Freelancer Financials celebrates milestone of 1,000 five-star Google reviews

Specialist mortgage broker Freelancer Financials is celebrating a significant milestone after receiving its 1,000th five-star Google review.

Part of Mortgage Quest Limited, Freelancer Financials has spent more than 20 years helping contractors, company directors and self-employed people secure mortgages, particularly those whose income arrangements may not fit comfortably within the traditional criteria used by high street lenders.

The achievement reflects a reputation built not simply on finding mortgage products, but on understanding the often complicated circumstances of people working outside conventional salaried employment.

John Yerou, Managing Director of Mortgage Quest Ltd, told That's Business: “I'm delighted to hit this significant landmark of positive feedback from clients. We find the right mortgage for each client's specific individual circumstances, and everyone is different.

“The reviews show that our brokers use their expertise to make our clients' property aspirations a reality, and I love seeing how much that is valued.”

Head of Mortgage Sales George Yerou added that buying a home can be particularly stressful when a borrower's income does not fit the standard high street model.

“We’re incredibly proud to have reached one thousand five-star reviews,” he told us. “This milestone cements the fact that we excel in helping contractors and the self-employed buy their dream home, while offering consistently excellent customer service.”

Complex cases need individual attention

Looking through the company's reviews reveals recurring praise for clear communication, patience and brokers willing to understand unusual or complicated financial circumstances.

One client approached Freelancer Financials after three other brokers had declined to help because she was contracting abroad and did not yet have a first year's accounts. Broker Archie Hogg subsequently helped the couple secure a mortgage and, when market conditions changed, found an improved deal reportedly saving them more than £200 a month.

Other reviewers describe brokers persevering with difficult property chains, challenging circumstances and lengthy applications, while keeping clients informed throughout the process.

That specialist knowledge is underpinned by Freelancer Financials' long involvement in contractor mortgages. The business pioneered “contract based underwriting”, where a contractor's day rate can be used to establish affordability rather than relying solely on conventional payslips, accounts or tax documentation.

The company says it has now worked with more than 40,000 contractor clients.

Freelancer Financials is also a multi-award-winning, independent family business directly authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority.

However, perhaps the most telling measure of its success is considerably simpler: 1,000 customers have now taken the time to award it five stars.

For a business operating in an industry where trust, communication and expertise really matter, that's a milestone worth celebrating.

https://mortgagequest.co.uk

Vida Bank reports strong growth in first full year as a bank

New mortgage lending increased to £1 billion, more than doubling year on year, while the bank’s loan book grew by 24% to £2.3bn. 

Mortgage applications climbed to £2.6bn during the year, reflecting strong demand from brokers for Vida’s specialist mortgage solutions.

The lender also attracted over £2.4bn in retail deposits from in excess of 75,000 savers, significantly strengthening its funding base and reducing the overall cost of funds.

Profit before tax jumped to £9.4m from £3.6m in 2024 as the specialist lender accelerated mortgage growth and successfully launched its retail savings franchise.

As a result, Net Interest Income increased to £45.5m, while the Net Interest Margin improved to 2.29%.

Customer and broker engagement was also very strong, with mortgage customer Net Promoter Score (NPS) rising to +49 and broker NPS reaching +29, reflecting consistency in service delivery and a focus on underwriting responsiveness.

Anth Mooney, Chief Executive Officer, told That's Business:  “Becoming a bank has transformed the scale at which we can compete. The specialist mortgage market remains our sole focus, serving customers with complex incomes or circumstances that do not quite fit the traditional high street lending model.

"Over the past year we’ve invested heavily in our decisioning capabilities and service model, combining deeper data insights with experienced underwriting judgment to assess cases more intelligently. That combination allows us to grow with confidence; building a highly scalable mortgage origination platform while maintaining the discipline and credit quality that underpins a sustainable specialist bank. Our approach is different to our competitors, but brokers and customers genuinely seem to love it.”

Stuart Sinclair, Chair of Vida Bank, told us: Having joined Vida during its first full year as a bank, I’ve been struck by the strength of the business, the clarity of its strategy and the commitment of its people. What stands out most is the sense of purpose that runs through the company, helping more people find a place to call home, and the discipline with which the team is building a sustainable specialist bank around that.”

To read their full Annual Reports and Accounts 2025, click here https://www.vidabank.co.uk/about-vida-bank/investors/

SURVEY: 1 In 3 Worried About Keeping Up With Mortgage Payments In 2024

Recent findings from The Clifton Private Finance Mortgage Pulse Report 2024 shed light on the UK population's perceived ability to keep up with their mortgage repayments in 2024, as many come off low fixed rates onto new, significantly higher rate deals.

The data, collected from more than 350 form submissions on the Clifton Private Finance website between November and January, reveals some important findings that reflect the broader UK economy and public sentiment towards interest rates, inflation and the current cost of living.

Key highlights from the report indicate that 1 in 3 are worried about keeping up with their mortgage payments in 2024.

It underscores the significance of the multiple consecutive interest rate hikes by the Bank of England over the last few years, and how it affects everyday homeowners.

Clifton Private Finance’s mortgage brokerage experts have also offered their perspectives on the survey results, reflecting on the current trends and expectations within the mortgage and property sector.

"Mortgage repayments are going to pretty much go up for everybody. This year, lots of people came off 2-year fixes and saw an extreme spike in their repayments. But over the next 2-3 years I think the spikes will be lower because the rates will settle a little bit - I think we’ve seen the peak." Carly Cheeseman  Head of International CeMAP CeRER.

"People are definitely worried – we see a clear concern about repayments among our clients every day.

As brokers, we look at every possible avenue to alleviate these struggles, whether it’s increasing the mortgage term, switching some or all of your mortgage to interest only, exploring offset mortgage options, and of course comparing lenders to get the most competitive deal." George Abouzolof Senior Finance Broker CeMAP

The full report is accessible at www.cliftonpf.co.uk