He said: “Our focus has always been on helping brokers to write quality business, and we’ve invested in the training and development of both our field-based and telephony business development teams.
“It’s these teams who make sure we are fully equipped to support the intermediary market of today. Some examples of how we have evolved include the simplification of our policy with the introduction of a specific let-to-buy scheme, and allowing student and DSS lets for the first time.
“The buy-to-let market is now looking at potential regulatory changes coming down the line, and we will work hard to ensure our service standards do not suffer in the future.”
Nationwide Building Society: Vive la Evolution!
Evolution not revolution has been Nationwide Building Society’s mortgage mantra, even despite the challenges presented by the MMR
Ian Andrew, managing director of Nationwide Group Intermediary Sales, said the lender had kept its focus on ensuring it worked together with advisers to support them through the regulatory changes. He said: “We always thought it would be about evolution rather than revolution, and so it has proved.”
In the run-up to MMR, Nationwide ran a campaign for intermediaries which included the launch of a dedicated web page to guide them through the changes to the mortgage application process.
Nationwide also provided a series of communications to key distributors to outline the changes, and held an MMR forum for advisers detailing the revised processes required.
Mr Andrew added: “In addition, all Nationwide contact telephone numbers for intermediaries became free to call from a landline – a very welcome move towards improving the experience of our intermediary partners.
“Both pre- and post-MMR, our prevailing focus has been on responsible lending and attention to detail. For lenders and brokers alike, the process has bedded in and the successful implementation of the new rules has meant that we are now very much concentrating on business as usual.
“For Nationwide, that has meant competitive repricing, a new 10-year fixed rate mortgage, continued support for the new-build market, and adjustments to our affordability model to assist both intermediaries and their customers.”
Halifax: Innovation and training behind our success
Consistency, speed and efficiency has been Halifax’s key to success in the intermediary mortgage market, according to its head of intermediaries.
Ian Wilson said: “Together with innovative products, our focus is always on ensuring that our colleagues are fully trained to support mortgage brokers in writing quality business.
“We have worked hard to achieve a consistently high level of service, and feedback from mortgage brokers suggests that the significant investment in technology and in our front-line field-based and telephony business development teams has really enhanced our communication processes.
