Accord Mortgages has extended its use of automated valuations (AVMs) to help cases progress quicker to offer.

The intermediary-only lender is increasing the maximum loan-to-value (LTV) for AVMs from Wednesday 1 December.

The max LTV will go up to 80% (from 75%) for remortgage applications, and up to 75% (from 65%) for purchases.

Applications from Northern Ireland will also have the option to use AVMs.

The changes apply to the lender’s new residential business on its mortgage sales and originations (MSO) platform.

Nicola Alvarez, senior manager for new propositions at Accord, said: “We want to make it easy for brokers to do business with us and deliver a great experience for their clients, and these changes will accelerate the process from application to offer for more cases.

“It also means our underwriters will need less time to review physical valuations, freeing them up to spend more time on complex cases which require a common sense approach. It’s a positive step forward for all.”