Just an update
Monday 23rd June. This week's headlines:
Refer a candidate….and WIN!
Do you know someone who could be our next Self-Employed Advisor to join Just Mortgages?
During the period 2 June 2025 to 31 August 2025 inclusive, for each referral we receive using the link (see below) will be entered into a prize draw and the first drawn ticket shortly after the competition ends will win this fabulous LG 55” 4k Smart TV!
At the time of writing, TOM MARSDEN has the most referrals in the hat for our prize draw, but plenty of time remains to add your name in!
We are looking for great candidates to join Just Mortgages! Whether they are currently employed or self-employed. So, if you have friends, family or simply someone you know who may be interested in a no obligation discussion, please refer them to us.
Along with the chance of winning this fabulous TV, you will still be paid £1000 (£500 paid upon authorisation, further £500 after 6 months). There is no limit to how many candidates you can refer to us.
As a reminder, payment will still be made even if the advisor is to work under the referrer (principal)
Simply click on the following link HERE to refer
Smartr365 | Natwest DIP & FMA now available on all transaction types
Smartr365 has announced full automation of both Decisions in Principle (DIPs) and Full Mortgage Applications (FMAs) across all NatWest personal mortgage journeys, setting a new benchmark for its brokers for efficiency and digital transformation.
This milestone — delivered through Smartr365’s native SmartrConnect functionality — unlocks complete, end-to-end automation for:
Residential purchases (First-Time Buyer and Home Mover)
Remortgages
Capital & Interest repayment types
Employed and self-employed applicants
Sole and joint applications
All NatWest personal mortgage products are now seamlessly accessible via the Smartr365 platform for UK mainland brokers registered with NatWest.
“This isn’t just about integration — it’s about elimination,” said Conor Murphy, CEO of Smartr365.
“We’re eliminating duplication, errors, wasted time, and old ways of working. Brokers can go from fact-find to mortgage submission with NatWest in a truly automated flow — no rekeying, no switching systems. This is the next leap forward in our mission to make mortgage distribution faster, smarter, and fully digital.”
Nadine Edwards, Head of Intermediary Mortgages at NatWest Group, added: “Our new partnership with Smartr365 will streamline a number of processes for our brokers and customers. We are always considering ways that we can deepen our engagement with the broker community and this move is evidence of this commitment. We look forward to NatWest brokers and customers benefitting from these innovative, automated services as we continue our digital transformation journey.”
This expanded functionality is now live and available to all eligible Smartr365 users with NatWest access.
Halifax | Accurately recording the
EPC rating and selecting the right product
Halifax recently introduced the collection of a property’s Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating on purchase and remortgage applications and added some additional system messages to help improve the Green Home products selection process.
Halifax check the product code being selected is eligible during the application process. A message shows on the ‘Quote’ screens if the product is ineligible based on the EPC Information on the ‘Loan’ screen.
This means that while the ‘EPC Information’ section on the ‘Loan’ screen remains optional to complete, e.g. to key a Decision in Principle when the property may not be known, when proceeding to a full application if a Green Home product is to be selected the EPC details should be completed on the ‘Loan’ screen. Otherwise, a message will ask you to return to the ‘Loan’ screen to complete / correct this information.
Don’t forget, a £250 cashback is available on selected residential products, to those purchasing a property with an Energy Efficiency Bank of A or B, or an Energy Efficiency Rating of 81 or higher.
It’s vital that you select the right product, so your client does not miss out on the £250 cashback if they are eligible.
Evidence of the EPC rating must be validated prior to application, via a valid Energy Performance Rating on the EPC Register, an Energy Performance Certificate itself, or a valid Predicted EPC for New Build properties.
Please see Halifax’s previous Keying EPC Guide for further details of how Halifax capture EPC details.
Higher loan limits on residential owner-occupied mortgages
Aldermore have increased the maximum loan amounts available for residential owner-occupied mortgages. Giving your clients more borrowing power, especially at higher LTVs.
What has changed:
Level 1 – Up to £1,000,000 at 95% LTV
Level 2 – Up to £750,000 at 90% LTV
Level 3 – Up to £600,000 at 75% LTV and £500,000 at 80% LTV
Why this matters:
We’ve listened. As brokers, you asked us to increase these limits based on cases we couldn’t support before It provides you with more options for clients seeking that higher valued forever home or simply raising more from an existing property It works really well with criteria for high earning self-employed using salary and share of net profit
Bank of Ireland for Intermediaries launches new cashback mortgages
Bank of Ireland for Intermediaries understands that buying a first home or moving house is expensive. That’s why they’ve launched some new cashback products to help with the costs involved.
There are currently five products to choose from with cashbacks of £1,500 and £3,000 available. All with free valuations!
Take a look at their Residential Mortgage range.
How
Pepper Money can help when your client has income from more than one job
Pepper Money’s latest Specialist Lending Study revealed that 7.34 million people in the UK are now earning income from more than one job – a notable increase from 5.77 million in the previous study.
The cost-of-living crisis is a key driver behind this trend, as more individuals seek additional sources of income to manage expenses. The study highlights that this shift is particularly prominent among younger adults, with a quarter of 18-24-year-olds and nearly the same percentage of 25-34-year-olds supplementing their primary income through secondary employment.
Here’s how Pepper can help
100% bonus, overtime and commission evidenced over last 3 months
100% second incomes, monthly commission and car allowance
Additional income from Universal Credit and Disability
Living Allowances accepted
No debt-to-income ratio
Add backs accepted for controlling Limited Co
Directors, including use of home office & pension contributions
Salary and share of net profit is acceptable
Useful Pepper Money mortgage links:
· Mortgage products
· Mortgage Criteria
· Buy to Let Products
· Buy to Let Criteria
· Limited Company Buy to Let
Protection & GI News
Paymentshield launches annual adviser survey for 2025
Paymentshield is inviting advisers to provide their thoughts on a range of topics in an effort to better understand adviser needs, their business and the challenges they’re currently facing, particularly when it comes to general insurance.
The GI platform provider has run an adviser survey annually for many years with the results being shared with the industry once the research closes.
Advisers can click here to access the survey.
The survey can be completed in around 7-10 minutes and will run until the 23 June 2025 giving advisers plenty of time to share their opinions during an ongoing period of uncertainty and unpredictability, in order to help influence how Paymentshield might better support both advisers and their clients.
Those completing the survey have the option to provide their email address in order to be entered into a prize draw to win £250 of high street vouchers as a thank you for giving their time.
The survey must be completed and submitted between 00:01 on 21/05/2025 to 23:59 on 23/06/25. Full T's and C's apply and can be found here.
Vitality life insurance
can help clients live up to 5 years longer1
As well as offering the highest levels of protection, Vitality also gives clients the tools to live a longer and healthier life through the Vitality Programme. It’s designed to specifically drive engagement and encourage positive lifestyle choices by helping clients understand their health, get healthier and get rewarded.
So how do we help your clients live longer?
The Vitality Programme gives your clients the tools to build healthy, life-long habits
Understand their health
Firstly, your clients will complete their Health Profile. We'll set them health goals and give them tips on how to achieve them
Get healthier
By tracking their activity - we help your clients achieve their goals. Your clients will start earning Vitality points which will improve their Vitality status
Get rewarded
Walk, run, swim, dance. It's up to your clients' how they move. They just need to track their everyday steps and workouts to earn rewards from top brands. They can then pick what rewards work best for them
Based on members who moved from earning 0 to 21+ activity points a week throughout their lifetime, applied to standard UK mortality rates.
