£30k hike in loan limit

Banks can now offer more to average mortgage borrower, says FCA boss

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Mortgage lenders have said they can now lend around £30,000 more to the average borrower due to changes to affordability rules, the chief executive of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has said.

Nikhil Rathi said the changes were judged "a risk worth taking".

He was giving a speech in which he highlighted the need for financial capability - the knowledge, confidence and support to make good choices and avoid bad ones.

Mr Rathi said: "Lenders have told us that they can now lend around £30,000 more to the average borrower as a result of our changes to mortgage affordability rules.

"We judged this a risk worth taking, allowing more people the security that comes with home ownership."

Many lenders have recently made changes allowing some homeowners to borrow more, following clarification from the FCA.