Overview
- Saintander reports the share of its 2025 first-time buyers aged over 40 rose to 22%, up from 18% in 2024.
- First-time buyers over 60 increased by 14% year on year, and the bank’s oldest new borrower was 70.
- The proportion of entrants aged 25 and under fell by roughly 23% from 2024, though the youngest buyer this year was 18.
- Santander points to stamp duty changes and limited housing supply as factors widening the generational gap in access to ownership.
- Mortgage brokers call for large-scale homebuilding and note that lender rules, including Santander’s age caps of 75 for repayment and 70 for interest-only, influence who can qualify.