Helping your clients to borrow more

We've reduced our affordability stress rates that will enable your clients to borrow more. On average, up to £28,000 more.


Whether your clients are buying a first home, moving on to a new property or remortgaging, we’re helping them borrow more. We’ve reduced our affordability stress rates by between 0.75 and 1.25 percentage points.

The stress rate reduction will help:

  • First time buyers, including those eligible for Helping Hand
  • Home movers, both new and existing customers
  • Clients remortgaging to us, especially those not increasing their borrowing

Your clients will be able to borrow, on average, up to £28,000 more.

Example scenarios

Here you'll find some examples to demonstrate the benefit of the change. These are based on two applicants and the amount that can be borrowed is illustrative and will depend on your clients’ individual circumstances.

First time buyer with Helping Hand


Product: 5 or 10 year fixed rate
Income: £55,000
Term: 27 years
Maximum loan before: £304,200
Maximum loan after: £330,000
Uplift: £25,800
Loan to income before: 5.53x
Loan to income after: 6x

Home mover



Product: 5 or 10 year fixed rate
Income: £75,000
Term: 25 years
Maximum loan before: £307,000
Maximum loan after: £336,800
Uplift: £29,800
Loan to income before: 4.09x
Loan to income after: 4.49x

Remortgage without additional borrowing

Product: All
Income: £45,000
Term: 40 years
Maximum loan before: £235,500
Maximum loan after: £278,100 
Uplift: £42,600
Loan to income before: 5.23x
Loan to income after: 6.18x

 

Use our calculator for a thorough calculation of how much your client may be able to borrow.

Affordability calculator