In 1975 you wouldn’t have been reading a blog, sending text messages, communicating by mobile phone, going to the supermarket on a Sunday or searching the internet for a property. Neilsons did not exist at that time either; the firm was founded in 1977. But perhaps most surprisingly, if you were a woman, you wouldn’t have been getting a mortgage without the permission of a male family member to co-sign your agreement.
This year marks 50 years since women in the UK were first legally permitted to apply for a mortgage without permission from their father or husband, an anniversary that highlights just how much our financial and social landscape has evolved.
1975 was a pivotal year for two landmark pieces of legislation that came into effect on 29 December. The Equal Pay Act 1970 (following a five year implementation delay to allow employers to adjust) made it unlawful to pay female employees less than their male counterparts for work of equal value. The Sex Discrimination Act 1975 prevented discrimination in employment, education and the provision of services. Crucially for the property sector, it also banned the requirement for a male guarantor for loans, bank accounts, hire-purchase agreements and mortgages.
These changes were driven by sustained campaigning from the women’s liberation movement, trade unions and Members of Parliament, who challenged the assumption that women’s earnings – and financial independence – were secondary or temporary.
Before these protections were in place, employers could legally refuse to hire or promote a woman simply because she was a woman. Many financial institutions discounted female income on mortgage applications, on the assumption that women would cease earning once they had children. In effect, building financial independence or long-term asset ownership through property was structurally out of reach for many.
The Moment the Property Market Opened Up
This legal changed marked a turning point. The removal of the male guarantor requirement was transformative. For the first time, a woman’s income, credit history and professional prospects could be fairly assessed on their own merits. This represented the beginning of women being able to establish independent financial profiles, make autonomous investment decisions and build security through homeownership.
For many women, the ability to secure a mortgage in their own name wasn’t just a legal milestone – it was the first step towards independence, stability and genuine choice.
In the decades that followed, women steadily became a driving force in the housing market. Today, data from the Office for National Statistics and UK Finance indicates that in several regions across the UK, single women now outpace single men in first-time buyer activity. Urban centres with strong employment opportunities and excellent transport connections, such as Edinburgh, have proven particularly popular among independent female purchasers.
The shift reflects not only social progress but the enduring legacy of legislative reform, demonstrating how a change in law can reshape market behaviour and expand financial opportunity for generations.
The Landscape Today: Progress, But Not Parity
We’ve come a long way – but removing discrimination does not automatically create equality. The UK still has a measurable gender pay gap. According to the Office for National Statistics’ most recent release), the median gender pay gap among full-time employees stands at 6.9%, rising to 12.8% when all employees are included.
Each year, this gap is highlighted through “Equal Pay Day”, the point in the calendar where women, on average, stop earning relative to men because of the disparity. This year it was the 22nd of November. While the exact date shifts annually, the message remains the same: structural inequality continues to influence women’s financial trajectories, including their ability to save for deposits, access borrowing at scale and climb the property ladder as quickly as their male counterparts.
At Neilsons, all staff are paid on a full-year basis. The firm did not exist in 1975 when the law changed; it was founded in 1977, just two years after women in the UK were first permitted to apply for a mortgage in their own right. We are extremely proud to have achieved gender parity across the business. Today, 66% of our partners are women, and women comprise 56% of our senior management team, reflecting our long-standing commitment to fairness, opportunity, and inclusion since the firm’s inception.
How Mortgages Have Continued to Evolve
The mortgage market in 2025 is almost unrecognisable compared with its 1975 counterpart
Today:
- Affordability assessments focus squarely on income stability, credit conduct and outgoings -not gender, marital status or assumed domestic roles.
- Flexible working patterns, portfolio careers, and self-employment are increasingly accepted by lenders, benefiting many women building careers outside traditional structures.
- Government-backed schemes such as Shared Ownership and other first-time buyer initiatives have broadened access for those whose affordability may be affected by childcare costs or pay disparities.
These changes reflect a sector more attuned to the realities of modern working life, and more inclusive in its approach to aspiration and opportunity.
Looking Ahead: The Next 50 Years
While legislation opened the door, societal and economic progress will determine how far women can continue to advance in the property market. Continued improvements in workplace equality, parental leave policies, and access to affordable childcare all have a direct bearing on women’s long-term financial independence.
Financial education also plays a powerful role. Encouraging early engagement with savings, credit building and mortgage advice can help ensure that future generations enter the housing market with confidence and a clear sense of possibility.
This anniversary is not only a moment to reflect on how far we’ve come; it is an opportunity to consider what true equality in property could look like over the next half-century and how the industry, including firms like Neilsons founded in the wake of that change, can contribute to that vision.
If you’re thinking of buying your first home, Neilsons would be delighted to help. We work with carefully selected independent mortgage brokers to ensure our clients have access to expert, impartial advice and get the support they need to move forward with confidence.
Book a free appointment with our team today!
