Brokers are divided on a new digital tool launched by Nationwide and Rightmove that will check the suitability of a property to obtain a mortgage using Nationwide’s own lending policy.
Some have welcomed it while others have warned about “the unintended consequences”.
The tool was launched this week and hailed as a “global first”. Rightmove, the UK’s biggest property portal, joined forces with Nationwide, the country’s largest building society, to launch a real-time digital check that can tell buyers whether a prospective home is likely to be eligible for a mortgage before they even set foot through the door.
Craig Fish, director at Lodestone Mortgages & Protection, said Nationwide turning property lending criteria into a public tool is a bold move, but potentially a dangerous one.
He said that because the tool was based solely on Nationwide’s criteria, this could prove problematic, and buyers could be wrongly put off perfectly good homes simply because they do not meet Nationwide’s criteria.
Mr Fish said no digital tool can replace that human judgment. He said: “This feature could end up devaluing properties, reducing interest in homes that other lenders would be happy to finance. It may create false red flags that damage confidence rather than boost it. The risk is that sellers suffer, buyers get confused, and solid homes are unfairly sidelined—just because one lender says “no.””
Stephen Perkins, managing director at Yellow Brick Mortgages, said the concept of highlighting the chances of a property being suitable for a mortgage was commendable.
He was concerned that it was a link-up with just one lender and based on their criteria alone. Mr Perkins said: “This could put off potential buyers as all lenders have different criteria on what properties are suitable security for them. So just because Nationwide may not like it, many lenders may find the property acceptable. Could vendors legally challenge Rightmove if this was detrimental to marketing their property unfairly?”
Adam Stiles, managing director at Helix Financial Partners, added: “Nationwide are a fantastic lender, but will have their own specific criteria when it comes to property types they are happy to lend on. This alienates all the other lenders who can lend on a much more diverse type of property. Ultimately this will impact buyers and sellers alike.”
