First-time buyer demand has risen despite affordability hurdles.

Metro Bank re-entered the 80% LTV buy-to-let market last month, expanding its lending criteria alongside rate reductions across residential and buy-to-let ranges.

City of London properties above £5m will see average increases of 349%, while Hammersmith and Fulham face rises of 306%.

The new proposition spans four tiers, from standard products for applicants with limited adverse credit to credit repair products for the most recent and challenging credit events.

First-time landlords at Accord Mortgages can now use top slicing with a minimum household income of £75,000, excluding rental income.

Borrowers can now hold up to £10 million in buy-to-let exposure across ModaMortgages, CHL Mortgages for Intermediaries, and other lenders combined.

The society will lend up to 90% loan-to-value for skilled worker visa applicants with at least 12 months UK residency.

The new product range includes a 4.48% headline rate for company landlords, reduced from 4.99%

Click2Check provides instant access to credit, AML, IDV and Open Banking data.

New research has revealed that a lack of lender appetite poses the biggest hurdle for mortgage brokers working with overseas clients.