Meet the Lender: What a fantastic day!

On 21st October, we held our annual Meet the Lender event at St Mary's Stadium, and what a fantastic day it was!

Despite the challenging weather, we had a brilliant turnout, bringing together brokers, lenders and industry partners for a day of networking, knowledge sharing and valuable conversations.

The feedback from both delegates and lenders has been incredibly positive, making all the hard work that goes into organising the event so worthwhile.

A huge thank you to everyone who attended and helped make the day such a success. We'd also like to thank our lender partners and guest speakers for sharing their knowledge and expertise, and the whole Complete FS team for their hard work behind the scenes.

For those who weren't able to join us this time, we hope to see you at a future event! Our Meet the Lender Day is always a great opportunity to connect with the Complete FS team, meet our lender partners and keep up to date with the latest developments and opportunities across the mortgage market.

Building strong relationships with our brokers and lender partners is at the heart of what we do, and we're proud to be part of such a great industry.

Download the PowerPoint Presentations here:
→ Complexion Creates Opportunities - Grant Hendry
→ Bridging Opportunities - Bob Hope
→ Who does Google put in front of your next client - Marc Heighway

Market Insight

Remortgaging leads the September recovery

September saw a strong return in mortgage activity following the summer slowdown, with over 1.91 million searches completed on a single sourcing system alone. This represented a 23% increase month on month and a 15% rise year on year.

Residential remortgaging was the standout story, with searches increasing by 40% compared with August and 44% year on year, as more homeowners explored their options.

Other key market highlights included:

While September delivered a welcome uplift in activity, the figures highlight a market moving at different speeds, with remortgaging continuing to drive much of the growth.

What does this mean for brokers?

With remortgaging activity increasing and borrowers continuing to explore their options, now is a valuable time to review clients' existing arrangements and identify opportunities to secure a more suitable solution.

At the same time, the continued interest in specialist criteria highlights the importance of understanding each client's individual circumstances and knowing where to turn when a case falls outside standard lending parameters.

At Complete FS, we're here to help you navigate those more complex scenarios, identify suitable lenders and make mortgages happen.

Case Study

A Let to Buy Opportunity. A Specialist Lending Solution

Not every let to buy case fits standard lending criteria. At Complete FS, we're continually evolving our specialist propositions to help brokers place more complex cases with confidence, making mortgages happen.

The opportunity
A self-employed applicant wanted to remortgage their existing owner-occupied terraced property as part of a let to buy arrangement, taking their first step into the buy-to-let market.

The property had an estimated value of £585,000, with a mortgage requirement of £375,000, resulting in a loan-to-value (LTV) of just 64%.

As a first-time landlord, the application fell under Consumer Buy to Let (CBTL) criteria. The applicant had an income of £32,576 and intended to use funds raised through the remortgage, alongside personal savings, business funds and a family gift, to support the purchase of a higher-value residential property.

The challenge
The case involved a let to buy remortgage with no onward residential mortgage in place for the applicant's next property purchase.

Although the onward purchase was proceeding on an unencumbered basis, the combination of a first-time landlord application and multiple funding sources fell outside the appetite of some lenders.

Finding a lender willing to take a pragmatic view of the overall circumstances was key to progressing the case.

The solution
Following discussions with the broker, we identified that Foundation was well suited to the applicant's circumstances.

A standard valuation supported the proposed remortgage at 64% LTV. By taking a pragmatic view of the applicant's funding strategy and onward purchase plans, Foundation was able to provide a solution despite there being no onward mortgage in place.

The takeaway
This case demonstrates the value of looking beyond standard lending criteria. Specialist lending can provide opportunities for first-time landlords and Consumer Buy to Let borrowers whose circumstances or funding arrangements may not fit a high-street lender's usual appetite.

Have a complex let to buy case?
Speak to Complete FS. Our team can help you explore the options and identify a suitable route forward.

Did You Know

Complete FS has access to exclusive products and criteria

You may already have access to a wide range of lenders directly, but did you know that Complete FS also has access to exclusive products and lending criteria with a number of lenders, including Together, Vida and The Family Building Society?

These exclusive propositions can open up opportunities that may not be available through standard channels, whether that's a more competitive rate, a more flexible approach to a client's circumstances or access to criteria that better suit their needs.

When you're working on a case, it's worth looking beyond the headline rates and considering whether an alternative product or a different interpretation of lending criteria could deliver a better outcome for your client.

That's where we can help.
Our team works closely with our lender partners to understand their propositions and identify opportunities for brokers. Even if you've already explored the options available to you directly, a quick conversation with Complete FS could uncover an alternative you hadn't considered.

Before you submit your next case, give us a call.
There may be an exclusive rate or a piece of criteria that makes all the difference.

Meet Your Specialist

Sami Miselbrook
Deputy Head of New Business

With 12 years at Complete FS, Sami Miselbrook has built up a wealth of knowledge and experience across the mortgage industry. As Deputy Head of New Business, she plays an important role in helping brokers identify lending opportunities and find the right solutions for their clients.

What makes Sami's experience particularly valuable is that her career at Complete began in underwriting, giving her an insight into the mortgage process from both sides of the application.

Having previously assessed cases from a lender's perspective, Sami understands the importance of looking beyond the basic figures and considering the full picture. She knows that successful placement isn't simply about finding a lender whose headline criteria appear to fit; it's about understanding how that lender is likely to view the application, what questions might arise during underwriting and which aspects of a case may need further explanation or supporting evidence.

This experience allows Sami to help brokers identify potential challenges early, consider how best to present a case and explore which lenders are most likely to be comfortable with the circumstances. Her understanding of the underwriting process can be particularly useful when dealing with more complex income structures, unusual property types or applications that require a more considered approach.

Combined with her extensive knowledge of the market and established relationships with lenders, Sami brings a practical, solutions-focused approach to new business.

For brokers, that means having someone in their corner who understands not only where a case might fit, but also how to give it the best possible chance of progressing successfully.

Need a second opinion on a case?
Sami and the New Business team are always happy to talk through your requirements and help you explore the available options.

023 8045 0516
[email protected]

Complete FS Christmas Food Bank Appeal 🎄

Christmas is a time for giving, but for many people in our local community, it can also be a particularly challenging time of year.

Each year, Sami heads up our annual Christmas Food Bank Appeal, bringing the Complete FS team together to support those who are less fortunate in our local area.

We're incredibly proud to support this initiative. It's a fantastic opportunity to give something back to the community around us and help make a difference to individuals and families who may be struggling, particularly during the festive season.

We'd love to encourage our broker and lender partners to get involved too. Every contribution, however big or small, can help support those who need it most.

Would you like to support our Christmas Food Bank Appeal?
If you'd like to find out more about how you can get involved, please contact Sami directly:

Email: [email protected]

Thank you, as always, for your continued support. Together, we can help make a positive difference in our local community this Christmas. 😁