Mission Impossible? Why Brokers Turn to United Trust Bank with Their Difficult Case

The specialist lending market has never been more important. As affordability challenges, complex incomes and changing property ownership structures continue to evolve, brokers need lending partners who can look beyond standard criteria and assess the whole case. At United Trust Bank (UTB), that's exactly what we do. 

UTB is a multi-award-winning specialist bank that has been serving borrowers and intermediaries since 1955. With a loan book exceeding £4 billion and a business model built on strong and enduring relationships with brokers and intermediaries, we understand that every customer has a unique story and that these days fewer cases fit neatly into a mainstream lending box. 

My role at UTB is focused on working closely with mortgage clubs, networks and intermediary partners, ensuring brokers have access to the people, products and expertise needed to support their clients in an increasingly complex market.   Since joining UTB in June, I have been impressed at how strong the proposition is and what a wide a range of solutions we can offer to brokers.

We believe what sets UTB apart is the breadth of our specialist lending proposition. Unlike many lenders that operate in a single niche, UTB provides solutions across all four key areas of specialist property finance:

•    First Charge Mortgages
•    Second Charge Mortgages
•    Buy to Let Mortgages
•    Bridging Finance both regulated and unregulated 

That’s not to mention our extensive development and structured property finance propositions supporting a wide range of housebuilders, developers and real estate investors.

This depth and breadth of our specialist property lending gives brokers access to a single trusted finance partner capable of supporting a myriad of customer requirements, whether they are purchasing a home, raising capital, expanding an investment portfolio, refurbishing a property or simply need to complete a time-sensitive transaction quickly.

One area in which UTB has built a particularly strong reputation is lending on non-standard properties.

Whilst many lenders simply aren’t interested if a property falls outside of what one might call traditional, UTB takes a more pragmatic approach, with underwriters encouraged to find ways to say yes. We regularly lend on properties that other lenders may automatically decline, including flats above commercial premises, homes adjacent to pubs or petrol stations, steel and concrete construction properties, Grade II listed buildings, high-rise flats with deck access, properties near industrial estates and semi-commercial properties with up to a 20% commercial element. Importantly, we do not apply blanket loan-to-value restrictions simply because a property is deemed non-standard.
 
This flexibility is supported by our pragmatic and common-sense approach to underwriting. Rather than relying solely on automated credit scoring, our underwriters assess every application on its merits, seeking to understand the full story behind both the borrower and the property before making a fully informed decision.

In the First Charge market, this means we can support clients with complex incomes, self-employed earnings, contractor income, multiple income streams, lending into retirement and historic adverse credit. Our criteria are designed to reflect real-life circumstances, not just computer-generated outcomes.
 
Our Second Charge proposition offers fast and valuable solutions for customers looking to release equity without disturbing an existing low-rate mortgage. As more borrowers seek ways to access capital while retaining favourable first mortgage rates, second charge lending continues to play an increasingly important role in broker advice.
 
For landlords and property investors, our Buy to Let proposition supports a broad range of investment strategies, including limited company borrowing, HMOs, Multi-Unit Blocks and holiday lets. We understand that professional landlords often require greater flexibility around property type, ownership structure and portfolio growth.
 
Our Bridging Finance team further strengthens the proposition by providing short-term funding solutions for purchases, refurbishments, chain breaks and opportunities requiring quick decisions and completions. With dedicated underwriting teams and a new bridging broker portal to simplify and accelerate applications, UTB is focused on delivering speed without compromising service.
 
Although rates will always be important, brokers are looking for more than just the lowest numbers to several decimal places. They need a lender willing to look at complex cases, consider unusual properties and find practical solutions where others cannot. That is why so many intermediaries come to UTB, sometimes because they’ve already been turned down elsewhere, but increasingly as a first port of call because they know we offer solutions to more and more of the customers they see.

Whether it's a flat above a restaurant, a high-rise apartment, a portfolio landlord purchasing through a limited company, a homeowner seeking additional borrowing, or a customer requiring short-term bridging finance, our approach remains the same: understand the circumstances, assess the opportunity and deliver a solution wherever possible.
 
At United Trust Bank, we pride ourselves on helping brokers place those cases others may consider impossible. With expertise across the spectrum of specialist property lending and one of the most flexible approaches to non-standard properties in the market, we continue to demonstrate what specialist lending should and can look like.