West Brom Building Society has changed to its loan-to-income (LTI) lending policy aimed at helping more first-time buyers and home movers access homeownership.

Applicants earning more than £40,000 and up to £60,000 could access borrowing of up to five times their income, while those earning above £60,000 may be able to borrow up to 5.75 times income, subject to affordability and lending criteria.

The move is designed to help bridge the gap between rising house prices and affordability constraints, particularly for customers who may be financially capable but are struggling to meet current lending thresholds.

West Brom Building Society product manager John Phillips says: “Affordability remains one of the biggest challenges to buying a home. As a mutual, we’re focused on supporting homeownership by tackling real affordability challenges. By increasing borrowing potential by up to 15% for some customers, we hope to make a real difference.”