Key figures from the mortgage industry have met the Economic Secretary to the Treasury, Harriett Baldwin, for the bi-annual Home Finance Forum.
These included Paul Smee from the Council of Mortgage Lenders and representatives of all major banks and building societies, as well as civic groups such as Shelter and Citizens’ Advice.
Pensions Minister Ros Altmann and Housing Minister Brandon Lewis also attended along with representatives from the Bank of England and Financial Conduct Authority, in recognition of the importance of engaging with the industry across government.
The Economic Secretary focused on the importance of the mortgage industry ensuring that the market delivers for hard-working people at every stage of their life, from the Help to Buy ISA for first-time buyers to supporting lending to older people.
She also thanked the industry for their support over the last Parliament in securing the economic recovery. Since 2010, 2.8 million mortgages have been advanced, worth a total of £444.5 billion, and by backing the government’s flagship Help to Buy schemes, the industry has helped nearly 100,000 people get onto or move up the housing ladder.
The Council of Mortgage Lenders and Which? also discussed a series of reforms to promote mortgage transparency that they are working on with the government, which are expected to be announced this Summer.
Harriett Baldwin, Economic Secretary to the Treasury, said: "It was great to meet with the mortgage industry today to discuss how we can work together to ensure that the mortgage market works for every stage of someone’s life.
"The government’s Help to Buy: ISA – due to launch later in the year – will get young people on to the housing ladder, while our work on supporting lending to older people will make sure the mortgage market delivers for those who have worked hard all their life.
"Last year the government asked Which? and the Council of Mortgage Lenders to work together on practical steps that could to be taken to improve the transparency of mortgage fees.
"It was great to hear today about the excellent progress that this project has made towards making sure that hardworking families can get the best-possible deal on their mortgage.
"I’m looking forward to continuing to work closely with the industry on this and other important issues as part of our long-term plan for working people."
Paul Smee, Director General of the CML, said: "We are pleased that the real effect which the mortgage market can have on people’s lives is recognised within government.
"We take the industry’s responsibilities to borrowers very seriously; we hope the improvements we are making to the transparency of fees and charges will help make it easier for people to understand mortgage costs more easily, and will support the many benefits that a wide choice of mortgages brings to consumers."
