Coventry for Intermediaries has launched two new fee-free first-time buyer deals, while also adding to its offset and BTL product range.

The building society has also announced it will now complete just a ‘soft footprint’ credit check for agreements in principle, which should improve the process of buying a home.

Its first-time buyer range now include two new fee-free products at 90% and 95% LTV. Both offer a £500 cashback. Rates start from 4.1% for a three-year fix at 90% LTV; longer fixed-rate options are also available.

Within its offset range, Coventry is offering two- and five-year fixed rates on its 75% offset deal. These have now been opened up to all borrowers. It is also now offering an interest-only offset, launched for clients with 50% LTV. 

In its BTL range Coventry is offer a five-year fee-free fixed-rate option and a two-year tracker deal for landlords at 65% and 75% LTV. These will both be available to standard and portfolio landlords. 

Coventry for Intermediaries head of intermediary relationships Jonathan Stinton says: “We’re expanding our range to give brokers and their clients a greater choice of rates across a broader selection of products. 

“As we introduce more variety, we’re focusing on products brokers are asking for and we’re looking to expand our range further in future.”

Introducing ‘soft’ credit checks at this earlier stage should hopefully also benefit brokers and their clients he says. “Changing the way we perform credit checks on clients’ mortgage applications is a positive change for homebuyers.

“We understand that hard credit checks can be a concern for anyone purchasing a home, and especially first time buyers.” He says this was part of a number of future developments planned for this year that are focused on helping brokers improve their client service. 

Stinton confirmed that a full credit check with a ‘hard’ footprint check would only be left once the full application is submitted.