Coventry Building Society Mortgage www.coventrybuildingsociety.co.uk

After we were let down by HSBC at the last minute, we managed to get a very similar rate at Coventry and were very pleased with their quick and professional approach. The people who answer the phone are polite and knowledgeable and they have been prompt in all written communications. I can't recommend them enough, they got us out of a bind when HSBC randomly decided that we couldn't have a mortgage and refused to give a reason.

My partner and I have just wasted 3 weeks going though the most frustratingly incompetent process with Coventry Building Society. They undervalued the property we wished to purchase by £50,000. Although much evidence was sent to them about other recently sold properties in the area that were very similar and had sold for more money, they then took 10 days so tell us they would not shift their position. We have had to chase them every day, have had no proper communication or rationale for their decision.

My advice - go to a lender who knows what they are doing. We have written off the £199.00 already paid to them, but in some ways it is a small price to pay not to be tied to them for 5 years.

Our situation - keeping our existing home on and planning on renting it out. we had a 25% deposit in the bank so applied to the Coventry (through a broker) for a 75% mortgage to buy a new home. All was ok, credit check ok, all evidence sent in within the first 2 weeks, including a letter from a letting agent confirming what rent is expected on my existing house and also they forsee no issues regarding getting tentants (Coventry asked for this letter). Survey fee paid and survey done in the 3 week, further report needed after this - done in the 5 week. They were happy with further report. We then had a couple of weeks of them asking for more info (some they already had) so again the broker sent this through, we now waited for the offer, we waited and waited and then in week 8 they said they now needed a consent to let form from my mortgage company for the existing house before they can give me a offer. We could not provide this due to rules my existing mortgage adhered to. So Coventry said we could not have mortgage!!! My conclusion is that Coventry were just trying to find a reason not to lend us the money and in the end they found something!!!!

Coventry Building Society took me on when I was on a part-time fixed term contract - I needed to re-mortgage as my existing provider has treated me terribly during my degree. Since then (9 years ago) I have re-mortgaged twice with Coventry as my fixed terms have come to an end and the process was both trouble and cost free. I can really recommend them.