CHL Mortgages announced its return as an intermediary-only specialist buy-to-let lender.

The Fleet-based firm has appointed Matt Kimber as managing director of its lending business. Kimber, who joined the business five years ago, was most recently the group’s chief operating officer.

Ross Turrell also joins the new unit as commercial director, in charge of overseeing sales and distribution.

CHL says Turrell previously worked at KSEYE Bridging and brings with him “a wealth of experience within the specialist buy-to-let market having led commercial teams for a number of specialist lenders”.

CHL first built up its specialist buy-to-let lender business in the early 2000’s, before pulling back from new lending in 2008 and establishing itself as a service company, managing its own and third-party loan books.

It manages around 30,000 mortgage loans valued at £4bn across a range of asset classes including buy-to-let and residential owner-occupied loans.

CHL Mortgages for Intermediaries managing director Matt Kimber says: “The expertise we have built in servicing more than £6.5bn of legacy assets, the onboarding of experienced sales and lending teams and significant investment in our Technology platform provides us with a very strong base on which to build our new lending proposition.

“The growth of the specialist BTL sector in recent years gives us tremendous confidence regarding the market opportunities available for lenders, brokers and landlords.”

CHL Mortgages for Intermediaries Commercial Director Ross Turrell adds: “We are in the process of building the team to help deliver against these plans and I am delighted to have appointed high calibre individuals with more to follow.

“2021 will be an interesting year for the BTL sector and we look forward to working closely with our intermediary and distribution partners to establish the CHL brand to meet the needs of landlords and property investors.”