West Brom Building Society has eased its mortgage lending rules in a bid to make home ownership more attainable for borrowers with modest deposits.
Customers with a 10% deposit are now able to borrow significantly more, after the society increased the income multiples available on loans of up to 90% loan-to-value (LTV).
Applicants with a combined income above £50,000 can now borrow up to five times their income, while those earning more than £75,000 can access loans worth 5.75 times their income.
Both measures mark a jump from the previous limit of 4.5 times income. West Brom estimates the change could allow some customers to borrow up to 27% more.
Gareth Madeley, head of product at West Brom, said: “We’re always looking at ways to make home ownership more accessible for our customers. By extending higher income multiples on lending of up to 90% LTV, we’re giving customers the opportunity to access more funds, and for some, that could mean the difference between being able to own a home or not.
“With affordability remaining a stretch for many this move will enable more first-time buyers and next time buyers to own the home they want, and we’re really supportive of that, providing it’s done in a way that remains affordable and responsible.”
The society has also raised the maximum loan sizes for higher LTV products. At 90% LTV, the cap has been lifted from £500,000 to £750,000, while at 95% LTV the maximum has increased from £400,000 to £600,000.
