News & Insight

The Bank of England has increased base rate by 0.50 percentage points to 1.75%. Here's our rundown of how lenders are reacting to the rise...

The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has voted by 8-1 to increase base rate by 0.50%, to 1.75%, the biggest increase for almost 30 years. ...

Interest rates could rise by as much as half a percentage point in August, the Governor of the Bank of England has warned, with economists predicting that rates could exceed 2% in the next year....

Mortgage affordability tests will be scrapped this summer, the Bank of England has announced. ...

The Bank of England has increased base rate to 1.25%. Here's our rundown of how lenders are reacting to the rise. ...

Soaring house prices mean growing numbers of first time buyers face a tax bill when they buy. ...

A record £6.8bn was paid out in life insurance, income protection and critical illness claims in 2021, with 98% of life claims settled by most of the major insurers. ...

We've de-bunked nine of the most common mortgage myths that might be putting you off and explain what the real facts are. ...

The deadline to use the government’s Help to Buy scheme will be 6pm on 31st October 2022, giving first-time buyers less than five months to apply. ...

The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee voted to raise the base rate by 0.25 percentage points to 1.25% in June, the first time it has exceeded 1% for 13 years. ...

If you’re looking at ways to reduce your outgoings, think carefully before cancelling your insurance cover. ...

Around 10,600 first time buyers were helped onto the property ladder by the mortgage guarantee scheme in the eight months following its launch. ...

A series of interest rate hikes in recent months has seen mortgage rates more than double since their historic low in October 2021, and with further rises likely, it makes sense to review your mortgage now. ...

The Bank of England has increased base rate by to 1.00%. Here’s our rundown of how lenders are reacting to the rise, so you can see whether yours has increased its Standard Variable Rate. ...

Interest rates have risen to 1% in May, the first time they have been at this level since February 2009. ...

Discussing what both you and your family might want when the time comescan provide valuable peace of mind that your wishes will be carried out. ...

Nearly one in five UK adults (17%) thought about buying a holiday let property during the pandemic, according to research carried out by Suffolk Building Society....

April 25-May 1 is multiple sclerosis awareness week, which aims to increase awareness of the condition and the effect it can have on people. ...

Annual house price growth surged to 14.3% in March, up from 12.6% in February, according to Nationwide....

Some lenders have already tightened up their lending criteria to account for higher household bills...

The gap between the cost of owning a home and renting a property is at its widest since 2017, with the costs of owning a home £1,378 cheaper than renting in 2021. ...

Average house prices increased by 9.6% over the year to January 2022, bring the average UK house price to £274,000, up £24,000 compared to January last year. ...

The Bank of England has increased base rate by 0.25% to 0.75%. Here's our rundown of how lenders are reacting to the rise. ...

The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee voted to raise the base rate by 0.25 percentage points to 0.75%, the first time it has increased rates at three successive meetings since 2004. ...

The Bank of England has increased base rate from 0.25% to 0.50%. Here's our rundown of how lenders are reacting to the rise, so you can see whether yours has increased its Standard Variable Rate. ...

Interest rates are on the way up and with further increases expected, it makes sense to think about ways you might be able to protect yourself from potentially steeper mortgage payments. ...

If you’ve previously tried to stop smoking, but taken it up again, don’t lose hope that you’ll never be able to kick the habit. ...

Despite the Bank of England raising interest rates to 0.50% in February, long term fixed rate deals are currently at their lowest ever level. ...

The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee voted to increase the base rate by 0.25 percentage points today. ...

Finding out that you have cancer can be truly devastating, whatever the prognosis, and is likely to impact virtually every aspect of your life. ...

The New Year is a great time to take stock and look at ways you might be able to make your life healthier and happier. ...

Soaring living costs are already hitting many households hard but remortgaging to a cheaper deal could potentially reduce your monthly outgoings and make bills more manageable. ...

Here’s a run down of some of the additional services many protection providers offer....

Our opening hours over the festive season are.......

