An award-winning Chartered Financial Planner has launched a mission to give people fee free mortgage advice during the Coronavirus outbreak.

Greg Harris is offering fee free advice on home loans to support home movers who may be struggling with their finances during the pandemic. 

The offer of free mortgage advice is open to Mr Harris’s existing clients and to new clients not yet receiving advice from Unividual.

Mr Harris, who works for Bath and London-based Financial Planning firm Unividual, said the offer was his way of “giving back” after lockdown restrictions were lifted for the property market this month and the property market was beginning to move again.

Mr Harris came up with the idea after seeing how many people were struggling with furloughed jobs, unemployment and spending cutbacks.

Mr Harris said: “I am genuinely amazed at the way local communities have pulled together to support each other. There are business owners out there trying to offer what resource they can to others, and I want to do what I can to help people.

“Purchasing a property is something you can’t really put on hold because of Coronavirus and people are already worried about the cost of moving.

“Buying a house is a big decision and taking on a mortgage shouldn’t be done lightly. I want to make sure people have access to the support they need and in turn help manage all the stresses that come with mortgage applications.”

A graphic designer from Bristol, Daniel Everitt, 27, has utilised the offer and said: “Having never worked with a financial adviser before Greg spent the time to explain what his role is and how he can help, which enabled me to really see the benefits of his service.”

Established 20 years ago, Unividual is a Chartered Financial Planning firm with offices in Bath and London. Unividual marketing director Cherie-Anne Baxter said: “Greg approached us about giving back in some way and we were very keen to support his idea. Times are hard for people now, Coronavirus has been tough on everyone.

“We have set up our business so it can continue to provide financial advice despite not being operational in the office. Our financial advisers are working hard to support existing clients but also continue to offer financial advice to people making new enquiries and starting their Financial Planning journey.”

“Divorces don’t stop, people still have house purchases to push through and retirement goals don’t change despite the pandemic.  If we can stand proud at the end of this and hand on heart say we were there for people and we did our best, we have achieved what we set out to do at the start of the pandemic.”

Mr Harris’s offer of free mortgage advice is on residential mortgages and includes new clients and existing clients. The offer is in place until 14 August for up to three mortgages per person and applies to first time buyers, new mortgages and those looking to re-mortgage.