FR: What is your role at Shawbrook? What kinds of things do you focus on?
I’m a business development manager covering London and Essex for The Mortgage Lender and Bluestone Mortgages. I’ve spent nearly eight years working in specialist property finance across the London market and my focus now is on supporting brokers in the region, helping them place more complex cases and develop their businesses. A big part of my role is building strong relationships and being a reliable, accessible point of contact for advisers working across specialist residential and buy-to-let.
FR: What’s your view on the current UK housing market? And what key pressures do you think are shaping it?
The market has shown a lot of resilience, even with the challenges we’ve seen over the past couple of years. Higher interest rates and cost of living pressures are clearly impacting affordability, but demand is still there. What we’re seeing more of now is complexity, whether that’s around income, credit profiles, or property types, and that’s where a more flexible approach to lending is becoming increasingly important. Brokers are playing a crucial role in helping clients navigate those challenges.
FR: What’s the most surprising thing you’ve learnt about specialist lending since joining Shawbrook?
One of the biggest things is just how many borrowers don’t fit high street criteria but are still very viable. With the right approach, there are often options available where you might not initially expect them. It really highlights the importance of flexibility, common sense underwriting, and strong relationships between brokers and lenders to get deals over the line.
FR: How has borrower confidence and behaviour changed in a higher-rate environment?
Borrowers are definitely more cautious and more focused on affordability than they were a few years ago. There’s a greater need for reassurance and advice, which is why the role of the broker is so important. We’re also seeing people take a bit longer to make decisions and explore a wider range of options to make things work. It’s less about quick decisions and more about making sure the solution is sustainable.
FR: What are your expectations for mortgage rates? And what would this mean for affordability?
The expectation is that rates will stabilise rather than fall dramatically in the short term, with any reductions likely to be gradual. That means affordability will remain a key consideration for many borrowers. People may need to adjust their expectations slightly, whether that’s around borrowing levels or the types of products they consider, and lenders will need to continue adapting to a broader range of borrower circumstances.
FR: How have intermediary needs evolved, and what do brokers value most right now?
Brokers are under more pressure than ever, so their needs have naturally evolved. Speed, clarity, and certainty are absolutely key. They want lenders who are easy to deal with, communicate well, and can give them confidence that a case will progress as expected. Having access to knowledgeable support and people who understand more complex cases is hugely valued in the current market.
FR: Why do speed, certainty and consistency matter more than ever for intermediaries? And how does Shawbrook implement this when helping advisers?
In a market like this, any delays or uncertainty can put a deal at risk. Brokers need to know where they stand and be able to rely on the lender they’re working with. At Shawbrook, that comes down to clear criteria, open communication, and experienced underwriting. We encourage upfront conversations about cases and focus on being consistent in our approach so brokers can manage expectations with their clients more effectively.
FR: How is your proposition evolving to meet the changing needs of brokers and their clients?
Our focus continues to be on supporting specialist buy-to-let through The Mortgage Lender, alongside specialist residential solutions, including affordability, complex income and credit, through both The Mortgage Lender and Bluestone Mortgages. These reflect the types of scenarios we’re seeing more frequently, whether that’s non-standard income, credit challenges, or more complex property portfolios. A lot of what we do is shaped by broker feedback, so we’re constantly looking at how our offering evolves to better reflect real-world cases and make it easier for advisers to place them.
FR: What trends are you seeing in the housing market across London and Essex?
London and Essex remain highly active markets, but with some clear differences in behaviour. In London, we’re continuing to see demand driven by professional landlords and more complex borrower profiles, particularly where income structures don’t fit standard criteria. There’s also a noticeable focus on making deals stack up in a higher-rate environment.
In Essex, demand is being supported by borrowers looking for more space and relative value compared to the capital, with strong interest in both residential and buy-to-let opportunities. Across both regions, brokers are increasingly dealing with more nuanced cases, which is where lenders need to take a more considered and flexible approach.
