COVID-19-customers – Fleet Mortgages

COVID-19

Applying for a mortgage during the Coronavirus pandemic

In addition to the usual requirements outlined in our lending guide, we will require the primary applicant to complete an additional COVID19 questionnaire.

During these challenging times, we are dealing with an increased number of calls from our landlord customers.

We are doing our best to help customers as quickly as possible and we appreciate your understanding.

If you have submitted a payment holiday request within the past 10-working days, it will already be being processed by our team. There’s no need to call us during this period, if we need further information, we will telephone you.

If you wish to apply for a payment holiday, the quickest way is to download our declaration form and submit your application via email.

So that we can support those in the most vulnerable situations we ask that you only call if your enquiry is urgent.

If you do need to call us, please be aware that wait times are much longer than usual.

Additional COVID-19 Requirements:

Payment Deferral Request

Following the latest Government restrictions introduced on the 5th November, Fleet Mortgages has extended support for individual Landlords that are struggling to make monthly mortgage payments specifically because of Coronavirus.

Eligibility:
If you are newly impacted by Coronavirus and have not previously requested a payment deferral with Fleet Mortgages, you can apply for a 3-month payment deferral until 31st March 2021.

Customers who have already benefitted from deferrals of less than 6 months in total, also have until 31 March 2021 to apply for a further deferral, which must end no later than the 31st July 2021.

Individual customers are eligible to apply for a payment deferral where they have lost income because of the impact of Covid-19. A copy of a Valid AST agreement will be requested in order to confirm that the property is being let in accordance with the terms and conditions of your mortgage.

Payment deferral requests from Limited Companies are not accepted.

Mortgages completed on or after the 19th March 2020 are not eligible for a payment deferral.

What is a payment deferral?
A payment deferral allows a borrower to defer mortgage payments for an agreed period. It is important to remember that you still owe that money and the interest on your mortgage still accrues during a payment deferral. At the end of the payment deferral Fleet Mortgages will contact you to assess your circumstances and agree a repayment plan for the arrears accrued.

How do I apply:
You will need to self-certify that your income has been either directly or indirectly impacted by Covid-19. We will also need a declaration to confirm that your tenant’s income has been impacted by Covid-19. Landlords are expected to pass on this relief to their tenants to ensure that they are supported during the Coronavirus crisis.

If you are a landlord, who owns four or more properties, we will also ask you to complete our standard income and expenditure form. The information you provide will allow us to process your request observing UK Finance guidelines, whilst also ensuring that Fleet Mortgages has the necessary information to consider whether a payment deferral is the most suitable option available to you.

Should I cancel my direct debit?
If a payment deferral is approved, no direct debits will be collected during the agreed period, accordingly, please do not cancel your direct debit.

Cancelling your direct debit prior to a payment deferral being approved, could count as a missed payment and adversely affect your credit rating. A missed payment will also affect your eligibility for a payment deferral.

When will the payment deferral take effect:
Where we can, we’ll start your payment deferral from your next payment. However, if your next payment is due in the next few days, your payment deferral may start the following month. We’ll confirm the details when we write to you confirming your payment deferral. We’ll aim to get back to you as soon as possible, but please allow up to 7 working days from the date you submit your payment deferral application.

During the payment deferral period:
You will not have to make any monthly mortgage payments for a set amount of time, in this case up to three months. Arrears fees will be waived during the payment deferral period.

After the payment deferral ends:
Toward the end of the payment deferral Fleet Mortgage Services will write to you confirming the amount accrued during the deferred period. It is in your interests to repay the deferred amount as soon as you can in order to minimise the interest you will pay. Our online calculator will help you understand how changes to your mortgage could affect your repayments.

If you are unable to repay the deferred amount in one lump sum, you can make an agreement to repay the amount owing over a set period. The amount owing will be split down into the number of agreed months and collected in addition of the normal monthly payment by direct debit. We recommend that you choose the shortest arrangement period you can afford from the option of 3, 6, 9 or 12-months.

If you are experiencing continued financial difficulties:
If you are experiencing financial difficulties that prevent you from recommencing your mortgage repayment and/or repaying the deferred amount owed, please contact us to discuss your situation as soon as possible. Further payment deferrals and/or capitalising deferred payments will be considered on a case by case basis and will be subject to assessment of your financial circumstances. To request a further payment deferral period, please complete and return the request form below.