The Bank of England base rate has risen from a record low of 0.1% to 0.25%. Here’s our rundown of how lenders are reacting to the rise. ...

The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee has voted by a majority of 8-1 to raise the base rate to 0.25%, providing little festive cheer to homeowners. ...

Inflation jumped to 4.2% in the year to October, up from 3.1% the previous month, with the Bank of England under mounting pressure to raise the base rate next month to help curb rising living costs. ...

The number of home moves in the UK reached its highest level in 14 years in the first half of 2021, with more than 265,000 people moving to a new property. ...

Movember aims to raise awareness of health issues ...

The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee voted by a 7-2 majority to leave the base rate unchanged at 0.1% this month, despite widespread speculation that an increase could be on the cards. ...

Higher inflation is now leading to speculation that there may be a need for interest rates to increase. ...

Chancellor Rishi Sunak delivered today’s Autumn Budget as the UK prepares for a ‘new economy post-Covid’...

If you’re planning a move and want to sell your home before Christmas, you’ll need to get your skates on. ...

World Mental Health Day is on 10th October and aims raise awareness of mental health issues around the world....

Interest rates were held at 0.1% this month, despite inflation in August recording it’s biggest increase since records began in 1997. ...

29th September marks World Heart Day , which aims to raise awareness of heart issues, as more than half of us will develop a heart or circulatory condition in our lifetim...

Rising tenant demand is good news for landlords, who are also benefiting from some of the lowest Buy to Let mortgage options ever seen...

The Bank of England left interest rates unchanged in August despite predictions that inflation, or the increase in the price of goods and services, will soar to its highest level in a decade. ...

If the past 18 months has taught us anything, it’s that no-one can predict what’s around the corner, which is why it’s vital to prepare as much as possible for every eventuality. ...

Annual house price growth slowed slightly in July, according to Nationwide’s latest house price index....

Despite the last 18 months being incredibly difficult for so many people, surprisingly it has had positive consequences for first time buyers. ...

Thousands of fixed rate mortgages are due to mature in the second half of 2021, so now’s the perfect time to start looking for a new deal. ...

Despite the challenges we all faced in 2020, protection providers have continued to provide a crucial financial safety net for thousands of people and their families...

Rock bottom mortgage rates mean that borrowers can now choose from a wide range of two-year fixed rate mortgages at less than 1%, or five-year fixed rate mortgages at just over 1%. ...

Nearly half of all mortgage lending made in the first three months of this year went to home movers , according to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the highest share since records began. ...

As uncertainty over foreign travel continues, demand for UK holiday lets is soaring. If you’re planning to rent out a property, make sure you don’t fall foul of mortgage rules. ...

Annual house price growth rose to its highest level for seven years last month ...

The Government has begun the roll out of its new ‘First Homes’ scheme, designed to give first time buyers a leg up onto the property ladder by providing discounts on new homes. ...

Cancer Survivors Day, which takes place this year on 6th June, aims to raise awareness of the impact cancer can have on people’s lives, and to recognise and celebrate those who have battled this awful disease....

Interest rates were held at 0.1% again in May, but the Bank of England upgraded its economic growth forecasts for this year. ...

This year’s National Children’s Day, which takes place on 16th May, aims to emphasise the importance not only of looking after children’s health and wellbeing, but also protecting their rights and freedoms....

More than four out of every five new homes completed in England and Wales in the final quarter of last year achieved one of the top highest energy efficiency ratings, according to latest Government data. ...

Nationwide has launched mortgages which enable first time buyers to borrow more than five times their income when locking into a long-term fixed rate. ...

Here we explain how the new mortgage guarantee scheme works...

World Parkinson’s Day takes place on 11th April, and aims to raise awareness of the condition as well as funds to help improve the lives of those affected. ...

Homeowners considering moving onto their lender’s standard variable rate (SVR) when their current mortgage deal ends are being urged to explore more affordable options. ...

If you and your partner have been living together, there may come a point where you want to put your partners name onto the mortgage alongside yours...

