Employed Just an update Monday 8th June

JUST MORTGAGES NEWS

Just an update th

Monday 8 June This week we bring together a range of insights, opportunities and industry developments designed to help you support your clients, strengthen your local presence, and stay informed about the latest changes across the mortgage and protection markets.

You'll find practical guidance from our Digital Marketing Manager, Anna Smith, on building your profile as the local mortgage expert, including tips on local content, Google reviews and making the most of your online presence.

Thank you for your continued commitment to delivering excellent outcomes for your clients.

Jessica Earey, Head of Central Operations

Digital Marketing Put yourself on the map as the local expert For mortgage advisers, being visible online is no longer just about having a website. When clients search for help with buying a home, remortgaging, moving house or understanding their borrowing options, they are often looking for someone local, trusted and approachable.

That is why local digital marketing matters. By creating content that reflects the areas you serve, keeping your online profiles up to date and encouraging client reviews, you can improve your local visibility and position yourself as the go-to mortgage expert in your community.

Make your content local Local content is social media or online content that speaks directly to the towns, villages and regions you work in. Instead of only sharing general mortgage tips (the Digital Marketing team can post those on your behalf), think about what matters to people in your area.

For example, rather than posting about “first-time buyer mortgages”, you could share something more specific, such as “What first-time buyers in Chelmsford should know before applying for a mortgage”.

This helps your content feel more relevant and useful. It also gives search engines more context about where you operate, which can support local searches such as “mortgage adviser near me” or “mortgage broker in [town]”.

Local content ideas could include: • First-time buyer tips for your area • Local property market observations • Common questions from buyers or homeowners nearby • Moving home in specific towns or regions • Local community events or partnerships • Seasonal property trends • Remortgage considerations for local homeowners

Use your Google Business Profile Posting on your Google Business Profile is just as important as posting on social media. Regular updates show both Google and potential clients that you are active, knowledgeable and relevant locally.

You can repurpose local social media content as Google posts. A local market update, client FAQ, community event or home-buying tip can all work well.

Keeping your profile active can help build trust, encourage people to click through to your website, call you or request an appointment.

Keep your broker finder page up to date Your broker finder page is an important part of your local online presence. Make sure it clearly explains who you are, where you work and why clients should come to you.

Your bio should include: • A professional headshot • A short introduction about you • Why customers should choose you • Your connection to the local area • Local towns, villages, landmarks or communities you know well Mentioning places you genuinely know or spend time in can help make your profile more relatable and locally relevant. For example, you might refer to where you live, where you grew up, local schools, parks, rivers, commuter routes or community spaces.

The Digital Marketing team can help update your profile and can even write your bio for you if you provide the key information.

Build trust with Google review Google reviews are important because they help potential clients judge trust, service and credibility before they contact you.

For mortgage advisers, this matters. Clients are making major financial decisions and want reassurance that they are dealing with someone knowledgeable, approachable and reliable.

A strong review profile can help you: • Build confidence with potential clients • Stand out in local search results • Show that your business is active • Reinforce the locations and services you are associated with • Demonstrate professionalism by replying to reviews Fresh, genuine reviews can make a real difference. A steady flow of recent feedback is often more persuasive than a small number of older reviews.

Make the most of Uberall Uberall helps manage your local listings across platforms such as Google, Apple Maps, Bing and other online directories. These listings include key information such as your name, contact details, website, opening hours and services.

Consistent information across these platforms supports local SEO and makes it easier for clients to find and contact you. Incorrect details or outdated listings can create confusion and may lead potential clients elsewhere.

The good news is that you do not need to manage every listing manually. You simply need to make sure your Uberall account information is correct and up to date.

You can also use Uberall to post to Facebook, Google and Instagram at the same time. If you are unsure how to do this, contact the Digital Marketing team.

Remember!

Before posting, please keep the following in mind: You must have permission from your client to post an image of them on social media.

All posts containing a Financial Promotion must be approved before publishing.

Financial Promotions include: A call to action eg call me, message me, get in touch A promotion of services, either covering the services you offer or providing advice eg I have access to 100% mortgage products, I specialise in advice on New Build Mortgages Educational content. As you are a mortgage professional this can be viewed as a Financial Promotion All Financial Promotions must be approved by Openwork before publishing. This is an FCA requirement. Any unapproved posting is likely to result in a breach from Openwork.

For support on content or approval, please email digital@justmortgages.co.uk.

The JM Digital Marketing Team work with the JM Financial Promotions Team to ensure all content meets approval guidelines.

Local digital marketing helps you become more visible, more memorable and more trusted by the people most likely to need your advice. By sharing locally relevant content, keeping your profiles updated, using Google Business Profile and encouraging reviews, you can strengthen your online presence and put yourself firmly on the map as the local mortgage expert.

