Kensington launches FTB 85% LTV deal

18 April 2011 | By Natalie Thomas

The first-time buyer loans include a fee of £699 and rates are available from 4.79% for a two-year fixed rate up to 75% LTV, with a two-year fixed rate at 85% LTV costing 5.69%.

Kensington has also revamped its mortgage products, introducing five-year fixed rates, lower rates and higher LTVs.

Charles Morley, head of sales and product development at Kensington, says: “Many first-time buyers do not have extensive credit histories because they have not managed a mortgage in the past. And if they have not used credit cards or taken other forms of credit this may impact their ability to pass a credit score and prove a barrier to securing a mortgage on their first home.

“At Kensington we make lending decisions based on a customer not a credit score and because we use an experienced team of underwriters alongside our technology, we are able to consider all of an applicant’s circumstances even if they do not have a significant file of historic activity with the credit rating agencies.”

Kensington has increased the maximum LTV on its prime range to 85% LTV, with rates available from 5.49% for subsequent purchasers and 5.64% for remortgages.

In addition, the lender has reduced rates across its lower LTV brackets, with two-year fixed rates available from 4.29% up to 60% LTV, 4.59% up to 75% LTV and 5.24% up to 80% LTV. Three-year fixed rate mortgages are available from 4.79% up to 60% LTV, 5.04% up to 75% LTV, 5.74% up to 80% LTV and 5.89% up to 85% LTV.

Kensington has also introduced a number of five-year fixed rate products.

These are available on purchase and remortgage business from 5.49% up to 60% LTV, 5.74% up to 75% LTV and 6.44% up to 80% LTV.

And on its buy-to-let range Kensington has introduced a new set of products available up to 70% LTV, with rates starting from 4.79% for a two-year fixed rate and 5.29% for a three-year fixed rate.

Morley adds: “Kensington mortgages are designed with real people in mind so we have conducted research with real customers to identify areas where we can improve our proposition and acted on that research, with more competitive pricing and innovative products that align to our principals of responsible and sustainable lending. Our aim is to become the intermediary lender of choice and this launch is an important step on the way to that goal.”

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