Keystone Property Finance has cancelled face-to-face meetings between its business development managers and brokers as a precaution against the spread of coronavirus.

The buy-to-let lender says BDMs will not be attending large events and will keep in touch with advisers via telephone and video call meetings.

Brightstar, meanwhile, says it has been on “lockdown” since Monday.

This means it has banned all visitors to its three offices.

The master broker has also pulled out of all events for the foreseeable future and has tested a remote working strategy for its staff members.

All staff have had their temperature taken to check for signs of the virus and the offices have been sterilised in a deep clean.

Others say they are carrying on as usual until the government advice changes, albeit with greater handwashing precautions.

Your Mortgage Decisions and Access Equity Release director Dominik Lipnicki says: “As we speak, I am at the Equity Release Summit in Westminster, loads of hand sanitizers, few handshakes etc.

“As far as we are concerned, until we are told otherwise, it is business as usual, with some precautions. 

“Clearly if anyone is showing and signs of being ill, we will ask them to self-isolate but until such time as things escalate, our clients still need our help. 

“Obviously, the safety of our people as well as our clients is paramount and will always come first.”

He adds: “I think that it is very important to take precautions and follow the advice that we are given and at the moment, the advice is to carry on.

“That said, I have spoken to some of my industry colleagues today and some of them think that this is the last week of external work for quite a while. 

“We have also had a charity dinner cancelled for next week and I am sure that others will follow.”