Secure Trust Bank Commercial Finance has appointed Tim Smeeton as portfolio and structuring director. In his new role, he will work with management teams and other stakeholders to deliver the bank’s range of asset-based lending solutions to clients across the north of England. Smeeton joins the bank from SIA Group, where he was head of inventory restructuring, supporting asset-based lenders, private equity, debt advisors and restructuring professionals. He brings over eight years of experience across restructuring and asset appraisals to the role and is a chartered accountant.

Coventry for Intermediaries has updated its residential affordability calculator and has reduced its buy-to-let (BTL) reference rates. As a result, most residential applicants will be able to borrow more, subject to eligibility, with online affordability calculators providing the exact amount. The new BTL rates start from 4.50% on five-year fixes for purchase and remortgage applications, or product pay rate, whichever is higher. On two- and three-year fixes and variable rate remortgages, rates start at 4.50% with no additional borrowing, or product pay rate. Finally, for two- and three-year fixed and variable rate purchases and remortgages with additional borrowing, rates start at 5.50% or product pay rate plus 2%.

Jane Gough has been appointed as regulatory trainer at The Right Mortgage & Protection Network. In her new role, she will be responsible for the production and delivery of regulatory training throughout the network, looking at ways to improve and develop the material and training on offer to all AR firms and advisers. Gough brings over 20 years’ experience in the mortgage industry, joining from Express Mortgages, where she most recently worked as senior mortgage consultant. She also runs her own advisory firm, and prior to that, she worked as mortgage and protection consultant at Countrywide Mortgages.

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