An increasing number of borrowers are seeking out professional advice for the first time, according to new research from Kensington.

The lender’s survey of 617 mortgage intermediaries found that 18% say over half of the clients they have seen in the past three months were talking to a mortgage adviser for the first time.

Also, 34% of intermediaries claim that between a quarter and a half of their clients in the last quarter had never been to a mortgage broker before.

Charles Morley, head of sales at Kensington, said: “It is incredibly encouraging that so many intermediaries are seeing such a large proportion of clients who have never sought the help of an adviser before.