Nationwide expands Helping Hand first-time buyer mortgages support after regulator relaxes high loan-to-income rules

by Aaron Strutt

Jul 15 2025

Nationwide for Intermediaries is making it easier for more people to get on the property ladder by relaxing the income criteria for its Helping Hand mortgage, which offers lending of up to six times salary mortgages to first-time buyers.

The move follows the Prudential Regulation Authority’s (PRA) recent announcement enabling banks and building societies to increase high loan-to-income lending.

From Wednesday (16 July), eligible first-time buyers can apply for the Helping Hand mortgage with a £30,000 salary, down from £35,000, and joint applicants with a £50,000 combined salary, down from £55,000. They will still need to meet strict mortgage affordability rules, but Nationwide says this move is expected to support an additional 10,000 first-time buyers each year.

Nationwide says that it lent to more first-time buyers in 2024 than any other lender and that it has now applied to the PRA to increase its high LTI lending capacity. The lender says the vast majority of Nationwide’s high LTI lending is done through its Helping Hand product, which allows eligible first-time buyers to borrow up to 33% more than its standard lending. 

Prior to the PRA announcement last week - recommended by the Financial Policy Committee - lenders could only offer a limited amount of loans at or above 4.5 times a borrower’s income - capped at 15% of their eligible new loans.

How many first-time buyers have used Nationwide's Helping Hand product? 

The Helping Hand has assisted around 60,000 first-time buyers since its launch in 2021, which is not surprising given the significantly more generous maximum loan sizes compared to many of its competitors. 

Nationwide’s current salary thresholds were put in place to ensure that it kept within the 15% limit following exceptionally strong demand for the proposition. The society says the arrears rates on Helping Hand are lower than those of Nationwide’s standard lending due to the enhanced controls being applied.

First-time buyers need to take a five or ten-year fix with the Helping Hand product

The availability of Helping Hand is subject to many factors, for example credit score and how much debt the applicant has. 

• All applicants must be first time buyers.
• 5 and 10 year fixed rates available providing first-time buyers have a 5% deposit.
• The minimum income of £30,000 sole applicant or £50,000 for joint applicants. You can include all income sources (except self-employed income).
• The maximum lending limits depend on the application. 

Nationwide won’t accept applications with the following:

• Self-employed income for either applicant.
• In conjunction with any scheme or non-standard ownership type. For example, First Homes, Shared Ownership, Genuine Bargain Price, Right to Buy and Help to Buy.
• The mortgage cannot be taken on Interest Only.

Call Trinity Financial on 020 7016 0790 to secure a mortgage or book a consultation

The information contained within was correct at the time of publication but is subject to change.

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