Mortgages
The question
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will have discussions with (a) the Financial Conduct Authority and (b) mortgage lenders on the potential merits of using rent payment history as an indicator of mortgage affordability.
Answered by Rachel Blake
The Government works closely with the Financial Conduct Authority to consider the regulation of the mortgage market and is regularly in contact with mortgage lenders on all aspects of their business, including the use of rental payments for affordability assessments.
FCA rules already permit lenders to take rental payment history into account where appropriate. In their December 2025 Feedback Statement, the FCA highlighted several challenges and risks to using only past rental payments as a basis for affordability, but stressed they would support market-led innovation in the use of rental payment data.
The UK benefits from a competitive mortgage market and loans are currently available in the market which explicitly use a tenant’s rental history as part of the underwriting process. I encourage prospective buyers to speak to a mortgage broker to find the best possible product for their circumstances.
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