News & Insight

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. ...

The Bank of England held interest rates at a record low of 0.1% in November and pledged to continue injecting money into the economy to help support it during the pandemic. ...

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. ...

Until recently there has only been a very limited range of mortgage products available for first time buyers with smaller deposits, but there are now signs of improvement....

Homebuyers throughout the UK will now benefit from lower stamp duty costs, with Scottish and Welsh governments both confirming temporary tax cuts. ...

On 8th July Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced a major tax cut for home buyers, with a temporary waiver of Stamp Duty Land Tax for all properties valued up to £500,000. ...

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Nationwide, Britain’s biggest building society, has reduced the maximum amount it will lend so that it can “continue to lend responsibly”. ...

The Bank of England has held the base rate at 0.1% in June, despite speculation that rates could fall into negative territory to help shore up the economy. ...

After re-introducing many of their deals for homebuyers with small deposits after lockdown rules eased, several lenders this week pulled their first-time buyer mortgages again temporarily. ...

Several lenders have recently reduced their mortgage rates, benefiting homeowners looking to remortgage so they can reduce their monthly outgoings. ...

Homeowners who have taken mortgage payment holidays to help them weather the financial impact of coronavirus may be able to extend their breaks by three months, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has confirmed. ...

The Bank of England is reviewing whether to cut interest rates to less than zero to help stimulate an economic recovery, but has said it won’t act until it has fully assessed the impact of doing so....

Now that the property market has restarted again, lenders are busy working through the backlog of mortgage applications they put on hold when physical valuations had to cease during lockdown. ...

Thousands of homebuyers who had to put their moves on hold when the country went into lockdown at the end of March can now proceed with their plans ...

There are lots of reasons you might not have switched your mortgage yet, but are they actually myths? We look at the top reasons why you may not have remortgaged yet and why it might be a good idea......

Recent weeks have proved a rollercoaster ride for the mortgage market, with several lenders withdrawing products and then expanding their ranges. But what next for the mortgage market? ...

The Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee voted unanimously to hold the rate at its current record low, to help support economic activity during the coronavirus pandemic. ...

Annual house price growth rose by 3.7% in April, according to Nationwide’s latest house price index, the highest rate of annual growth for more than two years. ...

Some mortgage lenders have announced changes to their affordability criteria to give more clarity for those who have been furloughed due to coronavirus, or those who receive a variable income which includes bonuses....

Lenders have gradually started to expand their mortgage ranges, after temporarily withdrawing some of their products when the lockdown was introduced. ...

Lenders have now given over 1.6 million payment holidays to support customers affected by the coronavirus outbreak. ...

More than 1.2m homeowners have been offered mortgage payment holidays by their lenders to help them weather the financial impact of coronavirus. ...

Keeping mortgage costs to a minimum is likely to be a priority for most people during this difficult time and moving to a new deal with the same lender may be one way to reduce monthly payments. ...

Taking a break from mortgage payments won’t affect your credit rating, credit reference agencies have confirmed, providing peace of mind for those struggling financially due to the coronavirus outbreak. ...

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The Bank of England reduced base rate by 0.50% to 0.25% on March 11th and then cut further to 0.10% on the 19th. Here's our rundown of how lenders are reacting to these cuts....

Home-movers are being advised by the Government to put their plans on hold wherever possible whilst measures are in place to fight coronavirus. ...

The Bank of England cut the base rate again on Thursday to just 0.1%, its lowest ever level, in a bid to support the economy during the coronavirus crisis. ...

The Government has announced that homeowners struggling with mortgage costs may be able to claim a three month “holiday” from their payments. Here’s what you need to know about how mortgage payment holidays work and who’s eligible. ...

Nationwide, the UK’s largest building society, will soon re-enter the interest-only mortgage market - but only high earners will be eligible. ...

Although much of this week’s Budget speech focused on measures to protect people and businesses from the economic impact of the coronavirus, there were several announcements on property. ...

The Bank of England slashed the base rate by half a percentage point to just 0.25% on Wednesday to help shore up the economy during the coronavirus outbreak. ...

A New Homes Ombudsman, Help to Buy numbers, leasehold reforms and house prices ...

House prices in all English cities have finally surpassed price levels recorded at the last peak in 2007, with prices across the UK approaching a three-year high. ...

Paying off your mortgage early is a pretty appealing prospect for most people, so it’s little wonder that many of us plough any cash we don’t have an immediate need for back into our homes. ...

The Financial Times reported this weekend on the increasing number of borrowers looking to split their mortgages to suit their financial circumstances. ...

Buyers will now be responsible for finding out whether the property they are purchasing has been invaded by Japanese knotweed if the current owner isn’t sure. ...

We explain everything you need to know about mortgages and the impact having children can have on your ability to borrow. ...

First time buyers will be able to benefit from discounted new homes under a new ‘First Homes’ scheme proposed by the Government. ...

With Valentine’s Day around the corner you might be starting to feel a bit romantic. Perhaps you’re thinking about moving in with your partner, or even popping the question? There’s a practical consideration you’ll want to think about before you make the big commitment of living together: How will the mortgage work?...

More than 83,500 property and land sales were registered with HM Land Registry in December, with some staggering differences between the cheapest and most expensive properties sold. ...

The Bank of England voted by 7-2 to hold interest rates at 0.75% again this month, the same as in the previous meeting. ...

Mortgage prisoners stuck paying expensive rates may find it easier to remortgage to cheaper deals after Nationwide announced changes to its affordability rules. ...