MorganAsh has appointed Johnny Timpson OBE as its new chairman, subject to FCA approval. Timpson brings over 40 years’ experience within the insurance and protection sectors to the role. He has a passion for helping vulnerable consumers and holds numerous positions across the industry, including financial inclusion commissioner and as a member of the FCA’s financial services consumer panel. Timpson received his OBE as part of the 2022 New Years Honour’s List, for voluntary services to people with disabilities and the financial sector. The appointment comes as the support services provider to the financial service and utilities sectors looks to expand its operations across all regulated sectors, helping firms to better manage consumer vulnerability by using the MorganAsh resilience system.

Vida has reduced rates by up to 0.80% and 1.05% across its existing fixed rate buy-to-let (BTL) and residential products respectively. Following the rate cuts, the lender’s residential Vida 36 standard two-year fix starts at 6.49%, whilst the five-year fix starts at 6.14%, both at 75% LTV. The Vida 36 fee saver five-year fix has also been cut to 6.34% at 75% LTV. Across the BTL range, the Vida 36 standard five-year fix starts at 5.04% at 75% LTV, whilst the standard limited-edition two-year fix starts at 6% or 6.20% at 65% and 75% LTV respectively. The same fixes are also available for individual units, HMO and MUB products. Reductions have also been made across Vida’s range of retention products by up to 0.75%.

Foundation Home Loans has launched a new suite of broad and specialist criteria and products for an additional layer of specialist buy-to-let needs. The lender’s ‘Solutions by Foundation’ offering covers multi-occupancy properties, mixed-use or part-commercial property, and expat borrowers. The wider range of properties most notably includes part-commercial properties with combined residential and commercial elements, where the valuation and rental income from the residential part exceeds 60% of the total. Foundation recruited specifically for its new offering to support the expansion into these new product areas, with a new regional area manager, Rick Davey, joining the business.

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