Anna Smith, Digital Marketing Manager

Support Directory Refer a friend - referafriend@justmortgages.co.uk For all RAF questions, this inbox is managed by the JM Operations Team. You don’t need to cc Jessica Earey. Process documents are available on the JM share or speak to your DSD. Google reviews – Chris.Pavlou@justmortgages.co.uk Chris Pavlou manages the reporting, please email Chris with any questions on the reports.

JM Financial Promotions - financialpromotions@justmortgages.co.uk For all questions or advice on what you can post on social media and what may need approval from Openwork.

Digital Marketing – digital@justmortgages,co.uk for support on how to use social media platforms, Google platform questions, requests for social media posts and access to our digital marketing library (SPOS) Smartr support – use the AI chat bot, this will direct you to the support team if your question cannot be answered. This is an intuitive feature, so the more you use it the more it learns!

Concert Hub support – for all Concert Hub related queries please contact First. If this is password related, please choose the IT option.

Compliance – Sales Quality update Openwork have checked 93 cases for JM during May Employed – Again a fantastic 100% for May

😊

Please see the below fail reasons from AQT coming from case checks during May (these cover fails for the employed and selfemployed) these are similar to the previous months.

A key fail theme this month was the timescale for the SR on mortgage cases

ICOB

MCOB

SR errors - additional benefits, premium

SR issued outside of timescales SR errors - loan amount FMA errors – child dependant not disclosed Conflict between mortgage considerations which said the client wanted to pay fees upfront and the recommendation which had the fee added with no explanation

As always, thank you for your continued support in this very important area of the business

2026 Openwork Foundation Golf Days Come and enjoy a brilliant day out golfing with others from the Openwork network, while raising funds to support the Openwork Foundation.

Thursday 25th June at The Royal Belfast Golf Club Contact: Lorraine Stevenson Information and tickets Thursday 27th August at Glasgow Westerwood Golf Resort Contact Alan Ferguson Information and tickets Thursday 17th September at Copt Heath, Birmingham Contact: Emma Briggs Information and tickets

Help your customers Secure Their Home… and Their Future

Refer your clients for a free will & estate planning review At Co-op Legal Services, they help you go beyond just supporting your clients with their mortgage. Because true financial protection doesn’t stop at securing a home, it means safeguarding your clients’ assets, future, and that of their loved ones.

Their free legal review gives your clients a clear picture of where they stand, and what they need to do next to stay protected.

What does the free legal review cover?

A specialist will discuss your clients’ circumstances and: ·Review their will, any estate planning and how well it meets their needs. Including which type of will is right for them and why. ·Explain how a will can minimise Inheritance Tax. And whether a trust will would better protect their home and savings. ·Outline how a lasting power of attorney could help them manage their health, care and finances and better protect their loved ones in the event of an accident or illness.

Click here to refer your client

About our partnership Since 2024, our partnership with Co-operative Legal Services has delivered real results: Supported 150+ clients with expert legal advice Delivered solutions for 100+ clients Achieved up to 39% conversion rates Generated an average commission value of up to £1,011 per client Each referral is an opportunity to add measurable value to every client relationship.

Helping you meet your customer duty obligations The FCA’s Consumer Duty requires firms to ‘always put good consumer outcomes at the centre of their business’. By referring to Co-op Legal Services, you can help clients avoid foreseeable risks and ensure their estate plans are fit for purpose, supporting you in meeting your Consumer Duty obligations.

Mortgage News Borrowers with Blips? TML is Built for That

Credit histories across the UK are becoming more irregular and for many borrowers, a single blip tells only a fraction of the story. The Mortgage Lender’s 2025 Home A-Loan research shows that 38% of adults have missed at least one bill payment within the year.

Yet mortgage performance remains remarkably resilient, with just 5% reporting a mortgage default. This demonstrates a clear trend: borrowers prioritise their homes above all else. But the challenge goes deeper.

Among those whose mortgage applications were declined: 34% declined due to credit score issues – even with stable payment behaviour 41% took corrective financial action (budgeting, switching providers, consolidating debt) 28% say lenders judged their profile “too complex” despite stability

TML recognise the difference between a momentary setback and true creditworthiness.

TML look past isolated issues to understand real behaviour and commitment – giving borrowers a fair chance when others may not.

The Mortgage Lender’s offering is designed to see the whole picture: Allow up to 3 CCJs in 36 months Don’t look at CCJs under £300 Do not have a value limited on CCJs or defaults and we do not need them to be satisfied Allow maximum 2 missed payments in last 6 months on each unsecured credit agreement Ignore communication and utility missed payments and defaults Consider active Debt Management Plans up to 85% LTV

Call our sales team 0344 257 0416 info@themortgagelender.com Opening hours Monday to Friday 9am to 5:30pm

AMI needs your voice - have your say and help create real change The Association of Mortgage Intermediaries (AMI) would like your views on inclusivity in the mortgage industry.

In 2021, the first Working in Mortgages Viewpoint gathered insight from 1,178 people across the mortgage industry, giving AMI the most complete picture to date of how inclusive, or exclusive, the sector felt at the time.

