"Demand for new-build homes remains strong, particularly among buyers facing barriers with mainstream lenders, and visa status is one of the most common reasons clients fall outside standard criteria"
- Chris Blewitt - Darlington Building Society
Darlington Building Society has introduced a new set of five-year fixed-rate mortgage products offering up to 95% loan-to-value (LTV) for new-build purchases, delivered in partnership with home ownership platform Own New.
The products are aimed at a broad range of buyers, including first-time buyers, skilled workers and individuals on visas. They are available across the UK, excluding London, and are designed to reduce monthly repayments by incorporating housebuilder incentives directly into the mortgage.
Rates begin at 4.19%, depending on the level of developer contribution, either 3% or 5%.
The range includes:
Five-year fixed – Rate Reducer (3% incentive): 4.49%
Five-year fixed – Rate Reducer (5% incentive): 4.19%
Options tailored to visa holders
Two additional Rate Reducer options are available specifically for applicants on skilled worker or spousal visas:
Five-year fixed – Rate Reducer VISAs (3% incentive): 4.99%
Five-year fixed – Rate Reducer VISAs (5% incentive): 4.69%
These products are supported by Darlington’s flexible lending criteria for visa applicants. The Society does not require a minimum income threshold for 95% LTV applications and does not impose a minimum UK residency period. Eligibility is based on a credit search rather than a traditional credit score.
Applicants on skilled worker visas are considered with at least two years remaining on their visa, and spousal visa income is accepted when the joint applicant is a British national or has indefinite leave to remain.
Over 150 housebuilders across the UK currently support the Own New Rate Reducer initiative.
“Demand for new-build homes remains strong, particularly among buyers facing barriers with mainstream lenders, and visa status is one of the most common reasons clients fall outside standard criteria," explained the society's head of intermediary distribution, Chris Blewitt (pictured). "Brokers are telling us they’re seeing a real rise in enquiries from skilled workers and foreign nationals, many of whom are keen to get on the ladder but need greater flexibility in how affordability is assessed.
“By partnering with Own New, we’re giving brokers a practical option to support these buyers with competitive rates and lower monthly payments. It builds on the Society’s wider strategy to support underserved borrower groups and respond directly to what intermediaries are seeing on the ground.”
Eliot Darcy, founder of Own New, added, “Affordability remains one of the biggest barriers for buyers, especially as monthly costs stay high and interest rates remain well above historical norms. People aren’t just looking for a mortgage; they’re looking for something manageable, and that’s exactly what Rate Reducer is designed to do.
“Channelling housebuilder incentives into the mortgage itself, rather than upfront costs, means buyers can access lower monthly repayments from day one. Our collaboration with lenders like Darlington Building Society means we can extend this benefit to more people, particularly those who may be underserved by mainstream options.”
