The Intermediary – April 2025 - Flipbook - Page 31
Q&A
Holiday lets are where
we’ve really built up longstanding
experience. We’ve been supporting
brokers in this space for over two
decades, lending across England,
Scotland and Wales, and over that
time we’ve developed a strong feel
Alongside that, we’ve introduced a new broker
portal, making it easier to submit and track
applications. We’ve also added our products
to platforms like Trigold, Mortgage Brain and
Twenty7Tec so they’re easier to find and compare.
But the tech is only part of the story. Service still
comes down to people. Brokers want someone
who picks up the phone, gives a straight answer
and sees the case through. That’s what we focus
on every day.
How are you balancing growth with
that level of service?
we’ll take the time to explore it with them and see
what is possible.
We remain fully focused on the service we
deliver, and on being reliable and available.
Our residential lending is focused on Cumbria,
Southwest Scotland, North Lancashire and
West Northumberland, plus a small number of
longstanding London brokers.
We also work with directly authorised (DA)
firms and appointed representatives (ARs) through
partners like Sesame and Mortgage Advice Bureau.
What does ‘kinder banking’ mean
What changes are you seeing in the
for brokers in practical terms?
holiday let market, and how are
for what makes a viable holiday let
proposition”
At its core, it means putting people first. That
includes brokers, clients and everyone we deal
with. For us, it’s about building relationships, being
approachable, and being consistent.
We’ve built a team of 22, with many years
of mortgage experience. Most have been on
both sides of the desk – advising, underwriting,
managing. We know the pressure brokers are
under, and we’re here to help, not hold things up.
Every broker we work with has a named point
of contact. That person knows your processes
and how you work. It’s all part of building trust
over time.
What improvements have you
you adapting?
It’s maturing. Landlords are becoming more
professional. Regulation is tightening. Demand
is still strong, especially in the right areas,
but the bar is higher. That’s why we keep our
approach flexible.
Sykes Cottages recently reported average gross
annual revenues of over £34,000, and more for
well-located, year-round lets. So there’s still a
strong business case, it just needs a lender that
understands how to assess it properly.
We’re ready for what’s next. With a big
remortgaging wave expected in 2025 and 2026,
brokers need lenders they can trust.
made to support brokers in the
How does being a mutual influence
day-to-day?
how you work with intermediaries?
We’ve made real progress on the digital side in the
past year. One of the biggest changes has been the
launch of our affordability calculator for residential
cases. It’s intuitive, easy to use and is already
making a big difference in helping brokers assess
cases upfront.
We’ve had really positive feedback on it, both for
speed and clarity.
It’s everything. We’re not driven by shareholder
returns. We’re here to support our members, and
that includes brokers. We reinvest our profits into
the business – into people, into service, into tech
that improves the customer experience.
We look forward to continuously enhancing our
service and supporting brokers who do a fantastic
job in supporting the market. ●
April 2025 | The Intermediary
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