The Intermediary – November 2025 - Flipbook - Page 79
Q&A
present the proposal in a clear, complete way. The
more context and detail provided upfront, the
smoother the process will be.
Brokers can add real value by taking the time
to understand each lender’s appetite and criteria.
That makes it easier to match the right deal to
the right lender, saving time for everyone and
increasing the likelihood of a successful outcome.
It’s a market that really benefits from quality
advice, so it should be on the radar for any
ambitious broker. Even if they opt not to handle
these cases themselves, it’s important to build
partnerships with other advisers who are
specialists, so they can refer clients on.
Brokers have a key role to play
here, helping direct their clients towards
lawyers who know what they are doing,
and encouraging them to get all the
necessary paperwork and documentation
together from the outset”
What advice would you give brokers
to help their customers complete
transactions within the
desired timescales?
RS: In an ideal world, borrower lawyers would be
more proactive at the outset with getting deals
running. We send instructions out in the first
few days following instruction and then deals
frequently run slowly and we can spend some
weeks chasing to get the process moving.
Obtaining costs undertakings from the
borrower’s solicitors can delay the initial process
too, as can the slow provision of basic statutory
compliance information.
Paperwork covering the likes of asbestos
surveys and the testing of electrical and gas
apparatus are fundamental, so it’s crucial they are
supplied as quickly as possible.
Brokers have a key role to play here, helping
direct their clients towards lawyers who know
what they are doing, and encouraging them to get
all the necessary paperwork and
documentation together
from the outset.
We had a recent
transaction which
was completed
from instruction to
drawdown within
10 days – made
possible through
a well organised
borrower holding
all the paperwork,
understanding the
process following clear
broker explanation at
the outset, and
also
through good communication and collaboration
amongst the lawyers involved after that.
So, it is possible to transact quickly, but it takes
all parties to contribute.
What types of cases are the
trickiest, and how can brokers help
give the deals the best chance?
CJ: The most challenging cases tend not to be
about legal complexity but about the process
itself, such as dealing with multiple third-parties.
It’s not uncommon for there to be delays when
we need to release existing mortgages from
private lenders that are not part of the UK
Finance Lenders Handbook, for example.
These cases require careful
management, and brokers
can play a significant
role by setting realistic
expectations with
the clients, gathering
all of the necessary
information early,
and maintaining
open communication
between all parties.
That collaboration at
the outset often makes
the biggest difference. ●
ROBIN
SHARP
CHRIS
JONES
