Nationwide is raising its age limit for people paying off mortgages by 10 years to 85, in the latest sign of the impact of rising house prices on buyers.
英國房價上漲的影響再顯現：全英房屋抵押貸款協會近日將英國居民還清房貸的年齡上限延長了10年，至85歲。

The building society said the increase was due to "growing demand", and the limit would be in force from July.
該協會稱，此次調整源于“不斷增長的購房需求”。新政將于今年7月開始實施。

It means a 60-year-old could take out a 25-year mortgage as long as they prove they can afford the repayments.
這就意味著，只要能證明自己可以還得清，一個60歲的人可以申請長達25年的房屋抵押貸款。

The move comes as Halifax increases its age limit for mortgages from 75 to 80 from Monday.
就在本周一（5月9日），Halifax（英國最大按揭貸款機構）剛剛將辦理房屋抵押貸款的年齡上限由75歲提高至80歲。

There have been calls for the industry to do more to help older buyers after tougher mortgage checks, introduced in the wake of the financial crisis, have made it harder for middle-aged people to get a home loan.
金融危機發生后，房屋抵押貸款門檻提高，導致中年人越發難以獲得購房貸款，因此就有聲音呼吁房地產業為大齡購房者爭取權益。

'Controlled manner'
當局稱新政很“節制”

Rising house prices have exacerbated the issue, with many people not able to afford to buy their first home until they are in their thirties or forties.
不斷上漲的房價進一步惡化了這個問題，因為很多人得等到30多歲甚至40多歲的時候，才能買得起首套房。

Nationwide said the new age limit would apply to existing customers for all its standard mortgages, but the maximum loan size would be ￡150,000, and could be no greater than 60% of the property value.
全英房屋抵押貸款協會稱，新的年齡上限適用于所有正在申請標準型抵押貸款的購房者，貸款額上限為15萬英鎊，且不高于房屋總價的60%。

"Access to the mainstream market has been a challenge for older customers, resulting in their needs going unfulfilled. This measure helps to address these needs in a prudent, controlled manner," said Nationwide head of mortgages Henry Jordan.
全英房屋抵押貸款協會貸款主管亨利·喬丹表示：“大齡購房者想進入主流購房市場很難，致使他們的需求得不到滿足。這項新政以謹慎、節制的方式，滿足了這部分需求。”

Tom McPhail, head of pensions research at Hargreaves Lansdown, told the BBC the change could shake up the mortgage market.
蘭斯多恩股票經紀公司退休金研究主管湯姆·麥克菲爾告訴BBC，這項改變可能重新洗牌房貸市場。

"Why pay off the mortgage at all?" he said.
他表示：“還有必要還清貸款嗎？”

"As long as the value of the property is there to meet the liability in the future, why worry about paying it off when you are alive?" he added.
他進一步說：“只要房屋價值仍然能覆蓋未來的負債，又何必要趁活著的時候抓緊還貸呢？”

House prices grew 7.6% in the year to February, official statistics suggest.
官方數據顯示，今年前兩個月，英國房價上漲了7.6%。

'Longer'
“壽命延長”是主因

And a recent survey by Halifax suggested that one in three 20- to 45-year-olds expected to be working beyond their retirement age to pay off their mortgage.
Halifax近日的一項調查顯示，為了還房貸，三分之一20至45歲的購房人可能不得不延遲退休。

Halifax said its decision was a response to changing demographics, with people living and working for longer.
Halifax稱，它的決定（提高貸款年齡上限）源于人口結構的變化——人們的壽命和工作時間都延長了。

The policies of rival mortgage lenders for older borrowers varies. Santander, for example, says 75 is its cut-off while RBS' upper age limit is 70.
其他房貸發放機構針對大齡人士的購房政策不盡相同。以Santander銀行為例，它的年齡上限是75，而蘇格蘭皇家銀行的上限是70。

HSBC says it does not turn down mortgages on the basis of age, but reviews applications of those over 75 on "a case by case basis".
匯豐銀行稱自己不會以年齡為由拒絕向外貸款，但對于75歲以上年齡的申請者，在評估時會“具體問題具體分析”。

At Barclays the upper age limit is 70, or the customer's retirement date - whichever is sooner.
巴克萊銀行的年齡上限是70歲，或者是申請者的退休時間——以先到期的那個為準。

Vocabulary
exacerbate：使加劇；使惡化
liability：欠款，負債

英文來源：BBC
編譯：杜娟