We know that landlords are keen to buy; the latest data  on the ESIS volumes generated through the Mortgage Brain sourcing systems shows that BTL purchase ESIS have sat at around 7% higher than the average levels seen before Covid-19, for nine weeks in a row. Elsewhere, brokers have reported sharply increasing demand levels from landlords for BTL mortgages . 

Industry professionals are well aware that the fundamentals of the market haven’t changed and that property remains a phenomenal asset class – even if the world has been shaken by a pandemic. As such, they see an excellent opportunity to expand their portfolios.

But one thing that borrowers and their brokers do need right now is some certainty and a more solid understanding of precisely what funding is going to be open to them, something that we are trying to provide at LendInvest through the launch of our new appetite statements. 

What are your plans?

An appetite statement outlines to landlords what sort of funding LendInvest would be happy to provide them with, not just for their current case but for future purchases and remortgages across their entire portfolio.

When applying for a BTL mortgage, the borrower can request an appetite statement. This essentially adds an extra step to the underwriting process, during which they have a discussion with the underwriter about their experience and their plans for the future, such as the areas they are looking to invest in and what sort of properties they are focusing on.

It’s not about asking investors to present a business plan or put some form of presentation together, but rather getting an informed insight into their aspirations, their mode of operating, and what sort of prospect they are likely to be.

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The underwriters are then able put together an appetite statement — which are reviewed every six months — detailing what sort of funding we would be prepared to offer that borrower across their portfolio, and at what sort of LTV. 

We believe that these statements will make a significant difference to borrowers, providing a helping hand when it comes to planning out their financial strategy for their portfolio — whether that’s adding new investment properties or refinancing existing ones. If they want to purchase a new asset, they know from the very outset what sort of funding facility is open to them if they use LendInvest—from there, it’s simply a matter of choosing the right product.

Reducing broker workloads

There are clear benefits to appetite statements for brokers, too, who know only too well that one of the first questions they have to deal with from clients, whether they are first-time borrowers or have a large investment portfolio, is, ‘How much can I borrow?’

These statements answer that question, not just for right now but potentially for the months and years to come as well. Not only will the broker have a good idea of how likely an application from the client is to be approved, but they will also be in a more informed position on precisely how much can be borrowed—allowing them to focus their efforts on identifying the right product for the client.

What’s more, having gone through that initial interview with the underwriter, once an investment property is identified later on, the application process is going to be more straightforward.

We also believe that appetite statements will help brokers become more familiar with our lending processes; advisers are conscious that each lender has their own unique way of working and switching between those different processes for different clients takes time and effort. 

Keeping things transparent

It’s been a tricky few months for brokers and their BTL clients. While the demand is clearly still there from investors, advisers have had to navigate uncertain waters, with some lenders pulling products and adopting a more cautious attitude towards their activity.

But for any lender that values the intermediary community, transparency is key. Brokers want to deal with lenders they can trust and which make working with them as simple as possible. It’s something we strive for in everything we do—and we believe that appetite statements are an innovative way to bring that transparency to brokers and borrowers alike.