From 1st March, The Stafford Building Society is reducing its standard variable rate (SVR) by 0.25 percentage points.
The residential SVR will fall to 5.10%, below he current average of 7.15%, according to Moneyfacts data.
The Society says the change will improve affordability for complex mortgages, allowing brokers to revisit previously declined cases.
It believes the SVR cut could positively influence affordability, particularly for borrowers with multiple income sources (e.g. salary, bonus, pension), applicants purchasing non-standard or rural properties, older clients drawing on pensions or SIPP income, and joint borrower sole proprietor (JBSP) arrangements
Alongside its reduced residential SVR, The Stafford's buy-to-let and holiday let SVR will reduce to 7.15% from 1st March.
Laura Lawton, head of mortgages at The Stafford Building Society, said: “This isn’t just a rate cut — it’s about improving real-world affordability.
“Dropping our SVR to 5.10% gives brokers a valuable tool, especially when clients are close to affordability limits. We look at the full picture, not just a formula for responsible lending.
“For borrowers near affordability thresholds, a 0.25% SVR drop could shift the outcome.
“We remain focused on individual case assessment — especially when conventional models don’t tell the full story.”
