Mortgage affordability test scrapped by Bank of England

Mortgage borrowing rules have been eased after the Bank of England scrapped an affordability test.

The “stress test” forced lenders to calculate whether potential borrowers would be able to cope if interest rates climbed by up to 3%.

Removing the test may help some potential borrowers get loans, such as the self-employed or freelance workers.

But other rules such as strict loan-to-income limits will not make it easier for most people to get a mortgage.

The withdrawal of the affordability test was announced in June but has come into effect on Monday.

“Scrapping the affordability test is not as reckless as it may sound,” said Mark Harris, chief executive of mortgage broker SPF Private Clients.

“The loan-to-income framework remains so there will still be some restrictions in place; it is not turning into a free-for-all on the lending front.

“Lenders will also still use some form of testing but to their own choosing according to their risk appetite.”

In other words there will not be an immediate impact for borrowers as lenders will not need to change the way they assess loans.

However, some may well change their own rules in the future.

Mark Yallop, chairman of the Financial Markets Standards Board, said although the change would make it “slightly easier” for some borrowers to get a mortgage, he did not think with would have a significant impact.

“The biggest constraint on new mortgages is the ability of borrowers to afford a deposit,” he added.

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Mortgage affordability test scrapped by Bank of England