Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps the Government is taking to strengthen the Equalities Act 2010 to prevent discrimination by financial businesses in relation to home mortages for prospective borrowers over the age of 75 who are nearing or post retirement age.
The Equalities Act (2010) allows financial services providers, including mortgage lenders, to use an individual’s age in designing, pricing and offering products. This includes allowing lenders to set age limits on customers to whom they will lend. The Government believes that it is important for financial services companies to be able to factor in a person’s age in their assessment of risk, pricing, and willingness to lend if there is evidence to justify the different treatment.
However, the Government is clear that mortgage lenders should not discriminate against borrowers due to their age, if they are able to demonstrate they can repay their mortgage over the course of a term and based on their income. The Government has worked with industry to ensure that products are available for older borrowers including the introduction of the Retirement Interest Only (RIO) mortgage, and the availability of Lifetime Equity Release products.