’re more likely looking at a minimum 25% deposit (or more). It hinges on how the property is viewed and how it’s to be used.
Rates and Costs
If your property fits a mainstream lender’s criteria for a single home, then rates are often the same as a standard mortgage — having an extra kitchen alone doesn’t automatically mean a higher rate.
If your application needs to go via a specialist lender or the property falls under a more complex category (annexe, part let, MUFB, or non-standard construction), you may face slightly higher rates or fees — but the gap is usually smaller than many expect.
Outstanding service and clear communication are at the core of what we do. But don’t just take our word for it—read firsthand experiences from our clients and discover why they rate us a 5-star mortgage broker.
Which Lenders Accept Properties with More Than One Kitchen
Lender criteria vary and evolve. Some high-street lenders will consider dual-kitchen homes if the layout is clearly one residence and the valuer confirms it. Others prefer specialist or niche lenders.
Also relevant: for unique homes, you might fall under non-standard construction rules or specialist underwriting. For example, if the property type is unusual or converted. We recommend looking at our guide on non-standard construction mortgages to understand this overlap.
Airbnb or Short-Term Lets
Most standard residential mortgages will not accept properties being used as holiday lets or for short-term letting. If your property is listed or intended for Airbnb, you’ll likely need a holiday-let mortgage or specialist product. Remove any active listings before applying for a residential mortgage to keep things clean.
Buy-to-Let Properties with Two Kitchens
For buy-to-let mortgages: some lenders will consider properties with more than one kitchen — but only if the whole property is let to a single household.
If each section is rented separately (multiple households), then the property may be classed as HMO or a Multi-Unit Freehold Block (MUFB), which requires a different mortgage type.
Multi-Unit Freehold Blocks (MUFBs)
If the property consists of separate self-contained units under one freehold, you’re likely looking at a MUFB product. These are designed for investors rather than owner-occupiers and are assessed differently from standard residential mortgages.
Removing the Extra Kitchen
If the second kitchen is causing issues with lender acceptance, sometimes it’s simpler to remove key parts — an oven, sink or washing machine — and show the room as a utility or storage area instead. Especially useful for homes previously split into flats but now used as one house again.
How Strive Can Help
At Strive, we specialise in non-standard and complex property mortgages — including homes with two kitchens, annexes, conversions and more. We know the lenders who are comfortable with these scenarios, how to present your application, and what details to highlight to give yourself the best chance of success.
Whether you’re buying, remortgaging or just evaluating how your property layout may affect lending, we’ll help you find the right lender and move forward with confidence. Get in touch today and we’ll take it from there.
Jamie Elvin
Jamie is an expert in all things mortgages, and our most experienced broker. Connect with Jamie and get started to see how Strive Mortgages can help you.
