The growing reliance on longer mortgage terms to address affordability pressures could leave homeowners facing greater financial uncertainty later in life, according to Jinesh Vohra, CEO and Co-Founder of Sprive, which recently secured $10 million (£7.7 million) in Series A funding.
Speaking on the latest episode of Twenty7tec's ELEVATE Podcast Series, Vohra warned that the mortgage industry must do more to help borrowers understand the lifetime cost of their mortgage, rather than focusing primarily on monthly affordability and the initial transaction.
His comments come as the latest FCA and Bank of England mortgage lending statistics show that 46% of gross mortgage advances in Q2 2026 were to borrowers with high loan-to-income ratios, up from 41.4% a year earlier. Meanwhile, research from Yorkshire Building Society found that 56% of prospective first-time buyers believe getting accepted for a mortgage is difficult, highlighting the continued affordability pressures facing the market.
In conversation with ELEVATE host Ellisha Jade, Twenty7tec's Social Media & PR Manager, Vohra raised concerns about borrowers increasingly taking out mortgages over 30 or 40 years to make monthly repayments more manageable, potentially carrying significant mortgage debt much later into their lives.
Jinesh Vohra, CEO and Co-Founder of Sprive, said:
"I think it's very important that people understand the cost of debt, because it's not just about meeting the monthly payments. You have to be able to do that over the entire lifetime of the mortgage."
Vohra questioned whether enough is being done to educate homeowners about the long-term implications of extending their mortgage term, particularly as changes in employment, health and personal circumstances could affect their ability to maintain repayments later in life.
The discussion comes as Twenty7tec's August 2026 Mortgage Market Snapshot recorded 616,150 remortgage searches, an increase of 11% compared with August 2025. The figures highlight continued activity among borrowers reviewing their existing mortgage arrangements and reinforce the importance of ongoing engagement and informed financial decisions beyond the initial purchase.
Vohra's comments follow Sprive's recent $10 million Series A funding round, announced in September, bringing the company's total funding to more than $15 million. The investment will support further customer acquisition and revenue growth as the mortgage overpayment platform looks to expand its reach among UK homeowners.
Sprive enables homeowners to make mortgage overpayments using rewards earned from everyday spending, alongside tools designed to help customers understand their mortgage and the potential impact of paying it off sooner.
However, Vohra argued that the wider challenge extends beyond overpayments, with the mortgage industry traditionally concentrating on securing new business and remortgage transactions rather than maintaining regular contact with customers throughout the lifetime of their borrowing.
He continued:
"If you are interacting with that customer every two to five years, when they're effectively looking to refinance, how strong is that relationship?"
Vohra suggested advisers have an opportunity to provide more holistic support, helping customers consider their wider financial circumstances, long-term borrowing commitments and future plans rather than focusing solely on securing a competitive mortgage rate.
The episode highlights a wider challenge for the mortgage industry: how to move beyond individual transactions and provide the ongoing education, technology and professional support homeowners need to manage their largest financial commitment.
The latest episode of ELEVATE, featuring Jinesh Vohra, CEO and Co-Founder of Sprive, is available to watch on Twenty7tec's YouTube channel and listen to on Spotify.
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDrvkfGK-ew
Watch on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5MgsziKuubExby7vEYsWqQ?si=quuXaaMUSuCvLH88lX-r5g
