When a case gets complicated, sticking to mainstream lenders can sometimes mean walking away from a perfectly good deal.
The reality is that borrowers and properties are becoming more varied. Credit history, income, property type, and portfolio can all make a case harder to place. The FCA has highlighted the scale of the opportunity, with one lender estimating that 30% of UK adults have experienced adverse credit at some point.
At the same time, the specialist lending market itself has grown into a sizeable part of UK property finance. A survey of more than 100 specialist lenders found that they had a combined loan book of £54.9bn, with 92% expecting to renew, amend or increase their funding facilities over the following 12 to 24 months. MAB also reported a 28% increase in specialist lending client fees in 2025.
Property itself is changing too. For landlords, the numbers behind a standard tenancy do not always stack up in the way they once did. Data shows average UK gross rental yields were broadly flat at 6.93% in Q4 2025, while HMOs delivered 8.61%, the highest yield of any property type in its analysis.
That is where specialist underwriting can make a real difference. A lender prepared to look at a case manually can consider the deal as a whole rather than simply checking whether it fits a set of standard criteria. It means understanding the story behind the numbers, identifying the strengths and working out whether there is a sensible way to structure the lending.
A good BDM has an important role here too. The right conversation early in the process can help shape a case before it reaches underwriting.
When things get complicated, brokers should look for lenders where BDMs and underwriters are willing to get around the same table, look at the bigger picture and, where possible, find a way forward.
Find out more about the Lendco proposition by registering as a broker.
Or contact the BDM on https://lendco.co.uk/products/buy-to-let-mortgages/ or email sales@lendco.co.uk
