As the stamp duty deadline looms ever closer, most lenders and brokers are experiencing near record levels of business.  As I’m sure you’ll know, this increase is resulting in cases taking much longer to complete than they usually would.

Focusing on the positive, there’s a lot of business in the pipeline. We’re committed to helping you get it across the line, so below is a list of the things for your clients to consider to help manage their expectations and prepare them for all eventualities.

What clients can do and should be aware of:

• Stamp duty - Make sure they consider the impact of missing the stamp duty deadline. Do they have sufficient cash available to pay the stamp duty if it comes to it?
• Searches - Whilst they're waiting for the mortgage offer, ask them to talk to their conveyancer about when to request searches as some local councils are taking significantly longer to process these.
• Indemnity insurance - Whilst a lender may be willing to accept search insurance, are they happy to continue without the search outcomes? Have they discussed it with their conveyancer?
• Complex or simple mortgage? Employed or self-employed? - Make sure they provide all the information the lender will need to make the application process as straightforward and quick as possible. If there’s anything that’s likely to require more explanation, make sure it’s available quickly.
• Estate agents - Once they have the mortgage offer then it’s down to the conveyancing and the chain of linked transactions. The longer the chain, the more chance of delays or problems. Suggest using the estate agent to turn around information quickly.

Our commitment to you and your clients

• You can call us for clarity about our processing times and typical time to produce an offer for all types of business.
• Post-offer, we commit to:
• respond to conveyancers' queries quickly, and keep you informed
• make sure our completions team is resourced for increased volumes
• turn redemption quotes around quickly.

Our request of you

• Please tell us as soon as you know a case isn’t proceeding
• If we are missing information, please let us have this as soon as you are able.