Together sets out its plans for UK second lockdown
Specialist lender Together has confirmed it remains “open for business” as the UK enters its second lockdown.
Prime minister Boris Johnson has announced that England will face tougher restrictions in a bid to halt the rising number of Covid-19 cases.
Scotland’s new five-level Covid restrictions came into force in each of the country’s 32 local authorities this week, while Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford announced a new national set of restrictions on Monday.
However, despite the four-week lockdown, Together said it’s it will continue lending across its commercial and personal finance divisions to customers in mainland UK.
Pete Ball, personal finance CEO said: “We are committed to making our customers’ ambitions a reality by continuing to provide a normal service throughout the second lockdown.
“The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has confirmed that physical valuations of properties will continue throughout the month-long period, unlike in the first lockdown in March, when the property market effectively closed.
“Valuations will be subject to Covid-secure safety protocols, and we will be able to use desktop modelling and automatic valuations, when needed. We will also be able to use our in-house legal team to make sure applications can be processed as quickly as possible.”
Commercial CEO, Marc Goldberg said many of the lender’s 530 colleagues would now be working from home but that major improvements to the automation of back office functions would make the process “as seamless as possible.”
He added: “We will continue to offer our award-winning finance products to brokers, intermediaries and direct customers.
“All current applications will continue and we’re here to support new applications as well, while keeping a keen eye on any government announcements in relation to any further lockdown measures.”