Small business owner and those with unusual income types like pensions, equity in a business or property could fail automated lending assessments, said Paul Winter CEO Ipswich Building Society.
Winter said: “It is entirely appropriate that the FCA wishes to introduce regulation to ensure the lending excesses of pre-2008 are not repeated and that irresponsible lending is firmly tackled.
“However, I am concerned that people on average incomes may now find it harder to obtain a mortgage and I believe this may prove to be an unintended consequence of the methods used to implement affordability requirements.”
In an example, Winter said a family of two adults and two children wishing to purchase a property for £125,000, with a household income of £30,000 and with a 10% deposit, would not meet a computer’s affordability model.
Winter said: “The Government needs to address housing supply issues rather than potentially limiting those on average incomes from obtaining a mortgage. Many aspirational home owners are facing a double lock: unavailable lending and a lack of homes to choose from.”
Ipswich Building Society has also launched an affordability calculator.
