Abbey, the country’s second largest mortgage lender, has increased the amount it will typically lend borrowers to up to five times income, to help ailing first-time buyers.The move is in response to the relentless rise of house prices but some experts believe such large loans could lead borrowers into repayment difficulties, especially with interest rates expected to edge upwards in the next few months.

Abbey said it would increase its standard income multiple, the amount it will generally lend home-buyers, from a previous 4.5 times salary.

Individuals or couples with a 25 percent deposit and an annual income of 50,000 pounds or more will be able to borrow at the new level.

But Abbey said it would look at individual borrowers’ credit scores and ability to repay the loan when deciding how much it would lend.

Standard income multiples have not changed substantially since interest rates were at 15 percent, and Abbey said it was “sensible” to review income multiples in light of “the current climate (of) low interest rates and higher house prices”.

The move comes on the back of research that showed 17.3 million adults were unable to get on the property ladder, with 7.4 million people citing house prices as one of the main reasons.