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A HIGH street lender has made a big change to its mortgage rules that will make things easier for first-time buyers.
Loughborough Building Society has said it will start accepting applications for mortgages from people who have “blips” in their credit history.
Poor credit scores can make giving out mortgages more risky for lenders, so banks and building societies may refuse applications from people in this position.
In other cases they might be willing to lend less money or won’t give as good rates.
But the building society has said it “will accept applications up to 95% LTV where applicants have unsatisfied defaults on mail orders, utility bills, bank accounts, car insurance and telecommunications without the need to refer”.
It says it has programmed its systems to accept these cases, saying “no explanation is required”.
Harry Goodliffe, director at HTG Mortgages, said the cost of living crisis has meant minor credit blips are becoming more common.
“Loughborough’s approach is a welcome step towards more flexible, real-world lending,” he said.
“Having a blip on your credit profile in this day and age shouldn’t write you off as a bad mortgage borrower.”
Another broker said the move is a “step in the right direction”.
Mike Staton, director at Staton Mortgages, said: “The past five years, with higher interest rates and sky high inflation, have stretched household finances to the limit.
“Lenders being a bit more lenient on minor adverse is a step in the right direction considering how poorly regulated the telecomms and energy industries are.
“You only have to sneeze for them to give you a late payment or a default.”
Mortgage lenders currently have slim margins so are trying to find other ways to be competitive with one another.
For example, Santander has become the first lender to make changes to its affordability testing to allow customers to borrow up to £35,000 more.
It has reviewed its residential affordability rates and reduced them by 0.75% across the board, bringing them to the lowest level since 2022.
It comes as first-time buyers face a different barrier to getting onto the ladder.
As of April 1, stamp duty thresholds have risen again.
Stamp duty is tax you might have to pay when buying a property or a piece of land.
Before the recent stamp duty deadline, first-time buyers didn’t have to pay the tax on homes worth up to £425,000.
However the threshold has now fallen to £300,000.
Those purchasing a property who are not first-time buyers will have to pay on homes worth up to £125,000.
Before this figure had been set at £250,000.
Homeowners were also warned about more mortgage pain after inflation came in at 2.8% for February, down slightly from 3% in January but still higher than the Bank of England‘s target of 2%.
Higher inflation generally leads to higher mortgages costs, as the Bank of England typically holds or increases its base rate, which sets interest rates, to bring down inflation.
Although the Bank has made several rate cuts in recent months, it voted to maintain the base rate at 4.5% earlier this month.
Delaying further cuts spells trouble for the 1.8million homeowners whose fixed-term mortgaes – taken out in a very different climate, when rates were much lower – are approaching expiry.
Therefore the Financial Conduct Authority, which regulates financial services firms and markets in the UK, has called for lenders to tweak their lending criteria to help more people get on the property ladder.
IS your diet keeping you up at night?
There are lots of things that can influence how well we sleep – screen time usage, caffeine and alcohol, relationship stress and bedroom temperature.
While many of us are aware eating too soon before bed can also disrupt sleep by potentially causing sleep-disrupting indigestion and acid reflux, certain foods and light snacks can actually help you achieve a better night’s rest.
Research has found certain vitamins and minerals play a key part in helping us achieve a better night’s sleep.
For example, a 2012 study found magnesium could help help improve sleep issues in people with insomnia.
Benjamin bunting, sports nutritionist, military physical training instructor and founder of beForm Nutrition, has revealed some of the best foods packed with these vitamins and minerals to help you get peaceful rest.
Bananas are a staple in most kitchens and a fantastic source of magnesium and potassium – to minerals key for sleep, said Benjamin.
He explained: “Both minerals help to relax our muscles, reducing stress and promoting deep sleep.
“A great bedtime drink is to blend one banana with a cup of milk or soy milk.”
Dairy products are rich in the amino acid tryptophan, which helps our bodies produce serotonin, promoting relaxation, and melatonin, making us feel sleepy, said Benjamin.
He added: “Dairy also contains calcium, which helps with the production of melatonin.”
Porridge can be a great option for supper because it’s affordable, easy to make, and has sleep-promoting properties.
Benjamin said: “It’s rich in calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, silicon and potassium, all of which can improve your sleep quality.
“Phosphorus and silicon both help to regulate the nervous system to reduce stress and anxiety.”
Cherries can naturally increase melatonin, which is the hormone that helps us feel sleepy.
Benjamin advised: “Consider eating fresh, frozen or dried cherries before bedtime.
“Cherry juice is also a good option and can often be found at more supermarkets now.”
A slice of warm wholemeal toast with margarine on top, for that added tryptophan hit, can promote sleep as wholemeal bread is rich in magnesium, said Benjamin.
He added: “This mineral relaxes the muscles to help us unwind before bed.”
However, there are some foods you want to stay well clear of before bedtime, said Benjamin, as they can cause blood sugar spikes and digestion issues that impact sleep.
White bread is full of refined carbs and has a high glycaemic index, which means it can cause your blood sugar to shoot up right after you eat it, warned Benjamin.
He said: “This might give you a quick energy boost, but it can also lead to a blood sugar crash.
“If you’re not ready to ditch your evening toast completely, consider switching to whole wheat bread.”
High-protein foods, like chicken, turkey and fish, take longer for the body to digest making it more difficult to sleep.
Benjamin recommended: “Aim to avoid eating protein at least one to two hours before bed.”
Munching on tomatoes too close to bedtime could disrupt your sleep.
Benjamin said: “Their acidity can lead to issues like indigestion, heartburn and acid reflux, which can keep you tossing and turning all night.
“However, enjoying them at breakfast, lunch or dinner is great as they’re rich in vitamin C and potassium.”
It’s easy to just grab a bag of crisps at night to satisfy your hunger, but their high salt content could be dehydrating your body,” said Benjamin.
He advised: “It’s recommended to avoid salty foods for at least two to three hours before bed to make sure you don’t experience disrupted sleep.”
Anything spicy can cause heartburn, acid reflux and indigestion, making it difficult to sleep.
Benjamin added: “They can also raise your body temperature, which can interfere with sleep.”
After making changes to your diet, it’s also important to look at your sleep routine and environment…
Thomas Høegh Reisenhus, TEMPUR® sleep specialist & sleep counsellor, reveals the key components of a good bedtime routine and environment...
A sure-fire way to facilitate a better night’s sleep is to practice good sleep hygiene.
Establish a sleep routine that works for you and stick to it.
This will help your body establish a consistent, natural sleep-wake cycle which can do wonders for your overall sleep quality.
As such, try to avoid making up for lost sleep with a lie-in.
Instead of sleeping in, spend your morning reading a book in bed or having a leisurely coffee in the kitchen.
Ensure that your bedroom, bedding, and sleepwear are fit for purpose too.
The ideal sleep environment is dark, quiet, and cool – much like a cave.
If you find unwelcome sources of light are keeping you up, consider investing in an eye mask or black-out curtains.
Adding soft furnishings can be a great way to reduce noise, with the surfaces having an absorptive quality, but if this doesn’t work, consider embracing a soothing soundtrack to block it out.
In terms of temperature, try to keep your bedroom at 18°C. You can further reduce the risk of waking up due to overheating by ensuring that all your bedding and sleepwear is made with natural, breathable materials such as cotton and linen.
Bear in mind that everyone is different; what might work for most, may not work for you!
Whilst knowing how much sleep you should get, how to overcome common barriers, and practicing good sleep hygiene can facilitate a great night’s sleep, if you continue to struggle with sleep or fatigue persistently, do not hesitate to visit a doctor or health professional for support.