Howard Reuben - mortgage and insurance broker

NEW Paragon 5 yr fixed rate for single units, HMOs and multi-unit blocks

NEW Paragon 5 yr fixed rate for single units, HMOs and multi-unit...

Paragon Mortgages have introduced a new 5-year fixed rate mortgage to their Buy-to-Let portfolio product range. With a fixed fee of £2495, this is perfect for larger loans which usually have to pay a...

Hinckley and Rugby BS – Reintroducing: Ltd Company Buy to Let

Hinckley and Rugby BS – Reintroducing: Ltd Company Buy...

New to the market, this new SPV Ltd Company Buy to Let mortgage product is designed to support existing, and would-be landlords, who are looking to maximise their borrowing potential. It will also benefit...

Release equity to keep the energy bills at bay this winter

Release equity to keep the energy bills at bay this winter...

The news headlines in the last few weeks have been filled with the concerning prospect of energy bills increasing. With the increase, how will you be trying to limit energy usage for you and your tenants?

Furlough – what does this mean for your mortgage?

Furlough – what does this mean for your mortgage?

The government job retention scheme, better known as furlough, is due to end 30th September 2021. Whether you are in the bar and restaurant industry, travel, leisure or events, your industries have been...

New 3.09% 5 year fixed BTL launched by Bucks BS

New 3.09% 5 year fixed BTL launched by Bucks BS...

A very competitive 80% Loan to Value 5 year fixed Buy-to-Let mortgage product has been released today by the Buckinghamshire Building Society available to limited companies and first-time landlords, but...

BTL for Limited companies in Northern Ireland

BTL for Limited companies in Northern Ireland...

Finding a mortgage lender who lends to Limited Companies for properties in Northern Ireland has always been a tricky one.  With the limited amount of advertising lenders do for each of their lending criteria,

Mortgages For Actors

Mortgages For Actors...

When you think of an actor who do you think of? Most would think of someone like Tom Cruise, Anna Friel or Brad Pitt. If I told you that actors have a hard time getting a mortgage, would you believe me?

Precise – Limited Company BTL 75% LTV 5 year fixed at 3.54%

Precise – Limited Company BTL 75% LTV 5 year fixed at 3.54%...

For a limited period and to take advantage of the Stamp Duty holiday for properties under £500,00, Precise Mortgages has launched a new 5 year fixed rate Buy to Let mortgage for Limited Companies at 3.54%...

Stepping up further and offering a free basic single or joint Will

Stepping up further and offering a free basic single or joint...

For many years, Property118 and H D Consultants have worked very closely together. The Team at H D Consultants has provided experienced, qualified and fully insured mortgage, life cover and estate planning...

If you were a lender how would you look at a request for a holiday?

If you were a lender how would you look at a request for a holiday?

I had an Agreement in Principle (AIP) for a Client declined by Paragon yesterday due to credit issues,  BUT the credit file is more or less a perfect score, no missed payments, long historical residency,

Stay safe and stay fit – Mind, Muscles and Money

Stay safe and stay fit – Mind, Muscles and Money...

Keep your mind and body fit. We’re all very conscious of that, and so many of us now go out of our way to include a (socially distancing) walk, run, bike ride, even yoga and a daily dose of Joe Wicks...

We are prepared

We are prepared...

The team of advisers and staff at H D Consultants, long standing mortgage and insurance advisers to the Property118 community, already has a robust business continuity plan and contingency strategy in...

Shawbrook streamline and reduce BTL rates by up to 0.49%

Shawbrook streamline and reduce BTL rates by up to 0.49%...

Specialist property lender Shawbrook Bank has streamlined its product portfolio and reduced rates by up to 0.49%. Their refreshed Buy to Let range boasts new benefits for your portfolio clients. Rates...

Hodge Bank – Landlord BTL  Portfolio Mortgages

Hodge Bank – Landlord BTL Portfolio Mortgages...

Hodge is a lender more associated to Residential or Equity Release mortgages, but has recently announced a Portfolio Buy-to-Let product for portfolio landlords, where the portfolio can be held under one...

BMS increase exposure limits to 5 properties

BMS increase exposure limits to 5 properties...

As of the 12th August BM Solutions will finally be increasing the maximum number of Buy to Let mortgages with Lloyds Banking Group from 3 to 5. Along with this change in criteria for the maximum number...

Innovative 10 year BTL and 15 year residential mortgages launched

Innovative 10 year BTL and 15 year residential mortgages launched...

This week sees the launch of 15 year fixed rates for residential mortgages. Launched by Virgin Money, this long term fixed rate is a great option for rate security against an uncertain backdrop, and clearly...

Landlords already planning Brexit war chest strategy

Landlords already planning Brexit war chest strategy...

With jitters that prices may drop, but still with plans to buy later this year (at reduced prices?), some of our landlords are now capital raising and releasing what they can based on the current (highest?)...

