H1 BTL lending almost doubles at Paragon

The parent company of Paragon Mortgages has released its half-year results and revealed that new buy-to-let lending reached £823.6m for the six months to the end of March.

Related topics:  Business
Warren Lewis
24th May 2016
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The Group reported a 12.5% increase in underlying profits to £71.9 million (H1 2015: £63.9 million). During the period new buy-to-let lending reached £823.6 million, compared to £446.2 million at the half-year point in 2015. The significant increase reflects the strength of the Group’s position in the buy-to-let market and the acceleration of landlord purchasing activity ahead of the stamp duty increase.

John Heron, Managing Director of Paragon Mortgages, said: “We have had a very good first half, with strong new lending volumes whilst maintaining our high underwriting standards and strong credit profile.

Demand for private rented property remains strong regardless of the significant policy developments we have seen in recent months. The PRA proposals, currently in consultation, will introduce a level of discipline to the market that we welcome and in particular require that more complex business is subject to an appropriately robust commercial assessment, similar to that which Paragon already applies to more complex business. Paragon is therefore well positioned to deliver solutions for landlords through a period of significant change in the market.

We have every confidence in the buy-to-let market, with tenant demand continuing to remain high and in some areas increasing, the PRS will remain a fundamental part of the UK’s housing market now and in the future.”

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