IMF wants changes to Central Bank’s mortgage lending rules

Organisation wants current mortgage cap on 3.5 times income reviewed

Central Bank on Dame Street

The IMF has rowed in on the debate around the Central Bank’s controversial mortgage lending rules.

The IMF says the current cap on a mortgage of 3.5 times income should be replaced by a mechanism that takes into account a borrower’s overall debt.

The strict lending rules were introduced by the Central Bank last year and also mean that borrowers require a bigger deposit.

A Central Bank review of the rules is due ...