Barclays unlocks wider mortgage access for company directors
- Limited company directors who meet the income threshold can now have their Profit After Tax (PAT) considered in their affordability assessment regardless of property value
- The change means that, for a wider group of limited company directors, Barclays will consider a fuller view of the applicant’s income
- The update is the latest in a series of improvements made by Barclays to make it simpler, faster and more accessible for brokers
Barclays announces an enhancement of its Profit After Tax (PAT) lending criteria, improving access to mortgages for eligible limited company directors based on a fuller picture of their income and business performance.
Under the new policy, eligibility is no longer dependent on property value. Applicants who meet the income and ownership requirements can now have PAT included in their affordability assessment across a broader range of eligible mortgage applications. This could widen access to borrowing for a significant number of directors – Companies House states there are over 5 million limited companies in the UK1.
PAT will be assessed in proportion to the applicants’ combined shareholding. For example, where applicants collectively own 60 per cent of a business, up to 60 per cent of its PAT can be considered. If both PAT and dividends are declared from the same business, only PAT will be included to avoid double counting.
Eligibility criteria
Applicants must:
- Own more than 50% of the company, individually or jointly
- Have qualifying gross annual income, including the PAT being considered, of at least £75,000 for a sole application or £100,000 for a joint application
- Meet all other applicable lending and affordability requirements
Actions over words
The announcement is the latest in a wider programme of recent improvements made by Barclays, focused on making it simpler, faster and more responsive for brokers to do business with the lender. This includes significant investment in its mortgage application system, while refining affordability and lending criteria to help its intermediary partners serve a broader range of client needs. As a result, Barclays’ average Live Chat waiting time is now below 30 seconds, with an average new case review time of one day. Meanwhile the average valuation is completed in less than three days, with offers for residential purchases in an average of 8 days.
More recently, Barclays launched Fast-Track Remortgages to offer brokers the first meaningful alternative to product transfers, helping clients secure a competitive mortgage deal without lengthy and uncertain processing times.
Roland McCormack, Head of Intermediaries at Barclays, said:
“Many limited company directors retain profits to support future growth and investment. That means when it comes to a mortgage application, a standard income assessment might not reflect the full strength of their financial position. Updating our policy means we can more accurately consider a customers’ finances, while maintaining our responsible approach to lending, and ultimately widen access to lending for brokers and their clients.
“This is part of our ongoing commitment to keep listening to brokers, identifying where we can make a meaningful difference and then acting on it – whether that is through our lending policy, technology or the service we provide.”
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