Banks want to lend you a bigger mortgage - but is that a good idea?

This is Money Podcast

This is Money

Business News, Business, Investing, News

4.1 • 650 Ratings

🗓️ 25 April 2025

⏱️ 49 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Major banks are tweaking their rules to allow borrowers to get bigger mortgages, while a new upstart lender is offering seven times salary home loans.

Is this a welcome easing of the too tight rules to suit people’s needs or the start of a recipe for financial disaster?

On this week’s podcast, Georgie Frost, Lee Boyce and Simon Lambert dive into the world of mortgages and look at whether lenders are coming up with a solution or creating more problems.

Is this a repeat of the heady days before the financial crisis, have stress tests helped borrowers avoid the stress of rising rates, and would you even want a seven times income mortgage?

Plus, is the Bank of England about to aggressively cut interest rates in the wake of Donald Trump’s tariff chaos.

Also on this episode, why our retirement expert Sir Steve Webb is loving his new solar panels and how to work out what kind of investor you are and how much risk you should take.

And finally, a definitive list of the 50 best British cars of all time has been released, do you agree with it?

Transcript

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0:00.0	Welcome to This Is Money podcast sponsored by Charles Stanley Direct.
0:10.8	I'm Georgie Frost and joining me and Simon Lamber today is Lee Boyce.
0:15.4	And coming up, mortgage lenders ramp up how much people can borrow, a helping hand or a recipe for disaster.
0:22.2	Meanwhile, the Bank of England is tipped to slash rates twice in two months as tax hikes and US
0:27.6	tariffs batter the economy. Our pensions, Agony Uncle, so Steve Webb, loves his solar panels.
0:33.7	Should you get some? What kind of investor are you and how to work it out?
0:38.3	And finally, the best cars of all time.
0:41.3	But do you agree with the winner?
0:43.3	Don't forget you start up to date with all the latest breaking money news just to go to this ismoney.co.
0:47.3	UK or download the app.
0:50.3	Take control of your finances with Charles Stanley Direct, invest, save, coach or plan,
0:58.0	using technology where it's helpful and people where it matters.
1:02.0	Our website and app make trading cost-effective and flexible,
1:06.0	but we're more than just an online investment service.
1:09.0	We're here for you regardless of your financial needs,
1:11.6	or if your life takes an unexpected term.
1:14.6	Your finances, your way.
1:17.6	Take control today with Charles Stanley Direct.
1:20.6	Sign up now.
1:21.6	Investment involves risk.
1:23.6	But first, two more major lenders have relaxed their mortgage rules, meaning home buyers can now potentially borrow tens of thousands of pounds more.
1:32.6	So both HSBC and First Direct say the changes to the stress rates used in their mortgage affordability calculations will benefit those either buying or remortgaging.
	...

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