Free valuations with excellent BTL portfolio lender

Free valuations with excellent BTL portfolio lender...

One of our excellent Buy to Let portfolio lenders, Fleet mortgages, has announced it is now offering free valuations on properties worth up to £500,000. On top of this they have reduced the rental stress...

Now it’s a different beast

Now it’s a different beast...

“When something gets a bad name it’s difficult for matters to be reversed – whether it’s a school, a street or a pub! That’s how a lot of people see Equity Release. You may remember...

BTL Nectar Points with Sainsbury’s Bank!

BTL Nectar Points with Sainsbury’s Bank!

Sainsbury’s bank has now added the Personal Touch Financial Services network to its list of Buy to Let Partners so they can be added to the list of options for Property118 members and readers. When...

12:54 PM, 15th January 2020, About 6 years ago

R2R challenges?

Reply to the comment left by Richard Peeters at 15/01/2020 - 12:22

Hello Richard. We work on a specific, personalised and case-by-case basis, so please contact me for advice on which lenders and products you may be eligible for.

There is no one-answer-fits-all in this particular strategy (so many other factors are crucial too, eg portfolio size, experience, assets / liabilities, age, net income, credit status etc), so whereas there may be an agreement to lend by a commercial mortgage lender, or holiday let lender etc, they may say yes to some people and no to others. Same as all mortgage applications of course.

In my experience there is absolutely no benefit to anyone for a list of lenders to be banded about, because the lenders only want to receive properly packaged cases from experienced brokers who carry out a lot of the initial underwriting and due diligence up front for them, and not to be bombarded by tyre-kicking enquiries (which happens a lot) that take up a huge amount of their resources for no return.

Our lender partners would not take kindly to me listing them in this type of 'quirky' discussion.... Read More

12:09 PM, 15th January 2020, About 6 years ago

R2R challenges?

"..... recommend ANY mortgage lenders who are happy to lend on R2R properties?" .... simply, no.
Sub letting is a non allowed activity and is stated in mortgage product criteria and reiterated in the mortgage Offer (ie the legally binding contract between lender and borrower).
Unencumbered properties may be ok for R2R, because only you own it. Mortgaged properties are of course also 'owned' by the bank due to the charge secured on the property, and the T's and C's of the Offer must not be breached.
Unless a prior agreement is formally confirmed by the lender, the property (irrespective of whether it is a single let, holiday let, HMO or otherwise) must only be let out as per the product criteria stipulations.
As also mentioned in earlier posts, having the wrong mortgage in place may also invalidate the property insurance in place too.
We are a very busy property investor focused mortgage Firm, and yet we do not get involved in funding R2R schemes at all. We have never knowingly enabled a new mortgage for a property that was subsequently sub let out.
So, to conclude, there may be lenders and insurance companies providing solutions for R2R scenarios, but be wary of the legal position for you, and the people who live in your property. The occupants deserve a peaceful enjoyment of your property and should any misfortune arise and a claim is made against your insurance, you need to make sure that the policy is not null and void due to an occupancy which breaks the mortgage terms.
caveat emptor... Read More

15:52 PM, 12th November 2019, About 6 years ago

Bare Trust as IHT mitigation tool?

This is a matter for a tax adviser, however I also have a couple of notes, too.

Firstly, because of the additional IHT relief for main residence (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/inheritance-tax-main-residence-nil-rate-band-and-the-existing-nil-rate-band/inheritance-tax-main-residence-nil-rate-band-and-the-existing-nil-rate-band) I think (if this can indeed be applied) then the sum is;

£1.5m (higher value used as 'worst case scenario')
divide by 2 (each sisters share)
= £750K

£750K - £325K (nil rate) - £150K (19/20 - additional rate) = £275k.

£275k x 40% = £110k. = IHT liability

And so it's the £110k which needs 'repaying' / protecting.

(ps the £150k relief is increased to £175k for the 20/21 tax year)

There are so many ways to reduce / mitigate / eradicate and also repay this sum, and here is another one;

* whole-of-life life insurance policy, written in to Trust, for £110k, for a non smoking 'late 60's' person, could be arranged at a (standard rate) monthly premium of approximately £300pm.

For a 59 year old £180pm
For a 49 year old £125pm
For a 39 year old £85pm

And WOL life insurance policies are extremely flexible so as regular reviews are carried out and adjustments to sums assured are required, it's simply an internal amendment and no fees or professional charges are necessary. In fact, we don't charge to set them up in the first place either.

Now, for some people, the immediate thought is that £300pm (for a 'late 60s' policyholder) is a lot of money. However, the actual fiscal balance is > pay out £110,000 (at any time from today onwards) .... or £300pm. If - in the worst possible situation - the lady died one day after the policy started, all that has been paid out is £300. And in return, her Trustee would then have the full £110,000 to pay the tax man.

