Foundation Home Loans (FHL) has announced plans to simplify its buy-to-let product range.
It is making changes to criteria, as well as introducing a new limited company proposition, which will be offered alongside the core range at no additional interest rate premium.
FHL believes that landlords, including first time landlords, should not be expected to pay a higher interest rate than for a standard buy-to-let purchase or remortgage, whether they are purchasing in their own name or through a limited company.
The firm says the simplification follows consultation with key partners and the broker community. Additional changes to the range include a move to fixed arrangement fee of £1,999 for all loans under £250,000 plus a reduction to the minimum property valuation across all products to £75,000.
In addition, FHL has announced fixed end dates for fixed rate mortgages; fixing up to four months over the advertised fixed period giving clients increased certainty they will get the full fixed term period, the lender argues.
Meanwhile, there is now a fixed fee of £1,999 for loans under £250,000 and 2% over £250,000.
Simon Bayley, FHL”s commercial director, said: “There is going to be plenty of interest in 2016 from landlords considering the best way to reduce their tax exposure using a limited company approach. After our initial pilot, we didn’t feel that pricing such a product at a premium was fair. Adding first time landlords to our limited company range shows we believe landlords should be able to chose the best set-up that suits their circumstances and not be restricted to by the lenders.
“Apart from an additional fee due to the extra complexity of underwriting limited company SPVs, we want brokers and their landlord clients to feel that there is a lender offering choice without charging a premium.
“We have reduced our minimum property valuation, allowing our introducers to target landlords looking at property away from the South East, where the income to investment ratio becomes more viable. Also, fixed rate terms in buy-to-let have tended to be less than they claim to be.
“By moving to fixed end dates on fixed rate products, clients who DIP after 16 December for example, will have their fix until 30 April. With all these enhancements, we have also helped to simplify the product matrix, making it easier to navigate and choose the right solutions for your clients.
“These changes put down a marker for 2016 and show just how receptive FHL will continue to be to the needs of landlords and their advisers.”