Prime borrowers continue to use seconds for home improvements, reveals Evolution Money Second Charge Mortgage Tracker

22 June 2021

Evolution Money, the second-charge lending specialist, has today (22nd June 2021) launched the second iteration of its quarterly data tracker, which reviews borrower types, average mortgage sizes, LTV, and a raft of further information which will give advisers insight into the reasons why a second-charge mortgage might be suitable for their clients.

Evolution Money analyses data from two different types of its second-charge mortgage products, split between those borrowers using the loans for debt consolidation purposes, and those clients who have prime credit ratings.

This version of the tracker continues to show a more even picture in terms of the volume and value of second-charge loans being taken by both types of borrowers. The Tracker compares both these product areas:

Looking at its total lending data for the last three months, up until the end of May 2021, the product split by volume of mortgages is 74% debt consolidation/26% prime, and by value 64% debt consolidation/36% prime.

This is compared to the previous period – September 2020 to February 2021 - where product split by volume of mortgages was 75% debt consolidation/25% prime, and by value 63% debt consolidation/37% prime.

*Previous figures for September 2020-February 2021 in brackets.

For those borrowers specifically using a second-charge mortgage for debt consolidation purposes, the average loan amount is now up close to £21.3k, with an average term of 125 months, and average LTV falling back to 72.4%. Borrowers, on average, continued to consolidate five specific debts, however the average value of the debts consolidated had dropped to below £14,400.

Over the last three months, Evolution data shows the most common uses of a debt consolidation second-charge mortgage were unchanged from the previous iteration of the Tracker.

They were: to pay a loan provider (49% - the same level as the previous tracker); to pay a bank (27%, down from 37%); to pay off retail credit (17%, up from 8%); and to pay off car finance (3%, down 5%). Borrowers also used their second-charge mortgage to pay debt collectors, first-charge mortgages and utility providers.

For prime borrowers, the average loan amount is now £33.65k, down from £35.7k with an average term of 157 months, from 166, and an average LTV dropping below 70% from 77.4%

Prime borrowers are typically taking out these second-charge mortgages again for debt consolidation (43%, down from 59%), home improvement and some consolidation (33%, up from 29%) and home improvement (23%, up from 9%). Borrowers were also utilising second-charge loans to pay for vehicles and to fund existing business ventures.

The average number of specific debts being consolidated by prime borrowers has fallen from six to five, and the average value of the debt has dropped to £20.4k from £26.6k.

Evolution Money, recently launched a new product range to widen the options for borrowers who have been severely financially impacted by lockdown measures. The new range offers advisers wider scope to serve clients who missed mortgage payments during 2020, seen a change in employment status or have had their credit score adversely impacted since their pre-COVID mortgage application.

Steve Brilus, CEO of Evolution Money, commented:

“Our second iteration of the Evolution Money Second Charge Mortgage Tracker shows some similarities with the first, but also a number of deviations, particularly when it comes to prime borrowers and the likelihood they will use the proceeds from their loans for other purposes beyond debt consolidation.

“There’s still no doubting that the vast majority of both debt consolidation and prime borrowers are using seconds to pay off debts from various sources, but the number of prime customers purely using them for that purpose has dropped from 59% to 43%, while home improvement usage has increased.

“Given the nature of the first-charge market at present, with the huge levels of volumes having to be completed before the end of the stamp duty holiday deadlines, it is perhaps no wonder that many customers are not willing to put themselves into that ‘bun fight’, particularly those who want to keep competitive first-charge mortgages, who don’t or can’t remortgage, but still see the opportunity to use their existing equity to fund home improvements.

“Securing a first-charge remortgage in this situation, with many lenders and conveyancers stretched beyond their capacities due to the huge demand they are facing, is difficult, and given we – as a second-charge mortgage lender – can provide the funds required in a matter of days, it is no wonder many advisers are looking at the second-charge options available. We sense that demand from these sources will continue to grow.

“As will using a second-charge mortgage by those borrowers who want to specifically pay off debt. For our debt consolidation customers, we’ve seen more looking to pay off retail credit, while the numbers servicing bank and car finance debts have dropped off, although the numbers paying loan providers remain at exactly the same levels.

“Understandably, coming out of lockdown has left many homeowners with more debt now than when they entered it. However, with a greater degree of stability and certainty particularly around employment, they are looking to advisers to help them pay off those debts and seconds are increasingly coming onto the radar.”

Evolution’s full range of products plus details on all its criteria can be found by visiting: www.evolutionmoney.co.uk