Lenders fear further regulation

In the survey 38 per cent of lenders believed further regulation to be lenders main issue.

All respondents believed the mortgage industry would be subject to additional legislation requiring lenders to make further improvements to their systems.

Other key issues currently facing lenders include rising costs and shrinking margins (35 per cent) and prospects for the housing market (22 per cent).

More than half surveyed believed that regulation has led to improved systems and processes within their business but 46 per cent say there is still a need for further improvements.

The survey also reports that UK lenders spent around £345 million preparing for regulation.

Phil Heaton-Jones, director of product development of mortgages at Marlborough Stirling, said: “The mortgage industry has clearly benefited from the introduction of regulation. With the prospect of further regulation on the horizon, lenders must ensure that they are full prepared.”

• The Exchange and Mortgage Brain have announced an extension to the integration between their trading platforms. The integration will enable users of Mortgage Brain’s broker sourcing and electric trading service to link directly into

• The Exchange’s quotation and transaction services on the Exweb portal, building on the link that already exists for some customers.

• Mark Lofthouse, chief executive officer at Mortgage Brain, said: “We believe this latest integration between :broker and Exweb will give advisers a significant competitive advantage by reducing the time it takes to research the market.”