Here’s one bit of good news just in! We have access to a semi-exclusive product by BM Solutions which has a reduced payrate of 6.29% on their 75% LTV rate (as opposed to the 6.59%).
Apart from that everyone seems to be waiting for tomorrow’s interest rate decision before releasing any new products (the platform 5.99% deal has now been withdrawn). Even though base rate is now seemingly dislocated from LIBOR (the rate that banks lend to each other) LIBOR has been steadily reducing over the last few weeks so our hope is that it will start to filter into new mortgage products.
What we are continually seeing however is a tightening of lenders criteria and credit scoring. This is now as challenging as finding a competitive mortgage product. Credit scoring is frustrating as you can never determine why an applicant has been declined (although how much existing credit and how many recent searches is a major factor). What is becoming clear is fundamentals like being on the voters roll can have an impact – so our advice is to make sure you’re on the voters roll!  To give yourself the best chance with credit scoring please make sure we are fully updated of any changes in your circumstances as conflicting information can also cause problems. Make sure your broker knows everything then let him or her use their experience! 
People have used a variety of techniques to secure a property if they have failed a credit score e.g. buying in spouses or children’s names and I think this will have to continue.