Darlington Building Society has increased the maximum loan-to-value available on its foreign currency mortgage range from 80% to 90%.

The mutual said the change was aimed at supporting brokers placing cases for expat and foreign-income borrowers, including first-time buyers.

The change takes effect immediately and is intended to improve access to higher-LTV lending in a specialist part of the mortgage market where larger deposit requirements can be a barrier.

The products are also available to borrowers purchasing property in Scotland, broadening access for clients buying in different parts of the UK.

Darlington has identified foreign currency and expat lending as a growth area, with the latest change forming part of a wider effort to offer more flexibility in how such cases are assessed and placed.

The society has also recently reduced rates across its buy-to-let, residential and specialist ranges, aimed at supporting brokers placing cases for landlords, first-time buyers and borrowers with more complex income.

Chris Blewitt, head of mortgage distribution at Darlington Building Society, said: “We have seen steady demand from brokers placing foreign currency and expat cases, but the feedback has been consistent where higher deposit requirements can make those cases harder to progress.

“By increasing the LTV to 90% from 80%, we are giving brokers more flexibility to support clients who have the income to sustain the borrowing but may not have built up a larger deposit, particularly first-time buyers.

“This also extends to borrowers purchasing property in Scotland, where we are continuing to support cases across a broader range of locations.

“As always, we are focused on being consistent in how we assess cases, taking a common-sense view and supporting scenarios that may not fit a more automated model, while still ensuring cases can move forward at pace.”