Barclays is asking brokers who have cases in the pipeline to contact their clients and check their circumstances have not changed as a result of the coronavirus crisis.

It says advisers must do this in all cases where the application is “reliant on customer income or circumstances that could potentially be at heightened risk of material change”.

The lender is also asking self-employed clients to submit three months’ statements from their business bank account on top of the documentation it normally requires.

Barclays says it will continue to accept bonus income when calculating affordability, however it will restrict the amount that can be included to 25 per cent.

In an email to brokers late last week the lender said: “For all pipeline applications that are identified as being reliant on customer income or circumstances that could potentially be at heightened risk of material change, we will be reaching out and asking advisers to contact applicants and then submit an attestation on behalf of the clients who verbally confirm they have not experienced a material change in circumstances.

“Alternatively, where clients inform their adviser that changes have occurred, we will require an application variation to be submitted so that the applicants’ updated circumstances can be reviewed and assessed.

“When we make contact by email to request the completion of a ‘material change’ assessment on a case, we will include guidance on how to access this form and further support, should this be needed.”

For employed customers who have been furloughed, Barclays says it will consider up to 80 per cent of basic income up to a maximum of £30,000 a year in line with the government’s support package.

If the borrower’s employer is topping-up this income, this will be considered if documentary evidence is supplied.

For self-employed borrowers, Barclays will consider up to 80 per cent of income up to £30,000 a year if the client is eligible for the government support package and planning to use it.

Three months’ business bank accounts will be required.

The lender says it has updated its affordability calculator to reflect these criteria changes so brokers can rely on the results generated.