Complete FS has backed the decision by Axis Bank to increase its buy-to-let lending beyond the Home Counties.

The move more than doubles the number of counties the lender will now accept for buy-to-let business.

Tony Salentino (pictured), director at Complete FS, says Axis Bank, along with other new lenders, has helped to “galvanise” the buy-to-let market in 2015 and has provided brokers and their clients with more choice through their innovative products and pricing.

He said: “Axis Bank has been part of a movement of new lenders which has lit up the buy-to-let sector. Expanding their lending beyond their Home Counties heartland is a demonstration of the confidence that Axis has in the sector and I know our introducers will be delighted that they can now consider Axis in a wider geographical context, having already proved its popularity with a flexible and consistent approach to underwriting and the speed with which it assesses cases.”

Andrew Ferguson, head of buy-to-let at Axis Bank, said: “When we started out earlier this year, we aimed not to overreach ourselves. We set out with an idea of the kind of niches we would like to fill; lending to landlords with limited companies, HMO’s and expatriates for example. We have been delighted with the response we have had so far and that experience has led us to expand our reach.

“Working with packagers like Complete FS has been a key feature of our success, as they have filtered and interpreted our needs as a lender so well and therefore we have been able to deliver not just great products but also the service intermediaries expect.”