Accord Buy To Let is attempting to improve its service and make its mortgage products more widely accessible by amending its criteria and documentation.
The intermediary only subsidiary of Yorkshire Building Society will now accept a minimum income requirement of £25,000 per application, as opposed to at least one applicant requiring £25,000 minimum income. The move is designed to create greater flexibility for landlords.
In addition, the number of years’ evidence required from self-employed applicants has been dropped from three years to two years.
Chris Maggs, senior commercial manager at Accord Buy To Let, said: “We have reviewed our criteria to improve the service we provide to brokers. These changes will not only increase turnaround times, but will make our products more accessible to a broader range of landlords.
“These latest updates come at the end of a very exciting year for Accord Buy To Let. In the last 12 months we’ve made efficiencies to the application process by replacing signed declarations with a tick box to ensure we can keep our turnaround times as low as possible. We’ve also improved our proposition with the launch of an 80% LTV range, increased maximum age and term and introduced a new income and tax-based Income Cover Ratio (ICR) of 125%.
“Landlords have had a number of challenges to face over the last few years, and it’s likely for the short term at least there will be continued uncertainty, but we are constantly looking for ways we can support the sector and help more property owners grow their businesses.”
Accord Buy to Let recently made modest reductions to the cost of its 80% loan-to-value buy-to-let mortgage range.
The latest products for purchase and remortgage include two-year fixed rates at 3.31% with a £950 fee or 3.85% fee-free.
There is also a five-year fixed rate deal available at 3.63% with a £950 fee.
All mortgages come with a free valuation and £500 cashback or £250 cashback and free legal services for remortgage products.
Simon Garner, product manager at Accord Buy to Let, commented: “We know the present uncertainty in the market is impacting decisions, so following recent improvements to our criteria, we’re continually reviewing the range to offer landlords the most competitive rates.”