HTB Agent 2 (Midlands & London)

SenseandSensibility

My husband and I are FTB using the HTB scheme (mortgage offer received yesterday is for 75% LTV, so this will combine with our 5% deposit and 20% equity loan).

We are currently awaiting our ATP, and whilst Agent 2 currently stipulate an 8 day turn around, we are now on the 8th day and as of yet received nothing. My husband called them this morning (it took over three hours for him to get through!) only to be given a vague and rather unhelpful response. Our application was submitted on 16th Oct for a new build in the East Midlands. Is anyone else experiencing delays with theirs? We’re just concerned that we should have heard back today, and yet received no updates. 

BigD74

We are FTB and using Agent 2. Application submitted on the 29th Sept, received query on the 13th Oct (address on reservation form not exactly the same as HTB application)  and received ATP last Friday the 23rd. Our MA said when the application went in that they could take up to 6 weeks...

We are in similar situation as yours: 75% LTV, 5% deposit and 20% loan. But we did the HTB first and are currently waiting for our Santander mortgage offer: submitted on the 15th Oct, first (and hopefully only!) query received today. Anxious times!

SenseandSensibility

@BigD74 I’m glad yours came through quite promptly, our MB advised us not to worry, but as we have now reached the date by when we should have heard, we’re concerned they might have an issue with our application.

We also received a mortgage offer from Santander, in an 8 day turnaround! Hopefully you’ll receive an update soon. 

penino

Our HTB application was put in on the 14th and we received out ATP today!

SenseandSensibility

penino said:

Our HTB application was put in on the 14th and we received out ATP today!

Thank you! My husband contacted our MB who advised they are apparently working to an 8 day turnaround, with ATP’s taking an additional 24-48 hours to respond to applicants. 

endangered_newt

So I was with HTB 3, and it was a 32 workday wait in the end. It was most unhelpful because the waiting times started around 14 days with HTB continually moving the goalposts. I hope yours moves more quickly. 

Loub10

HTB agent 2 cautionary tale here.. 
We initially sent our HTB application on 5/10. We'd been told roughly 9 working days. On 16/10 HTB replied and told us they needed our forms again as they require 'wet signature' and we had done e-signature upon our brokers advice. 
We'd still heard nothing by 28/10 so i called and stuck out the 4 hour call que to get an update, only to be told that they had lost our application and had no trace of it! 
Luckily after both times we had sent in our documents we recieved an automated response, so were able to use it to prove we had infact applied. They escalated our case and we got our ATP the same afternoon. However if I'd not waited on the phone for 4 hours, we'd have no idea our application was missing and it would push our timeline back even further as emails chasing our app were unanswered also. 
Of course it is difficult for them during these unprecidented times and huge volume of applications but I'd encourage anyone waiting past the estimated time to chase, chase, chase!

kingstreet

BPHA has "form" for not receiving emails, despite the acknowledgment being received.

Loub10

kingstreet said:

BPHA has "form" for not receiving emails, despite the acknowledgment being received.

Thanks for reply. I wish we'd known that weeks ago. It can potentially really scupper things!

Merrrylyn

I am also with HTB Agent 2 - submitted application on 16th September, received query on property address on 28th Sept and responded immediately, received the ATP on 29th Sept which was surprisingly as I thought I'd go back to the end of the queue and had to wait another 6 WD. 

I've heard plenty of HTB horror stories on Twitter (long waiting times etc.) so my strategy was to keep calling them first thing at 9am when their line opens. If you get a good customer service agent on the phone, they'll direct your case to an agent if your application has gone over the service levels timescale. I've had to make a couple of amendments to my ATP (wrongly spelled name, other info not included etc. due to HTB's mistake) and I always made sure I called the next day to talk about my case. Another good thing to do is to include the agent's email address in your response email as they may attend to your email if it's a quick update!

We are approaching exchange and not looking forward to have to do the same with our ATE....

Loub10

Merrrylyn said:

I am also with HTB Agent 2 - submitted application on 16th September, received query on property address on 28th Sept and responded immediately, received the ATP on 29th Sept which was surprisingly as I thought I'd go back to the end of the queue and had to wait another 6 WD. 

I've heard plenty of HTB horror stories on Twitter (long waiting times etc.) so my strategy was to keep calling them first thing at 9am when their line opens. If you get a good customer service agent on the phone, they'll direct your case to an agent if your application has gone over the service levels timescale. I've had to make a couple of amendments to my ATP (wrongly spelled name, other info not included etc. due to HTB's mistake) and I always made sure I called the next day to talk about my case. Another good thing to do is to include the agent's email address in your response email as they may attend to your email if it's a quick update!

We are approaching exchange and not looking forward to have to do the same with our ATE....

Good advice, thanks! I'm not wildly excited about now waiting for ATE but I'm hoping the waiting time is less than for ATP, it is accirding to the website.. 
Good luck!