Our expert views and commentary on what’s happening in the world of mortgages and sometimes beyond, along with our regular summary of what the papers say.
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. ...
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. ...
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....
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’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. ...
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. ...
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. ...
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. ...
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...
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. ...
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. ...
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....
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. ...
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. ...
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. ...
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....
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. ...
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. ...
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. ...
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....
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. ...
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....
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. ...
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. ...