To proceed, please download, complete and return the relevant PDF document below to:

mortgageservices@fleetmortgages.co.uk

Request a new payment deferral:

Landlords who own 3 or less buy to let properties

Landlords who own 4 or more buy to let properties

Request extension to existing payment deferral:

Guides and tools:

Monthly Income and Expenditure Guidance Sheet

Mortgage Calculator

Valuations

UPDATE 10/11/2020

All HMO/MUB properties MUST have an estate agent/landlord present at inspection. This is due to valuers having to abort appointments as all tenants haven’t been removed from the property prior to inspection.

Physical valuations – 5th November 2020

Physical valuations will be unaffected by the second national lockdown starting on 5^th November and will continue where they are safe to do so and following the strict protocols that have been in place since they restarted in May.

Appointment booking risk assessment

As part of the initial risk assessment, the property occupier will be asked the following three questions;

Are you or anyone in your household suffering from suspected Covid-19 symptoms?
Are you or anyone in your household shielding or self-isolating due to government health advice or potential exposure to someone else with symptoms or a positive Covid-19 test?
Have you been identified as clinically extremely vulnerable?

If yes to any of the above the booking will not be progressed and the case will be put on hold until safe to complete. The booking clerk will set a call back for after the date when the isolation period has ended.

Moving forward the booking process will establish the following property inspection protocols;

Is the occupier happy for the surveyor to visit and complete the physical survey inspection?
The booking clerk will confirm to the occupier that only fit and healthy surveyors will attend and will be wearing full PPE.
The booking clerk will check if the occupier is able to vacate the interior of the property during the valuation/survey and confirm the likely time required to complete the inspection of the property.
If occupiers wish to remain in the property, they will be requested to remain in one room for the duration of the inspection, moving to an alternative room for the surveyor to then complete the inspection.
The occupier to maximise property ventilation prior to and during inspection by opening external windows and doors where possible.
The occupier to ensure all the internal doors (including meter, boiler and hot water cylinder cupboards) and the loft hatch are opened prior to inspection.
All pets should be removed or secured prior to inspection.
Social distancing rule (2 metres/6 foot) to be mutually respected at all times or the inspection may be aborted.

The customer will be asked to contact Connells prior to the appointment date if health conditions in the household change between the initial booking conversation and the appointment date. The case will then be put on hold until safe to complete.

Pre inspection risk assessment

The surveyor will call the occupier approximately 15 minutes prior to or on arrival at the property.
The surveyor will re-confirm with the occupier the three health questions to ensure nothing has changed. If they report symptoms or confirm they or someone in the house is self-isolating the valuation will be aborted.
The surveyor will confirm with the occupier that the property has been prepared in accordance with the inspection protocols above and as confirmed during the booking process.
Failure to prepare the property in accordance with the protocol agreed may result in the inspection being aborted.

HMO and Multi Unit Freehold Blocks only (in addition to the above)

HMO and MUFB valuations will only be undertaken if the landlord or agent unlocks the property ahead of the inspection. Access will be required to all rooms and/or flats.
The landlord or agent will be required to open all rooms or flats and ensure that the property is empty prior to the inspection. If fire doors are in situ these should be temporarily propped open.
If the surveyor discovers that any of the above requirements have not been followed they may not be able to complete the inspection and a full abortive valuation fee will be charged.

Note:

Physical inspections are now available in England and Wales. The above process will be subject to ongoing review and adapted where necessary in line with the latest Health and Safety advice provided by the UK Government, Public Health England (PHE), Public Health Wales (PHW) or Health Protection Scotland (HPS) and the RICS.

Our Commitment to a Safe Environment

At Fleet we are committed to creating a safe environment for all of our staff.

We have carried out a detailed risk assessment and put in place a number of guidelines and measures which will be continuously reviewed and updated as necessary. These documents demonstrate how as a business we are complying with the latest UK Government guidance and working to ensure the safety of our colleagues.

These documents are correct at the time of publication and are regularly reviewed. Documents continue to be updated in line with changes in the UK Government guidance and new versions will be published from time to time.

Copies of these documents are available on request.