Habito has launched a protection unit and has added six new hires as it takes its insurance business in-house.  

The digital mortgage broker says protection advice manager Rhys Walker and protection experts Kulwinder Chana and Niladri Chakraborty will spearhead the new team. All three have joined from Better.co.uk.  

The fintech firm has also hired mortgage expert Olivia Harris from Mojo Mortgages and added Hannah Thornely and Matt Kingsbury to its engineering department.  

Habito chief executive Ying Tan says: “Having used a third party for protection referrals previously we felt it was time to bring the expertise in-house.   

“We are committed to simplifying the homebuying journey and putting customers first.”  

Habito protection advice manager Walker adds that he welcomes “the opportunity to shape the protection team from the ground up.   

“It underscores our dedication to helping customers protect what matters most to them.”  

Habito posted its first-ever monthly profit in September, as it controlled costs and boosted revenues. It did not disclose the figure.  

That move came after former chief executive of mortgage broker Dynamo Ying Tan took a significant stake in Habito and became its chief executive in June, replacing Daniel Hegarty who had led the firm for seven years.  

The broker said it expected to turn in annualised losses of around £2m in 2023, down from £10.7m the previous year.      

It added that it is on track to hit full-year profitability by the end of 2024.