"Our ‘kinder banking’ ethos means we’re committed to offering a kinder banking experience to our customers, including the brokers we work with. "
FR: Since The Cumberland established its formal intermediary lending team in 2021, how has that changed your team mix and what key shifts have you seen in the holiday let market?
My role is senior sales manager in the intermediary lending team at The Cumberland, with a particular focus on holiday let. I’ve worked for The Cumberland for over 21 years, starting out on the residential side before moving into holiday let lending.
With over 20 years of experience providing holiday let lending across the whole of the UK, we have strong in-house expertise, which enables us to deliver an exceptional service and build close working relationships with the brokers on our panel. As a team, we work closely together to deliver the best outcomes for our customers.
One key shift in the holiday let market we’ve seen recently was when the short-term let licensing regime in Scotland became a legal obligation in March 2022, in a bid to professionalise and raise standards in the sector. Landlords are unable to let properties without the licence, with the applications often taking a number of months to process, depending on the area, for both current landlords and purchasers. England and Wales are now progressing a similar regime, but with a pre-registration process, which should hopefully deliver a more streamlined experience and avoid some of the hurdles faced by holiday let owners in Scotland.
The second big shift has been brought about by the abolition of the preferential furnished holiday let tax regime in April 2025, and we’re supporting our broker customers as they move some of their landlord clients into limited company structures.
FR: How do you work with brokers through this process?
We have a clear packaging process available on our website, which brokers can consult to see if the case is right for their client and to identify what they need to proceed. They can always speak with us directly too, via a relationship manager – we’re more than happy to help with quick queries, right through to providing guidance on a case from start to finish.
FR: What does The Cumberland do really well that mortgage advisers need to know about?
Brokers need to know we’re experts in the holiday let market, and this expertise runs through every part of the team, from the relationship managers to the underwriters. Our team dynamic allows us to do what we do really well. We can make changes to processes and policy quickly, and we have deep relationships with our brokers. We work closely with them to stay competitive and react when needed.
Our ‘kinder banking’ ethos means we’re committed to offering a kinder banking experience to our customers, including the brokers we work with. We’re proud to offer a people-first approach.
FR: How did The Cumberland evolve historically into a niche like holiday let, and why is it still such a focus?
Cumbria and the Lake District are renowned as year-round destinations, each season offering something unique. Being based here, it was a natural choice for us to start providing holiday let mortgages to support those looking to invest in such an extraordinary place. As a hiker, I enjoy exploring the fells, including Scafell Pike, the tallest mountain in England, and ticking off the Wainwrights. This region offers breath-taking scenery and ever-changing experiences, making it a truly appealing investment opportunity.
As a regional lender, we continue to evolve our distribution over time, offering a personal service to our customers and brokers. We don’t have a one-size-fits-all approach. We don’t have a ‘computer says no’ approach. Our ‘kinder banking’ approach means we’re always looking for ways to support our broker panel in delivering an exceptional experience and positive outcomes for their clients.
