HSBC UK has increased the maximum loan-to-income (LTI) ratio available to its Premier customers to 6.5 times their annual earnings, providing what it described as “greater financial firepower” to higher earners.
The change, effective from today, builds on earlier enhancements made to the bank’s standard and First Home Mortgage ranges this year, which also lifted LTI limits to support affordability in a competitive housing market.
The new policy is aimed at giving Premier clients greater borrowing flexibility, particularly those looking to move up the property ladder. HSBC relaunched its Premier service earlier in 2025 with new benefits centred on wealth, health, international and travel themes, including access to virtual GP appointments and other digital health services.
Under the updated limits, a Premier customer earning £75,000 a year could now borrow up to £488,000, compared with £375,000 previously. A customer earning £100,000 could borrow up to £650,000, up from £550,000.
On an income of £213,000 — a figure HSBC’s Your Money’s Worth: Defining Wealth in 2025 report identified as the threshold Britons most associate with being “financially wealthy” — the maximum loan rises from £1.17 million to £1.38 million.
SUPPORTING CUSTOMERS
Oli O’Donoghue, head of mortgages at HSBC UK, said: “We’re committed to supporting customers across all segments of the mortgage market.
“Earlier this year we enhanced loan-to-income ratios for standard borrowers, giving more firepower to people looking to buy a home.
“Now, by extending that approach to our Premier customers, we’re helping higher earners unlock greater flexibility to move up the property ladder or secure their next home with confidence.
“This increase reflects both our confidence in the financial resilience of our Premier customer base and our commitment to responsible, sustainable lending.”
The updated limit applies to new mortgage applications from eligible Premier customers submitted from today.
POSITIVE STEP
Simon Gammon, managing partner at Knight Frank Finance, said: “This is the highest income multiple we’ve seen in years.
“It reflects both a more confident regulatory environment – following the FCA’s recent move to give lenders more flexibility – and HSBC’s clear appetite to grow market share after several years of subdued activity in the property market.
“It’s a positive step that regulators hope will support home ownership and housebuilding, and it poses little threat to financial stability: banks remain constrained in how much lending they can do at these higher multiples.
“The real question is how much this will translate into demand, given the continued uncertainty around potential tax changes in the upcoming Budget.”
