- The proportion hit a brand new document as home purches reached a peak at finish of 2023
Nearly one in 4 first-time consumers have been signing as much as mortgages with phrases of greater than 35 years after a surge in borrowing prices.
Figures from the commerce physique UK Finance confirmed the proportion hit a brand new document as mortgage charges on accomplished home purchases reached a peak on the finish of 2023.
They confirmed that 23 per cent of all dwelling loans taken out by first-time consumers stretched for greater than 35 years, up from 17 per cent a yr earlier and simply 9 per cent when the Bank of England began to place up rates of interest on the finish of 2021.

The Bank of England began to place up rates of interest on the finish of 2021
Longer-term mortgages could make month-to-month repayments extra inexpensive however over the long term will imply accruing hundreds of kilos extra debt – doubtlessly stretching into retirement.
Loans of greater than 30 years now make up greater than a 3rd of first-time purchaser offers.
UK Finance mentioned it was a change from the previous when 25-year mortgages have been ‘very a lot the norm’.
‘We are seeing a continued, extra speedy enhance in borrowing for greater than 35 years,’ a spokesman mentioned.
‘Where prospects are utilizing ‘term-stretch’ to enhance affordability, they’re needing to elongate the time period even additional.
‘Many debtors have been nonetheless unable to go affordability checks, driving the numerous contraction in lending volumes that we noticed final yr.
Around 5 million mortgage holders had nonetheless not refinanced their loans on to greater rates of interest on the finish of final yr.
The Bank raised charges from 0.1 computer to five.25 computer, though traders count on the bottom price to start out coming down later this yr.’