Increased processing, response and hold times across all lenders are being observed in the buy-to-let market.
Landlords looking to benefit from the recent cut in stamp duty are facing a “race against time” as lenders raise buy-to-let (BTL) rates and the market struggles to operate efficiently, according to online BTL broker Property Master.
The broker said that trends such as increased processing, response and hold times across all lenders are being observed in the buy-to-let market.
Angus Stewart, chief executive of Property Master, said: “Major lenders such as Barclays and NatWest have just announced big price increases on their buy to let mortgage ranges – up to 0.7%.
"Whilst we have seen price increases and product withdrawals before as lenders seek to manage the demand caused by the stamp duty cut, these new rises suggest lenders may now also be concerned about the worsening economic situation.
“As well as price rises, we are seeing severe delays generally with lenders sometimes taking weeks to respond to enquiries.
"There is a similar story with many solicitors.
"We have to remember with employees working from home and in some cases self-isolating the property market generally is struggling to keep up with demand.
"If these delays continue, completing house purchases in time for the end of the stamp duty cut in March is going to be a race against time for many landlords.”
“More worryingly still we are seeing is valuers undervaluing properties and, in some instances, returning a '£0' valuation on properties that we would not have expected to present a problem.
"We have even seen this happen on properties that we know would have been acceptable to the lender but when we've stepped in and challenged the valuer’s decision the lender has been unwilling to overturn what the valuer has said.”
