Just Mortgages has strengthened its first-time buyers proposition with the launch of a semi-exclusive Joint Borrower Sole Proprietor (JBSP+) mortgage in partnership with April Mortgages.

Available exclusively through Just Mortgages and a small number of selected intermediary firms as part of an initial pilot, the product is designed to help more buyers onto the property ladder by combining up to 100% loan-to-value lending with enhanced affordability options.

Unlike traditional Joint Borrower Sole Proprietor products, JBSP+ allows up to four applicants, with as many as three supporters contributing their income towards affordability while ownership of the property remains with the buyer. Supporters can also live in a separate household, giving families, partners and friends greater flexibility to help buyers who may otherwise struggle to secure a mortgage on their own.

Afin Bank has celebrated its first full year in operation by hitting a lending milestone of £135m in mortgage approvals in just 12 months. The bank, which also offers FSCS protected savings accounts, has also topped £60m in savings deposits.

Afin launched last July, less than nine months after receiving its approval with restrictions (AwR) from the regulators. Initially the bank focused on providing mortgages to foreign nationals working in the UK on valid work visas, but it has now expanded its support to a wide range of underserved borrowers, such as the self-employed and contractors, qualified professionals, people with complex incomes and high-net-worth customers.

TPT Retirement Solutions (TPT) has appointed Harry Bridger as business development manager.

Reporting into Adam Tudor, TPT’s head of distribution, Bridger will contribute to new business generation, helping prospective clients understand TPT’s range of pension consolidation vehicles.

He joins TPT from Brightwell, where he worked on launching Brightwell as a third-party provider, across administration, actuarial and investment. Earlier in his career, he worked in PwC’s actuarial practice, advising pension schemes, insurers and other organisations to help mitigate financial risk.

Black & White Bridging has completed a £2m bridging loan to refinance and complete an ambitious conversion project, transforming a former public house in Cheshire into a luxury holiday let.

The borrower, an experienced property developer and landlord who also works as an IT consultant, had already undertaken the extensive conversion of the former pub into a premium residential property. With the main dwelling complete and occupied by a tenant, the borrower required funding to repay existing debt and complete the refurbishment, including a separate annexe, allowing the entire property to operate as a deluxe holiday let.

Working closely with the broker and their borrower, relationship director, Matt Yates, tailored a £2m facility to refinance the existing debt and provide the capital needed to complete the remaining works, ensuring the development could continue without interruption.

Darlington Building Society has completed a £530,000 interest-only remortgage for three applicants, supporting a complex case that several mainstream lenders were unable to accommodate.

The pound-for-pound remortgage was secured against a property valued at £1m, representing 53% LTV, with the sale of the property accepted as the proposed repayment vehicle.

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