Office address: Moor Place, WeWork, 1 Fore Street Ave, London EC2Y 9DT
Website: www.habito.com
Year established: 2016
Company type: financial services
Employees: 100+
Expertise: digital mortgage brokerage, home-buying services, insurance services, buy-to-let mortgages, mortgage advice
Parent company: N/A
CEO and key people: Ying Tan (CEO), Will Rhind (VP of mortgage advice & growth), Neil M. (VP of engineering), Tessa Hillier (VP of finance), Penny Desborough (VP of customer, compliance & culture), Rosie Fish (hybrid team lead - mortgage experts)
Financing status: venture capital-backed
Habito operates as an online mortgage broker in London. The company offers a comprehensive range of services from basic mortgage advice to complete home-buying packages. With nearly a decade of service, the company has grown to employ over 100 people and connect with more than 90 lenders.
Habito was established in 2016 by founder Daniel Hegarty. The company primarily operates through its online platform, with a focus on customer service and simplification of its mortgage business. This digital-first approach differs from traditional mortgage providers by eliminating fees for mortgage advice and applications, as the company generates revenue through commissions from lenders.
Habito introduced its own range of mortgage products in 2019. The company then announced Ying Tan as the new CEO in 2023. It continued to develop its website, product offerings, and strategies, obtaining over 550,000 clients since 2016.
Habito offers a wide array of mortgage-related services that cater to the needs of the customer. Key offerings include:
free mortgage advice and application: comprehensive support throughout the mortgage process, free of cost, with revenue coming from lender commissions
Habito Plus: a paid service that manages all aspects of buying a home including property surveys and legal work
Habito One: a unique mortgage product offering up to 40-year fixed-rate deals, aiming to provide long-term security and predictability for homeowners by locking in their mortgage rates for an extended period
mortgage in principle (MIP): shows potential sellers that the buyer has the financial backing to proceed with a home purchase, adding credibility to any offers they make
buy-to-let mortgages: specialised advice and mortgage arrangements for rental property investments
Habito has a work environment that is crafted around the principles of flexibility and support, promoting a culture that values remote work and a balanced lifestyle. This philosophy is reflected in the range of employee benefits designed to enhance personal and professional well-being. Benefits include:
Habito is dedicated to ensuring their mortgage services are accessible to all, implementing user-friendly interfaces and clear guidance throughout the mortgage process. Their approach centres on minimising barriers and enhancing user experience, making home buying simpler and more inclusive.
user-friendly interface: easy-to-navigate online platform
clear guidance: comprehensive mortgage process support
inclusivity: services tailored for diverse users
support for first-time buyers: step-by-step guidance for newcomers
accessibility features: tools aiding various user needs
Ying Tan has been serving as the CEO of Habito since 2023. He also founded Dynamo and held roles in companies like Knowledge Bank, Propflo, Countrywide, Goldman Sachs, and others. He holds a CeMAP from the Institute of Financial Services, a BPP accountancy from CIMA, and a BA in accounting and finance from Kingston University.
Supporting him is a team of vice presidents who lead different critical aspects of the company:
Will Rhind, as VP of mortgage advice & growth, drives the development of mortgage advisory services and growth strategies
Neil M. is the VP of engineering, leads the engineering department to support technological advancements
Tessa Hillier, serving as VP of finance, manages the company's financial strategies and operations
Penny Desborough, VP of customer, compliance & culture, oversees customer relations, compliance standards, and corporate culture
Rosie Fish, as hybrid team lead - mortgage experts, coordinates the efforts of mortgage specialists to deliver personalised advice
Under new CEO leadership, Habito continues to innovate and expand, emphasising their commitment to simplifying the mortgage process and enhancing customer experiences. They have focused providing fee-free mortgage advice, underlining their model of earning through lender commissions, which supports the free services offered to homebuyers.
Additionally, Habito's integration of complete home-buying services, including legal work and property surveys, suggests a strategic shift toward offering holistic solutions to homebuyers. Its approach likely forecasts an expansion and enhancement of their services.
Speak to those who understand the market, says VP of broker firm
With thousands of options, choosing the right intermediaries can be challenging. We're making your search easier by listing the best ones
And what has been the impact on brokers?
It also has a new vice president of operations
The company is looking to announce further new hires in the coming months
Critics say measures don't go far enough to help prospective homebuyers
Find out what happened in the vital move, just moments ago…
Property experts react and give advice
Longer term fixes are increasingly finding a place in the market
It could save them hundreds of pounds
