MEDIA RELEASE                                                                Monday, 13 July, 2020

The Beverley's latest mortgage initiative targets first-time buyers as the ‘engine room of regional housing market recovery'

Just a fortnight after stepping in to help self-employed people ‘bounce back from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, Beverley Building Society is offering a lifeline to those in its region wanting to step onto the housing ladder for the first time.

The Beverley-based Society is among only a handful of lenders to offer a 90% loan-to-value (LTV) deal to first-time buyers as the region gradually exits lockdown.

And, as the only independent building society in East Yorkshire, the Beverley is offering the new 10 per cent deposit borrowing opportunity exclusively to people in the Hull and the East Riding.

This follows hot on the heels of the Government's announcement, last week, of a Stamp Duty freeze on property purchases up to £500,000, as it pushes to kickstart the UK housing market, which is so integral to post-COVID economic recovery. It also chimes with significant housing development across the East Yorkshire region as part of the Government's national housing strategy, including East Riding Council's approval of the latest plans by Lovel Developments to build a further 400 new homes south of the town.

Head of Lending Graham Carter explained that this, and other recent initiatives, are tied in with its ‘building better futures' strategy, which is all about continuing to fulfil its original mutual purpose of helping people - particularly those in its region - to own their own homes.

"This is the latest example of how the Beverley is going against the tide to help people others won't, including those with lower deposits or more complex circumstances," he explained.

"In the same way, we offer support to people wanting to borrow in later life, those building their own homes and others looking to help family members purchase their desired homes."

Graham added: "In our region - and indeed nationally - there is an urgent need for economic recovery, given the impact of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. We want to play our part in that and we know that first-time buyers are the engine room of the housing market because, without them, buyer/seller chains fall down and nothing moves.

"We're acutely aware that, because of COVID, the supply of mortgages for people with lower deposits has dwindled to virtually nothing, so we thought we'd step back into that arena and, if this limited offer proves popular, we may consider future tranches."

First-time buyer product details at a glance

• Fixed and variable rates available up to 90% LTV (10% deposit)
• 3.19% for two-year fixed/variable version
• 3.49% for three-year variable version
• Will consider family-assist arrangements, with gifted deposits or guarantors in place
• Exclusively available to people buying in East Yorkshire.

Terms and conditions apply. More details about these and other Beverley Building Society mortgages are available via our website, telephone or visiting our town centre branch. Anyone wishing to apply for any mortgage from Beverley Building Society should seek advice from one of our skilled mortgage managers, who will provide recommendations suited to their individual circumstances.
 

For more information or to arrange interviews, please contact Tracy Fletcher of By Tracy Fletcher Ltd PR, viatracy@bytracyfletcher.comor 07983 633385.

NOTES FOR EDITORS

The Beverley is the only independent building society in East Yorkshire. We have been supporting our community since 1866 and are committed to contributing to the vibrancy of our region by making a difference.

As a true independent, we are committed to living mutuality by building better futures for our members, new and existing borrowers and savers, our people, our community and our sector at large.

We're powered by highly committed colleagues who go over and above, every day, to offer our customers quality, friendly, personal service.

In an age where the financial services market is moving, at pace, towards AI-powered, automated solutions, we believe there is a place for people-centred financial services and are passionate about maintaining that personal touch.

We aim to make enough profit to ensure the Society is financially strong and sustainable, and can invest in continual product and service improvements for our members. We do not pay staff bonuses and all our profits are re-invested to support this goal.

Other recent mortgage initiatives from the Beverley

The Society's ‘bounce back' mortgage initiative, launched in late June, was aimed at helping self-employed people in Yorkshire & The Humber rebuild their lifestyles and businesses amidst COVID-19.

Responding to demand from local customers, including brokers, it features fresh criteria aimed at helping some of the estimated 340,000-plus such workers in the Yorkshire & the Humber, many of whom have been affected, achieve their homeownership aspirations and get their businesses back on track. Nationally, latest figures show that there are around five million self-employed people.

Potentially open to people with as little as one year's trading history, the ‘bounce back' initiative is aimed at helping both established and newly self-employed people. It offers the potential for owners of established businesses to start with lower, interest-only based payments for the first 12 months, allow some breathing space for the army of professionals, contractors and tradespeople who need it.

Recent Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures suggest that the household incomes of self-employed people in the UK were significantly worse-affected than the employed, in terms of household income, due to COVID-19.