Insurance is a risk and there are balances to consider.

So, this is just another option, in addition to the estate planning Trusts, loan arrangements, investment bonds, etc.

The above is not personalised advice but simply a generic overview of possible options (which will only be formalised after our Advisers have carried out a proper Fact Find, received the specific IHT tax liability from a professional tax adviser, and we then provide recommendations and insured advice).... Read More

10:11 AM, 22nd August 2019, About 7 years ago

Mortgage with a council grant?

An interesting conundrum.

1) "The main condition surrounding the grant is that you must rent the property to LHA tenants for 5 years or ‘lease’ the property to the council for 5 years once the council gives you the grant and you finish the work."

This is the first quirk - most BTL lenders require a straightforward 6 or 12 month tenancy agreement (some up to 36 months) and of course there are still some lenders who won't lend on a property with 'DSS'/LHA tenants. So straight away the quantity of lenders that you would otherwise have access to, has significantly shrunk.

2) "If you wish to dispose of the property within those 5 years, you are simply required to repay the grant in full, otherwise the grant is just free money."

How is the grant money 'contracted' to you? Is it a charge on the property? This may be a consideration (issue) for the lenders too. A copy of the grant conditions would need to be reviewed before presented to any lenders.

so, taking the above in to consideration ....

3) "My concern in how mortgage companies will view the situation and whether it would reduce my chance of getting a, good rate, mortgage."

..... it won't be straightforward, and of course there are all of the other factors to assess as well, such as size of existing portfolio, aggregate LTV's, required LTV, rental income stress calculations etc.

We can possibly assist on a case by case basis, and so to contact my Team of Brokers, click on my profile link above.... Read More

17:26 PM, 16th August 2019, About 7 years ago

Landlords - what would YOU like to see in a training course?

Property owners being informed about the appropriate mortgage products for the type of tenancies they operate.

Renting a property out whilst having a resi mortgage in situ (without consent to let) is a breach of the terms
Standard BTL for AirBnB is a breach
Multi letting a property when the BTL mortgage only allows a single AST tenancy is a breach
Expired consent to let (they only usually last for 12 months) is a breach
.... And so many more.
Training a landlord to adhere to laws and rules should at least touch upon these subjects, but they are rarely included.
Happy to offer my 26+ years of experience as a Broker (not to mention my circa 20 years as a landlord too), Tessa.... Read More

14:52 PM, 7th August 2019, About 7 years ago

Lifetime fixed buy-to-let mortgages where max LTV increases the older you are

I'm looking at a deal for a Client at the moment - not necessarily using the product above, but of course it would be remiss not to offer as an alternative option for consideration - and he has a £1m property in west London, and needs a £200k mortgage. The (standard) mortgage would be approx £500pm / £6k pa, but this outgoing is of course a reduction in his cashflow and when the tax bill arrives, if he decides that this strategy is right for him, then he will have the £6000 'saved' to use towards the tax. Just one of the many features and benefits of this product. So, not just for the 'miserable peasants' Mick ( 🙂 ) and not just to put towards holidays etc., but also clever financial planning for future cashflow and business strategy arrangements... Read More

10:22 AM, 7th August 2019, About 7 years ago

Lifetime fixed buy-to-let mortgages where max LTV increases the older you are

This is not new. Canada Life is the new trading name for Retirement Advantage and I / we / Property118 published the launch of that product a couple of years ago > https://www.property118.com/buy-let-equity-release-retirement-advantage-launched/
The concept may now be years old, but the principle is still fantastic for the right borrower.
And available via my specialist / Lifetime Mortgage brokerage, which is authorised to advise in the areas. Contact details via my profile link above.... Read More

Registered with Property118.com
Friday 7th June 2013

Total Number of Property118 Comments:
373

Bio

Principal of H D Consultants - national award winning Buy To Let Mortgage Broker of the Year - www.hdconsultants.net/awards

Mortgage adviser specialising in Buy To Let finance, HMO mortgages, portfolio funding, residential mortgages, life insurance and estate planning, since 1993

MD of Assured Funding Ltd., - specialist finance brokerage providing commercial mortgages, development finance, bridging loans, expat mortgages and also providing our Clients with access to private bank finance, peer to peer funding, pension fund lending

MD of Assured Protect - specialist landlords insurance Firm - Rent Guarantee Insurance, portfolio insurance cover, buildings, contents, holiday let, life insurance, business protection

And in my personal life ..... husband, dad (3x children), granddad, rugby fan, sausage maker, 80's synth electronic fan, bass guitar player, and custodian of a tortoise called Percy (think of Blackadder - and the long necked Lord Percy :-) )

H D Consultants is proud to have worked very closely with Mark, Neil and Mike for many years, and is a recommended mortgage broker on Property118.com