Solutions for DA Brokers

July 29, 2025

Solutions for DA Brokers | Are You a DA Broker Losing Clients to Product Gaps? Here’s What You Can Do About It.

Imagine this:

You’ve built a reputation as the go-to adviser for complex cases. You’ve helped countless clients—from self-employed professionals to first-time buyers with unusual income. But recently, you’ve hit a wall.

A returning client calls. They’ve been offered a job in the UK, but they’ve only been here for 6 months. They’ve got a good deposit—albeit held overseas—and a strong income. But your current lender panel? No one will touch it.

You know the client is solid. You know, there must be a lender out there who would understand their case. However, as a DA broker, your hands are unfortunately tied when it comes to lender access.

Sound familiar?

This is the real, frustrating challenge that many DA brokers face every day: not a lack of expertise, but a lack of access.

The Gap: When Being Independent Doesn’t Mean Being Unrestricted

While being directly authorised gives you control, independence, and autonomy, it can also limit your access to specialist lenders that operate exclusively through selected networks or packagers.

Here’s what the data shows:

Challenge	DA Brokers	Connect ARs
Access to Afin Bank products	❌ Not available	✅ Full access
Access to April Mortgages fixed-flex range	❌ Not available	✅ Full access
Support for clients with overseas deposits	❌ Limited	✅ Accepted via Afin
Fixed terms with no ERCs (up to 15 years)	❌ Rare	✅ Available with April Mortgages
Self-employed or limited credit profile	✅ Possible (with limitations)	✅ Specialist product availability

These aren’t fringe cases. These are real client needs in a growing market.

Examples of Lending Only Available Through Connect

Afin Bank

Afin Bank is a new fully regulated lender meeting the growing demand from clients with international ties or complex profiles.

They provide:

Lending for clients with only six months’ UK residency
Acceptance of savings from overseas accounts
Options for foreign nationals and diaspora applicants
Criteria tailored to self-employed individuals and those with limited credit history

These cases are often declined or referred elsewhere by DA brokers, without any return. Afin gives a valuable solution.

April Mortgages

April Mortgages are reshaping the fixed-rate market with features built for long-term planning.

Their proposition includes:

Fixed terms of 5, 10, or 15 years
Automatic rate drops as loan-to-value improves
No early repayment charges when selling, using inheritance, or repaying from personal funds
Unlimited overpayments permitted

April’s offering is only available through a select number of networks, including Connect.

Too Busy to Handle the Overflow? Let Connect Help—While You Stay Front and Centre

Working as a DA broker means you have full independence, but also face the strain of running everything yourself. When business spikes, it’s easy for complex cases to take up too much time.

Connect offers more than lender access. We provide support solutions that help without removing your control.

Use Our Packaging Services When You Need Extra Hands

If you’re short on time or dealing with non-standard cases, package them through Connect. Our processing team manages all paperwork, lender contact, and case submission under your branding.

You continue managing the client relationship while we keep the process moving.

Refer Cases Without Losing the Client

If a case isn’t right for your current workload, use our Referral Service. Here’s how it works:

You remain the client’s adviser
We do the heavy lifting
You earn an income

Clients stay with you throughout. We handle the details while protecting your reputation. That helps you maintain trust, build repeat business, and gain future referrals.