PRIMIS Mortgage Network has revealed that the its product desk helped appointed representative (AR) advisers with 7,718 queries in Q3 2023.

The product desk saw a large proportion of queries relating to adverse credit, with brokers looking for support advising clients on defaults, missed payments, and County Court Judgements for debt.

There was also an increase in enquiries relating to protection. In particular, the desk is now dealing with more pre-underwriting enquiries, often around complex medical conditions or family history. This is alongside a continued increase in cases around mental health issues, stress and anxiety. Through PRIMIS’ protection panel, brokers can give their customers access to protection products which support people with existing mental health conditions.

PRIMIS also saw a large number of queries relating to more complex cases. Questions on self-employed income were particularly frequent, with regards to switching from sole trader to Limited Company or being able to use one years’ worth of accounts for a mortgage application. Additionally, the desk dealt with a number of complex buy-to-let cases relating to HMOs, multiple unit blocks or unusual properties.

Vikki Jefferies, proposition director at PRIMIS, said: “Q3’s figures represent the value of PRIMIS’ product desk to its member brokers, as well as the volume and complexity of the work that brokers continue to do in a evolving market. With the cost-of-living crisis continuing to weigh on borrowers’ financial situations, it is no surprise that queries relating to adverse credit and complex lending are particularly frequent.

“While the value of professional advice cannot be overstated, it is the additional perspective, experience and emotional support that brokers provide which really comes to the fore in cases like these. PRIMIS can equip brokers with key resources and support for them to deal with the full range of their clients’ needs. We look forward to continuing to work with our intermediary partners through the duration of 2023, and into 2024.”