Teachers Building Society has announced a major change to its mortgage criteria, confirming it will now lend up to 7 times income at 95% loan-to-value (LTV) for teachers and education professionals. In this blog, we will run through the changes from Teachers BS, and what they could mean for people struggling with mortgage affordability.
7x Income Mortgages for Teachers and Education Professionals
Under the updated criteria, Teachers Building Society will now consider mortgage applications of up to 7x income, whether for single or joint applicants, subject to full affordability checks.
The uplift makes a meaningful difference to borrowing capacity:
- A single teacher earning £33,000 can now borrow up to £196,400, a 19% increase from the previous maximum of £165,000
- Joint applicants earning £33,000 each can now borrow up to £412,200, an increase of £82,200, representing a 25% uplift
Importantly, these higher income multiples are available at up to 95% LTV, meaning borrowers may only need a 5% deposit.
Who Is Eligible for Teachers Building Society’s 7x Income Mortgages?
The enhanced income multiple is not limited to classroom teachers. Teachers Building Society has confirmed eligibility extends across the education sector, including:
- Teachers and newly qualified teachers (ECTs)
- Headteachers
- Teaching assistants
- Nursery and early-years workers
- Lecturers
- Supply, contract and fixed-term teachers
For joint applications, only one applicant needs to work in education to qualify for the enhanced criteria, making this a flexible option for couples buying together.
Support for Non-Standard Employment in Education
Teachers Building Society is well known for its understanding of education sector employment, and this remains a key strength of its criteria.
The Society can support:
- New teachers starting their first role, treating first-year contracts as permanent
- Fixed-term contracts, including ECT and other short-term arrangements
- Supply teachers, assessed using two terms of evidenced income
- Teachers buying with a partner, even where the second applicant works outside education
This flexibility is particularly valuable for borrowers who may struggle to meet standard lender requirements elsewhere.
Available for First-Time Buyers, Home Movers and Remortgages
The 7x income mortgage offering is available to a wide range of borrowers, including first-time buyers needing higher income multiples to get onto the property ladder, home movers upsizing or relocating. And remortgage applicants looking to restructure borrowing or release equity.
Combined with lending of up to 95% LTV, the changes are likely to be especially attractive to younger teachers and education professionals with limited deposits.
What This Means for Teachers Struggling With Affordability
Rising property prices and tighter affordability rules have made it increasingly difficult for many teachers to buy a home. By offering higher income multiples alongside high-LTV lending, Teachers Building Society is helping bridge the gap between income and property prices.
However, higher income multiples are always subject to full affordability assessments, and professional mortgage advice remains essential to ensure borrowing is sustainable.
Mortgage Advice for Teachers and Education Professionals
While Teachers Building Society offers specialist criteria, navigating income multiples, affordability models and lender requirements can be complex. Speaking to a mortgage adviser ensures you understand whether a 7x income mortgage is suitable for you, how affordability will be assessed, which lenders offer the most flexible criteria for teachers, and how to structure your mortgage to support long-term financial stability.
At Oportfolio Mortgages, we are expert mortgage brokers for teachers, and we regularly support teachers, lecturers and education professionals with specialist mortgage advice, helping them access lenders who understand their employment and income structure. If you are a teacher looking for a new mortgage, please feel free to give our team a call today. We are here to help.
