Skipton Building Society has widened access to its Delayed Start Mortgage, allowing more home movers to defer their first mortgage repayment by up to three months.
The product, launched in 2025 and described by Skipton as the only mortgage of its kind currently available, has attracted more than £419m in applications.
Previously restricted to first-time buyers, Delayed Start has now been extended to a wider range of borrowers moving home.
Eligible customers can choose to delay their first mortgage repayment by one, two or three months, giving them additional time to manage costs associated with moving.
The product can also be used alongside Skipton’s Income Booster joint borrower sole proprietor proposition, New Build and Shared Ownership applications, as well as its Track Record Mortgage, subject to eligibility criteria.
Skipton said the extension was intended to recognise the wider costs faced by borrowers when moving, including legal fees, removals, furniture, decorating and other household purchases.
Jen Lloyd, head of mortgage products at Skipton Building Society, said: “Moving home can be both exciting and expensive. While the mortgage is often the focus, many of the financial pressures come from everything happening around the move itself, from furnishing a property and carrying out improvements to managing overlapping costs as households transition from one home to the next.
“The strength of customer demand for Delayed Start has reinforced what we’ve long believed: greater flexibility can make a meaningful difference at key moments in the home-buying journey. That’s why we’ve taken the decision to extend the proposition beyond first-time buyers and make it available to more home movers.
“As a mutual, we’re focused on finding practical ways to support customers through real-life challenges. Whether someone is buying their first home or moving up the ladder, they deserve products that reflect how people actually live, move and manage their money.”
Previous research from Skipton found that first-time buyers spend more than £30,000 during the first three months after moving into a home, with furniture, appliances, decorating and removals among the largest costs.
The society said some buyers also face an overlap between their final rental payment and their first mortgage payment.
Since the launch of Delayed Start, the strongest application demand has come from the South East, followed by Greater London, the East of England and the West Midlands.
