FHL to launch new broker portal

 

 

When we launched in February last year, my role was to create partnerships with leading distributors and develop those relationships to become fruitful for both parties. I now manage a team of regional account managers so my role has become more about helping to set business targets, manage my people and maintain the senior relationships. With so much going on in the buy-to-let (BTL) field, education and promotion along with ensuring a smooth flow of business are also a major part of the role. I have held senior sales and marketing roles at lenders SPML, Borro and Masthaven, having started my career at Hambros Bank.

 

I also ran mortgage packager, FastCom, prior to the credit crunch as well as setting up Freehold, the packager association, which achieved lending distribution of £1.6bn in mortgage business.

 

 

Surprisingly, no! I think most of the senior people in the industry, if they are honest, did not see mortgage finance in their futures when they were leaving school. My dream was to be a rock god and play to packed stadiums full of adoring fans. Such dreams!

 

 

I am a big fan of start-ups and have developed a lot of experience in the financial services start-up sector. There are simple criteria I follow. Does the business in question have the will, the means and the understanding of what it takes, not just to launch but to sustain its challenge in a competitive environment? With FHL the answer was a resounding yes. They have a great team, strong backing and ambitious plans. 

 

 

It will certainly make people think twice. Landlords will need to be more selective in terms of where and when to invest to maximise opportunities for capital growth and sustainable yield. When all is said and done, BTL still makes a strong case and with the increased availability of limited company BTL products, of which FHL has been a pioneer, we will see more landlords adopting this mechanism. 

 

 

Apart from wishing that the government would reconsider its actions relevant to taxation on BTL, the change I would look for is to be able to lend to people with much longer-term tenancy agreements.

 

 

After any rush to meet a deadline there tends to be a lull. The BTL market will be no different. However, I am of the opinion that after a temporary dip, business will pick up again.

 

 

There are plenty of exciting plans for 2016, which are currently under wraps. Watch this space! In the meantime, we will shortly be launching our new broker portal which will facilitate more online connectivity for new business enquiries, DIPs, applications and case tracking.

 

 

Because the existing and potential tax treatment of personal BTL will become less favourable for higher rate taxpayers, those clients purchasing by using a limited company product can enjoy a higher return. Also, there is greater choice for landlords for this kind of product and, because some lenders like FHL are pricing these products at the same rate as their core range, accessibility is improving too. 

 

 

Food is a passion of mine. Too much, some would say! I am a fully trained chef and would love to cook in my own restaurant - even though I vowed I would never do it again!

 

 

Landlords will need to be more careful with their calculations on yield and long-term capital growth as the stamp duty and tax relief changes will increase costs going forward. Funding options will remain plentiful so the key consideration this year will be buying in areas which have yet to experience significant house price inflation to maximise opportunities.