The “Local Heroes” product will be available for first-time buyers with a 5% deposit before the government’s 95% mortgage scheme kicks off in April.

Indeed, the building society said it launched the product ‘swiftly’ after chancellor Rishi Sunak’s announced in the Budget the government would be guaranteeing 95% LTV mortgages from a number of banks.

However, instead of using the government mortgage guarantee scheme, the Society will be returning to the 95% market using its own third-party insurance provider.

The new product will be exclusively available to “local heroes” where at least one individual on the mortgage is a key worker in the following professions:

• Health & Social Care;
• Emergency / Security Services;
• Education & Childcare; and
• Other Critical Services such as Supermarket, Bank, and Building Society workers.

Darren Ditchburn, the society’s chief customer officer, said: “We are really excited and proud to be supporting local first-time buyers who are playing such a vital role as key workers during these unprecedented times.

“We recognise the amazing job they have done, and it is one of the ways we, as a local building society, can say thank you – by helping them to take that crucial first step on the housing ladder.”

Darlington Building Society has a history of supporting first-time buyers in the 95% LTV market, but its product had to be withdrawn when the Covid-19 crisis struck.

However, while other financial institutions withdrew from the market, Darlington remained open for business by continuing to offer one of the few 90% LTV mortgages, while retaining its personalised approach to making lending decisions.

Ditchburn added: “We expect to see a high level of demand for 95% mortgages, and that’s why we have decided to provide priority access to local first-time buyers who are key workers in those vital sectors listed.

“Other products have been introduced that have been exclusively available to NHS staff, but we wanted to widen the scope as much as possible to help more key workers onto the property ladder.”

Additional product details:

• The 95% LTV mortgage is a three-year fixed rate product
• It has a £999 product fee and £120 completion fee.
• Product includes up to £300 contribution towards valuation from Darlington Building Society.
• An early repayment charge of the following tariffs will be applied: 4% of the outstanding balance before 31 May 2022, 3% of the outstanding balance before 31 May 2023 and 2% of the outstanding balance before 31 May 2024.
• The product is available on a repayment basis only, up to a maximum loan to value of 95% and maximum loan size of £300k.
• It will not be available on new build properties or flats.
• This product is only available for DL, TS, DH, YO, HG or SR postcode areas.
• This product is only available for first time buyer key workers only (see full list in product eligibility).