14th
Jun 2023
Mortgage experts across the UK are damning the latest mortgage news (Tuesday 13th June) from NatWest which could seriously harm the private rented sector.
A statement issued by Nat West on Tuesday 13th June read: "Effective Tuesday 13th June, we’re changing our Buy to Let stress rates as follows within our Decision in Principle (DIP) and Full Mortgage Application (FMA).”
In real terms this means that a two year rate has now been increased from 6.7 per cent to 8.10 per cent and a five year fixed rate has increased from 6.0 per cent to 6.89 per cent.
The like-for-like re-mortgage stress rate has jumped from 6.0 per cent to 7.54 per cent.
Many mortgage brokers have already given their thoughts on the lender’s new stress rates with many in the sector believing the Nat West is attempting to wash its hands of the Buy to Let market.
Lewis Shaw, owner and mortgage broker of a firm, comments: “I’m no longer sure what level of reality I'm meant to be operating on. This could sound the death knell for buy to let, at least with NatWest. Something has clearly spooked the money markets around 2pm [yesterday] and the two-year gilt yield has shot above its peak following the mini-Budget in September. This is extremely worrying and I don't know where it ends.”
And others agreed when putting their own views across.
Riz Malik, of an independent mortgage broker, says: “The considerable rise in mortgage rates on buy to let properties underlines the flux in the market at present and introduces yet more hardship and pain for numerous landlords. With each passing day, the financial calculations seem to make less sense. This a significant blow for the entire UK buy to let market.”
The managing director of a rival firm Justin May, says: “NatWest is increasing the rates on their schemes, such as the Buy to Let deals, Green Mortgages and Help to Buy. Some increases are as much as 1.38 per cent on specific deals, with a more palatable (but unwelcome) 0.2 per cent increase across their standard products for remortgages and purchases. When will it end?”
Luke Thompson of a financial advisory service, comments: “Given these latest rates, it seems pretty obvious that NatWest don't want to be in the buy to let mortgage arena at this point in time. My assumption is that they want to see where swap rates will go in the coming weeks and once they have a bit more of an idea on that front they may start to price buy to let products more competitively again.”
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