The change will see Nationwide lend up to six times income to both new and existing customers moving home or remortgaging up to 95% loan to value (LTV).

To qualify for the enhanced borrowing, new customers moving home or remortgaging to Nationwide will need a minimum annual income of £75,000 for sole applicants, or £100,000 for joint applications.

However, to support existing Nationwide customers wanting to move to their next home in 2026, such as previous first-time buyers who benefitted from Helping Hand, there will be no minimum income requirements.

For all remortgage applications made that don’t require any additional borrowing, Nationwide already allows borrowing up to 6.5 times income up to 95% LTV.

In 2025, Nationwide saw a 57% increase in the number of first-time buyer mortgages taken at or above five times income compared with 2024, as well as an over five-fold increase in loans to those borrowing at or above five and a half times their income.

This followed the regulatory changes made last year, including the clarification of stress rate rules by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the review of the LTI flow limit by the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA).

Nationwide’s Helping Hand scheme, which allows lending up to six times income, remains available to first-time buyers only.

Nationwide group director of mortgages Henry Jordan says: “The government and regulatory changes last year have been a game changer for first-time buyers.”

“Alongside our Helping Hand expansion to six times income in September 2024, they’ve enabled greater support for those who need it most. Over the past year, we’ve seen a five-fold increase in the number of first-time buyers borrowing between 5.5 and six times income.”

“Our latest announcement means we will provide similar support to those looking to move home or remortgage to Nationwide and shows our commitment to all parts of the market.”

Also commenting, John Charcol mortgage technical manager Nicholas Mendes says: “Nationwide extending six times income lending beyond first time buyers is a positive step, particularly as the first wave of Helping Hand customers starts to look at their next move, a remortgage, or additional borrowing.”

“It supports borrowers who are constrained by income multiples rather than the monthly cost, and it shows how lenders are adapting to the reality of today’s housing market. With the right advice, borrowers can use that flexibility to move sooner and secure a deal that fits both the immediate need and the longer-term plan.”

L&C Mortgages associate director David Hollingworth adds: “Nationwide is one of the lenders driving more flexibility for first time buyers to boost what they can borrow where affordable.”

“Its Helping Hand scheme has been one of the schemes developed by lenders to increase the chances of first time buyers getting onto the ladder.”

“Expanding that to borrowers in the wider market should be just as useful. Next time buyers that may be stepping up to a family home, for example, will no doubt be pleased to see a potentially higher borrowing extended to them.”

“Nationwide is not alone in looking at how they can better tailor their lending decisions to meet borrower demand. Lower interest rates, an easing in stress rates and more flexible rules around higher multiple lending is transforming maximum borrowing levels. It could raise the possibility of reaching a goal that previously felt out of reach.”