“Taking a few extra minutes to check lender criteria and requirements on submission of an application can save you real time in the long run.

To get you off to a start, here are a few tips from Santander for Intermediaries (SFI) on getting the best out of its affordability calculator:

• Input all financial commitments; include any commitments that are being cleared.

• If net pay is lower on payslip, use the lower figure in the calculator

• Expenditure – remember things like ground rent, service charge, life assurance

• Check bank statements carefully to see if there are any undisclosed commitments

• Where clients have other properties in the background – use SFI’s Retained Properties Form before completing the Affordability Calculator

And don’t forget, once you’ve submitted the application – Upload the evidence.  When SFI receive your application you’ll be sent a MATS message – upload the supporting case information straight away.  SFI reject cases where the documents are not sent in within 8 days of application submission”