The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee voted unanimously in March to leave the base rate unchanged at 0.1%, amid hopes that the UK’s economic recovery may be faster than expected. ...

If you’re considering locking your rate down for many years to come, make sure you weigh up the pros and cons of a deal first. ...

Stopping smoking can have significant benefits for your health, but there are plenty of other advantages that you might not be aware of. ...

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The stamp duty holiday has been extended until the end of June, benefiting thousands of homeowners who were at risk of missing the original deadline of 31st March. ...

The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted unanimously to leave the base rate unchanged at 0.1% in February but didn’t rule out rates falling below zero in future. ...

There’s no escaping the fact that moving house can be stressful, but a bit of careful planning will help make the process less painful. ...

Regularly checking in on friends and family is more important than ever during these difficult times, and ‘Time to Talk’ Day is taking place on 4th February with the aim of getting the nation talking. ...

Another national lockdown to help slow the spread of Coronavirus has left many home-movers wondering how the latest restrictions will affect their plans. Here’s what you need to know. ...

On January the 4th, the first working day after Christmas, #DivorceDay was trending on Twitter. January is unofficially known as ‘divorce month’ as it’s widely believed to be the busiest month for enquires about divorce received by solicitors....

As we continue to grow here at L&C we're looking for talented people to join our teams in Newcastle and Bath. Find out more on our Careers page....

Millions of leaseholders, many of whom are currently stuck paying high ground rents, will be given the right to extend their leases by up to 990 years under new government reforms. ...

Is moving house one of your New Year’s resolutions? If so, check out our list of do’s and don’ts to get your home ready for viewing and see if you can get the best possible price. ...

Getting in touch over the festive period. Here are details of when we'll be here over the festive period: ...

The current Help to Buy scheme will be replaced by a new scheme in April, which will only be available to first-time buyers and will impose regional price caps on eligible properties. ...

Homeowners with properties situated within one of the government’s proposed new national parks could see their homes increase in value by as much as 20%, according to a new report. ...

It’s been another busy month for the mortgage market, with house price growth showing no sign of slowing. ...

Demand from property buyers showed no signs of slowing in October, pushing up house prices across all parts of the UK, according to the latest RICS UK Residential survey. ...

Homeowners who are struggling to meet their mortgage repayments because their incomes have fallen can take a break from payments for up to six months, under new plans to extend the availability of payment deferrals. ...

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We explain what thew new restrictions in your area mean for your purchase or remortgage ...

Keyworkers who have helped the UK through Covid-19 have been added to Swansea Building Society’s list of professionals who can benefit from lower mortgage rates....

House prices jumped by an annual 5% in September, according to Nationwide’s latest House Price Index, the highest rate since 2016. ...

House prices reached a record high in August according to Nationwide, cancelling out the losses seen in May and June. ...

Borrowers who are experiencing financial difficulties due to coronavirus should continue to receive support from lenders once their payment holidays finish, under new draft guidance from the financial services’ conduct regulator. ...

Homebuyers and those looking to remortgage who want the security of a fixed rate deal may want to act sooner rather than later, as rates have started to tick up in recent weeks. ...

The government has confirmed it is extending the completion deadline for new homes to help homebuyers whose property purchases have been delayed due to coronavirus. ...

New homes and planning reforms have been pledged by the government in a bid to “build better homes where people want to live” and boost the UK’s economic recovery post-coronavirus. ...

The Bank of England left the base rate unchanged at 0.1% in August to support the economy’s recovery from the impact of coronavirus. ...

House prices jumped by 1.7% in July following the re-opening of the property market after lockdown measures were relaxed. ...

If you’re currently on your lender’s standard variable rate you could potentially make big savings by switching to a better deal....

Homeowners with leasehold properties could find it easier to buy the freehold or extend their leases, under changes to the leasehold system proposed by the Law Commission....

L&C Mortgages has scooped four awards at the 2020 What Mortgage Awards, which recognise and reward the best businesses in the UK’s mortgage and personal finance markets. ...