From Tuesday 24 November, NatWest Intermediary Solutions have raised the loan to income maximum on mortgages of 75% LTV or lower from 4.45 to 4.85 times income. For mortgages of between 75.01-85% LTV, the loan to income maximum will be raised from 4.45 to 4.75 times income. No changes are being made to the loan to income maximum for mortgages above 85%LTV. These changes will be implemented across NatWest’s retail businesses at the same time.

NatWest uses a number of measures in assessing customers’ affordability through its popular online affordability calculator with the loan to income amount being one of them.

Mark Bullard, Head of Sales, NatWest Intermediary Solutions said: “We regularly review and actively manage the key components of our products and criteria to ensure that we maintain the right balance of business. This change will help us to remain competitive and manage our appetite for the correct mix of mortgage business. We have developed a very strong market proposition that features one of the broadest ranges of residential and buy-to-let mortgages on offer to intermediaries, a reliable service and a transparent approach to affordability assessments which is well-liked.”

The loan to income change will be incorporated into the online affordability calculator and applied automatically so there is nothing extra that brokers need to do.

All applications submitted by close of play on Monday 23 November will be assessed on the current loan to income maximums with all new business submitted from Tuesday 24 November being assessed on the new loan to income basis.