The 2021 viewpoint revealed some disappointing insights: Fewer than half of respondents (43%) felt the industry attracted a workforce that reflects the wider community.

Career progression concerns were widespread, with 54% of women, 56% of LGBTQ+ respondents, and 52% of ethnic minority respondents saying people like them were not represented at all levels.

Pay and reward perceptions varied sharply: while 73% of straight, white, non disabled men felt fairly rewarded, this dropped to 53% for women, 56% for LGBTQ+ people, and 47% for ethnic minority respondents.

Everyday workplace culture was a major theme, with many reporting experiences of exclusion, undervaluing, or inappropriate behaviour. Some forms of harassment were reported by 7-8% of respondents.

These findings were a wakeup call. They highlighted where the industry needed to improve, where people were being held back, and where structural barriers were still shaping careers and experiences.

Five years on, it’s time to understand what has changed and what hasn’t.

The new Working in Mortgages EDI Viewpoint will revisit the 2021 findings to understand: What progress has genuinely been made Where barriers remain Where inclusion is improving What the industry needs to start, stop, and continue doing Your insight will directly shape the next phase of industry action:

Take Survey Now

Mortgage Lending Criteria Guide and Product Guides.

Register Online to place business with us and get access to our mortgage portal and products.

Get in touch with your local BDM; they would love to hear from you. Find your nearest BDM here. Or call our Broker Helpdesk on 020 3427 1019. If you have any additional support needs either now or in the future, please contact us. Metro Bank won’t charge you for your calls, however you may be charged by your service provider.

Protection & GI News

Metlife | Did You Know?

Metlife MultiProtect Can Help Reach Clients Who Normally Decline Protection Many of you will recognise the scenario: The mortgage completes, protection is discussed, then the client says: "Let's come back to it later."

Often this isn't a lack of interest; it is friction caused by: Affordability concerns Medical concerns Complexity Fear of underwriting outcomes Because MultiProtect has a straightforward application process and can be positioned at lower price points, it may provide an accessible starting point.

MultiProtect Can Create Earlier Protection Engagement With Younger Clients Protection conversations with younger borrowers can be challenging because: Serious illness feels distant Life cover may feel unnecessary Income disruption risk is underestimated However younger clients often immediately relate to: Sports injuries Active lifestyles Unexpected accidents Hospital stays The discussion moves from: "What happens if I die?" to: "What happens if everyday life gets interrupted?"

Visit the dedicated Multiprotect website for more information and resources HERE

Built for life’s hardest moments – Our 2025 Claims Stats

L&G’s latest claims statistics show how protection made a difference for your clients.

Key figures for 2025 £992m total paid out 20,621 claims paid 95.9% claims accepted These numbers reflect L&G’s commitment to supporting customers and their families during life’s most difficult moments.

Click here for full details

Here are a few snippets at the enhancements The Exeter have made from 7th May: Increased maximum income replacement Up to 65% of the first £60,000 of income 45% of income above £60,000

Clearer parental leave claims approach Claims made during parental leave (up to 12 months) will be assessed using pre‑leave income, as if the member were still working.

Extended rehabilitation support Rehabilitation support will no longer be limited to 24 months and will continue for as long as required.

Reduced evidence for the Fixed Benefit Option Self‑employed members and company directors will now only need two years’ evidence instead of three.

For further information on any Exeter products, please contact Judith Brandrick on 07503 313243 or email Judith.brandrick@theexeter.com or Emily Shuttleworth on 0208 163 7339 or Emily.shuttleworth@the-exeter.com’

Industry News Among the most notable developments during the week, Nationwide Building Society reduced selected fixed rates across both purchase and remortgage ranges, particularly within lower-LTV products. The lender also continued promoting its enhanced affordability approach for employed applicants with overtime, bonus and secondary income streams.

Halifax and Barclays both introduced further repricing across residential ranges during the week, with particular focus on five-year fixed products. Competition remains strongest in mainstream, lower-risk sectors as lenders seek to strengthen pipeline volumes while funding conditions remain relatively stable.

Within specialist lending, Aldermore enhanced its residential criteria by increasing flexibility around historic adverse credit and simplifying elements of underwriting for complex-income applicants. Meanwhile, Kensington Mortgages continued expanding support for near-prime borrowers through more

The buy-to-let sector also remained active. The Mortgage Works introduced selected rate reductions and revised stress testing calculations across parts of its portfolio landlord proposition, modestly improving borrowing capacity for experienced landlords and limited company structures.

In protection, Aviva announced improvements to digital application journeys and underwriting automation, aimed at reducing adviser administration and improving processing times for intermediary partners. Providers continue investing heavily in operational efficiency and adviser technology as competition within protection distribution intensifies.

From a regulatory standpoint, the Financial Conduct Authority maintained focus on Consumer Duty delivery, particularly around firms evidencing suitability, fair value and appropriate customer support where affordability pressures remain elevated despite improving mortgage pricing.