The Saffron Building Society has unveiled a new ‘Lending into Retirement Downsizing’ mortgage.

The mortgage is an interest-only mortgage, available to customers looking to borrow into their retirement. The product will allow customers to use downsizing as their repayment vehicle with the ability to repay the loan after they have retired. This repayment method and a wide variety of retirement incomes will be considered.

All applications will be individually assessed by an underwriter.

Applicants will need a minimum equity in their property of £250,000 however consideration will be given to applications below this equity level when alternative customer assets are in place or if it is appropriate to the location.

Details are all follows:

• Three-year discount rate
• Rate: 2.94% (SVR-2.7%) to 60% LTV
• Arrangement fee: £999
• Early Repayment Charge (ERC): 2% for three years
• Loan: Minimum loan £30,000, maximum loan £1m
• Term: Minimum mortgage term five years; maximum mortgage term determined by ONS tables
• Repayment: Interest only, overpayments of up to 10% allowed per annum without penalty
• Purpose: For purchase or remortgaging

Anita Arch, Saffron Building Society’s head of mortgage sales, said: “Some people don’t think it’s possible to get a mortgage in their 50s and 60s as retirement approaches. At Saffron, we don’t believe you should be limited by your age and we like to be as flexible as possible.

“You may be approaching retirement and have seen a property you want to call home but lenders have already said no. We say, let’s talk further and see what we can do to help.

“Our ‘Lending into Retirement Downsizing’ mortgage is a standard interest only mortgage with a difference. As the name suggests, it is available to customers who are looking to borrow into their retirement. Our mortgage stands out as it allows you to use downsizing as a way to pay off your loan after you stop working.”