Eco-experiment with zero interest loans for ‘greener’ homes

The Nationwide Building Society is embarking on an experiment - at first for owner occupiers only - which may be extended to buy to let loans  if deemed to be a success.

Nationwide’s new zero per cent Green Additional Borrowing products, which will be available from June 1, will enable up to 5,000 households with a Nationwide mortgage to borrow £5,000 to £15,000 up to a maximum of 90 per cent Loan-to-Value across the two or five-year product term.

With the UK’s 29m homes producing some 16 per cent of the country’s emissions and a commitment to reach the net zero target by 2050, Nationwide says its approach aims to contribute towards that goal through retrofitting properties.

While Nationwide has limited ability to reduce emissions on the properties it lends on, it hopes that by removing interest on its Green Additional Borrowing products it can “effect positive change by incentivising members to make green home improvements.” 

For example, if a member borrowed the maximum £15,000 over a five-year term, the monthly payment on the existing Green Additional Borrowing product at a rate of 3.89 per cent would be £275.50. For those taking out the new version, the payment would reduce by £25.50 per month to £250, meaning the member would save £1,530 over the full term of the deal.

The new Green Additional Borrowing home loan is available via Nationwide’s mortgage advisers as well as brokers.

All of the loan must be used to fund non-structural, energy-efficient home improvements such as solar panels, air source heat pump, window upgrades, boiler upgrades, cavity wall insulation, loft insulation or an electric car charging point. Members can use any local or national contractor or supplier for the work.

The previous version of the Society’s Green Additional Borrowing product will be withdrawn from sale at 23:59 on May 31.

Henry Jordan, director of home at Nationwide Building Society, says: “Residential properties are one of the biggest causes of emissions and there is a need for more to be done by government and business to encourage households to act. A key barrier to making homes more energy efficient is not only the upfront costs associated with retrofitting, but also the payback period of making such changes.

“It’s clear to us that only meaningful incentives will help shift behaviour. So, by launching this latest product for up to 5,000 of the Society’s mortgage holders, we can test and understand whether offering zero per cent interest will encourage members to make the necessary green home improvements, where the costs of finance may have, until now, discouraged them. 

“As a mutual, we’re committed to returning value back to our members, which is demonstrated by this being the first time we’ve taken this approach. Creating a greener society is a shared goal and we need to make it as easy as possible for households to play their part.”