UTB expands dual legal representation to unregulated bridging

United Trust Bank has announced further enhancements to its bridging finance criteria, designed to help brokers place more business, improve speed to offer and provide greater certainty for customers.

The key enhancement is the expansion of dual legal representation to include non-regulated bridging cases. 

Dual representation is now available for regulated and unregulated bridging loans for purchases and refinances in England and Wales on loans up to £1m.

Alongside this change, UTB has also introduced additional flexibility across several areas of its bridging proposition.

For light refurbishment cases, works costs can be funded up to 25% of initial LTV subject to a maximum works budget of £200,000.

The Bank has also updated its approach to corporate guarantees and enhanced its semi-commercial and mixed-use criteria, allowing cases where the residential element covers 100% of the facility, subject to vacant possession value and physical valuation requirements.

The latest updates build on UTB’s recently launched desktop valuation option and enhanced AVM criteria.

Andrew Ferguson, commercial director of mortgages, buy-to-let and bridging at United Trust Bank, commented: “We’re continuing to look at every part of the bridging journey and asking ourselves how we can make it quicker, simpler and more certain for brokers and their customers.

“Expanding dual representation into non-regulated bridging is another practical enhancement designed to remove friction from the process and help brokers get more deals completed, particularly on transactions where speed is paramount.

“All of these enhancements are focused on helping brokers write and complete more business with UTB. We’re giving them more flexibility, faster routes to offer, greater confidence and the certainty they need.”