United Trust Bank (UTB) has introduced a series of service and criteria changes across its residential mortgage and second charge ranges aimed at cutting delays for brokers and borrowers.

The specialist lender says the updates are intended to make cases easier to package and move more quickly from application to offer.

Among the changes, UTB will now allow second charge cases to proceed to completion with Consent to Follow accepted where the first charge sits with one of 20 listed lenders, removing the need to wait for first charge consent at the outset.

The lender has also removed the need for written explanations covering historic adverse credit for Super Prime, Prime Plus and Prime applicants. In buy-to-let, it said it will now verify only 50% of a portfolio held in a personal name, in a move designed to simplify assessment.

For new-build cases, UTB has removed the need for re-inspections where the valuation report includes a valuation figure and the lender can rely on the new build warranty certificate.

It has also introduced a shorter accountants certificate, cut from five pages to two, alongside changes to bonus income assessments, probation criteria, post-benefit affordability and deeds of consent and occupiers waivers.

Andrew Ferguson, commercial director of mortgages, buy-to-let and bridging at United Trust Bank, said: “We’re making the things that slow brokers down disappear. These changes are all about giving brokers greater clarity, consistency and confidence from the outset — so cases move more smoothly from application through to offer.

“By reducing unnecessary packaging requirements, simplifying documentation and creating more predictable underwriting outcomes, we’re helping brokers spend less time chasing and more time progressing and originating business.

“Ultimately, it means faster journeys, better experiences for customers and a product range that works harder for the intermediaries we support every day.”