Britain’s biggest building society has widened access to higher loan-to-income borrowing, extending six times income lending beyond first-time buyers.

Nationwide has announced that home movers and customers remortgaging will now be able to borrow up to six times their income, as part of a broader move to support affordability across the housing market.

The change follows a sharp increase in higher loan-to-income lending to first-time buyers over the past year. In 2025, Nationwide recorded a 57% rise in first-time buyer mortgages taken at or above five times income compared with 2024, alongside a more than five-fold increase in loans at or above 5.5 times income.

HOME MOVERS AND REMORTGAGE

Under the updated criteria, Nationwide will now lend up to six times income to both new and existing customers who are moving home or remortgaging, up to 95% loan-to-value.

New customers moving home or remortgaging to Nationwide must have a minimum annual income of £75,000 for sole applicants or £100,000 for joint applications. However, existing Nationwide customers looking to move home in 2026 will not be subject to any minimum income requirement.

For remortgage applications that do not involve any additional borrowing, Nationwide already allows borrowing of up to 6.5 times income at up to 95% loan-to-value.

SUPPORTING FIRST-TIME BUYERS

The building society said the expansion has been enabled by regulatory changes introduced last year, including clarification of stress rate rules and a review of loan-to-income flow limits, which have helped open up higher multiple lending where affordable.

Nationwide’s Helping Hand scheme, which allows lending up to six times income, remains available exclusively to first-time buyers.

Henry Jordan, group director of mortgages at Nationwide, said: “The government and regulatory changes last year have been a game changer for first-time buyers. Alongside our Helping Hand expansion to six times income in September 2024, they’ve enabled greater support for those who need it most.

“Over the past year, we’ve seen a five-fold increase in the number of first-time buyers borrowing between 5.5 and six times income. Our latest announcement means we will provide similar support to those looking to move home or remortgage to Nationwide and shows our commitment to all parts of the market.”

FLEXIBLE LENDING BOOST

David Hollingworth, associate director at L&C Mortgages, said: “Nationwide is one of the lenders driving more flexibility for first-time buyers to boost what they can borrow where affordable.

“Its Helping Hand scheme has been one of the schemes developed by lenders to increase the chances of first-time buyers getting onto the ladder.

“Expanding that to borrowers in the wider market should be just as useful. Next time buyers that may be stepping up to a family home, for example, will no doubt be pleased to see a potentially higher borrowing extended to them.

“Nationwide is not alone in looking at how they can better tailor their lending decisions.”

“Nationwide is not alone in looking at how they can better tailor their lending decisions to meet borrower demand. Lower interest rates, an easing in stress rates and more flexible rules around higher multiple lending is transforming maximum borrowing levels. It could raise the possibility of reaching a goal that previously felt out of reach.

“Although this approach by lenders offers greater flexibility it does carry eligibility requirements and not everyone will qualify. Seeking advice will help borrowers to unpick what could be available based on their individual circumstances and establish whether a higher multiple is right for them.”