Nationwide extends 6 times income lending – who can qualify for a bigger mortgage and how

Nationwide has announced that, from 21st January 2026, it will expand its lending limits so that home movers and remortgage customers can borrow up to six times their income. In a market where house prices are rising and wage growth is slow, borrowers may find it difficult to qualify for the mortgage they need, given basic income multiples are usually limited to just under five times their income. A boosted income multiple of six times their income could make all the difference in securing a property. We explain how it works, who can apply and how to choose the right mortgage deal for your needs.

About Nationwide’s lending increase

Income multiples, which are sometimes referred to as loan-to-income (LTI) ratios, are used by lenders to cap the level of mortgage loan you can secure based on what you earn. Higher income multiples are usually reserved for borrowers who meet specific qualifying criteria. Offering 6x income mortgage loans is not new territory for Nationwide, as it already offers 6x and 6.5x income mortgages to some customers. It is now extending the 6x income mortgages to those who previously could not access the higher income multiples - namely, new customers who are moving home or remortgaging with additional borrowing. Nationwide previously limited these customers to 5.5 times the borrower’s income.

How much more can new Nationwide customers borrow?

Income	Maximum mortgage loan before 21st January 2026	Maximum mortgage loan from 21st January 2026
£75,000 single income	£412,500	£450,000
£100,000 joint income	£550,000	£600,000

Nationwide also reduced the stress-testing component of affordability checks for mortgage applicants last year, following the Financial Conduct Authority's call for lenders to loosen restrictions in light of higher interest rates. A combination of lending at higher income multiples and easing stress testing could mean that homebuyers can secure a larger mortgage more easily than they could a year ago. You will find more information on lenders' maximum income multiples in our article 'How much can I borrow on my mortgage?'.

How to secure a larger mortgage loan with Nationwide

Qualifying criteria for 6x income mortgage loans (new customers):

• A single income of at least £75,000 per annum
• A joint income of at least £100,000 per annum
• A minimum deposit of 5% of the property price

In addition to the above requirements, applicants will be assessed under affordability criteria that include outgoings, credit history, and other financial commitments. Existing customers are not required to meet the minimum income criteria to secure a 6x income mortgage loan. New and existing customers who wish to remortgage on a like-for-like basis, with no additional borrowing, could secure a mortgage loan of up to 6.5x income with Nationwide. This is particularly useful for 'Helping Hand' mortgage customers who took up the 6x income offer when it launched in 2021 and are looking to remortgage at the end of a 5-year fixed deal in 2026.

Are Nationwide's mortgage rates competitive?

Interest rates can have a large bearing on affordability and securing the lowest rate could help applicants meet affordability checks. Nationwide currently offers rates as low as 3.55% on a 60% loan-to-value mortgage, and even at higher loan-to-values of 90% or 95%, you can secure reasonably competitive rates of 3.98% and 4.54%, respectively. However, there are cheaper rates on the market and if affordability is tight, you should explore all options. You can search for the best mortgage deals using our mortgage rate comparison tool or refer to our article, 'Best mortgage rates in the UK', which we update regularly with the best deals.

How to secure a larger mortgage loan

The cost of an average house in the UK now requires around seven times the average wage earned, so it is no surprise that lenders are working hard to find ways to support homebuyers to buy the property they need and want. Regulators are also helping by allowing lenders to apply higher LTI ratios to a larger portion of their total mortgage lending. This followed a number of lenders, including Nationwide, approaching the regulators in 2025 to move the caps on how often they could apply higher LTI ratios. However, lenders must still ensure that affordability checks remain robust, as the increasing cost of living continues to challenge many applicants.

Qualifying for the mortgage you need often means finding a lender with a set of qualifying criteria that best matches your needs and while LTI ratios will form part of this, there is far more to it. The information you need can sometimes be difficult to find and equally difficult to decipher. Securing the guidance of a mortgage broker is often the best way to cut through the noise and source the ideal mortgage, avoiding lengthy mortgage applications that may go nowhere, and if declined, could even affect your credit rating. Mortgage brokers have in-depth knowledge of qualifying criteria across the lending market, as well as access to broker-only mortgage deals that customers cannot access without going through an intermediary. The real value is usually in getting guidance on how to arrange your finances in order to give you the best chance of a successful mortgage application.

If you do not have a mortgage broker, you can source one using the online directory of financial professionals, Vouchedfor*, where you can filter options based on your location, needs and other customers’ reviews of the service provided. Alternatively, if you are happy to speak to a mortgage broker online and over the phone, Habito* provide a free mortgage broking service via these mediums and have access to thousands of mortgage deals from over 90 lenders in the market.

 

 

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