NatWest Intermediaries has tweaked its loan-to-income (LTI) requirements, letting some customers borrow more.

From 31 March the lender has aligned LTIs across repayment types, enabling interest-only customers to borrow more.

NatWest Intermediaries’ LTIs now vary based on whether an application is taken in sole or joint names.

The lender is also boosting its maximum LTIs for some higher-income customers, at higher loan-to-values.

NatWest Intermediaries will also bring in additional income bands as incomes increase.

The firm also said it was “making a small number of targeted LTI refinements to ensure our lending remains sustainable and aligned to strong affordability outcomes”.

The new LTI enhancements will only apply to new applications submitted from the 31 March and cannot be updated on existing applications.

John Charcol mortgage technical manager Nicholas Mendes said: “This is a positive update overall, but not a universal one.

“It should help some borrower groups access more borrowing, particularly where NatWest is being more flexible on income multiples and aligning treatment more consistently across different case types. At the same time, the reference to ‘targeted LTI refinements’ suggests the gains will be more meaningful in some parts of the market than others.

“In practice, that means some borrowers will be able to borrow more, while others may see only a modest change, depending on income, loan-to-value, repayment type, and whether the application is in sole or joint names.”

This week NatWest increased new business, product transfer and additional borrowing rates after raising prices the preceding week.