News & Insight

House prices saw their sharpest drop since 2010 in April, according to Halifax’s latest House Price Index, falling by 3.1% following a 1.6% rise in March. ...

More should be done to help ‘mortgage prisoners’, according to the city regulator the Financial Conduct Authority. ...

The Guardian took a look at the property market this weekend, after data revealed a 3.1% drop in UK house prices in April. ...

The Bank of England voted to keep the base rate at 0.5% today, after recent weak UK growth figures put paid to an increase this month. ...

Expectations of a base rate rise in May were dampened following comments from the Bank of England governor Mark Carney, but it’s still vital for homeowners to consider the impact of higher rates. ...

The Observer reported this weekend on the falling number of young home-owning families, as many of today’s millennials struggle in the face of higher property prices. ...

Four in 10 millennials are living in rented private accommodation at the age of the 30, according to a recent report by think tank the Resolution Foundation....

The Times reported this weekend that the supply of high Loan-to-Value mortgages could be under threat, after the Bank of England’s Financial Policy Committee suggested plans to crack down on the riskier end of the market. ...

Homeowners in the UK have by now on average earned enough to cover their mortgage payments for the rest of 2018, according to research from Halifax. ...

House prices rose by 1.5% in March, according to Halifax, bringing the average cost of a property in the UK to a record high of £227,871. ...

The Post Office has introduced a new ‘Family Link’ mortgage aimed at first-time buyers that can afford monthly mortgage payments but who don’t have a deposit to put down. ...

There was some good news for experienced landlords this week, as one lender removes its upper age limit for those who have owned and let a Buy to Let property for at least 6 months. ...

The start of the new 2018-19 tax year on April 6 saw further reductions in the amount of tax relief landlords can claim on mortgage interest payments. ...

With suggestions of an interest rate rise, possibly as soon as next month, the financial press reported this weekend on the levels of increased activity in the mortgage market. ...

Homeowners who currently receive financial help from the government with their mortgage interest will have to apply for a loan if they want to continue to be supported from April. ...

Less than a third of homeowners’ disposable income goes towards mortgage payments each month, making mortgages more affordable than they’ve been for a decade. ...

A new stamp duty system is being introduced in Wales next month, which means many buyers won’t pay the tax when purchasing a property costing up to £180,000. ...

Landlords will need to ensure their rental properties meet minimum energy efficiency standards before they can be let out, under new rules being introduced this spring. ...

Competition Time Win Tea for Two at the famous Swan Restaurant in Shakespeare's Globe. To celebrate the launch of our latest TV advert, were giving you the chance to win an afternoon tea for two experience at the famous Swan restaurant - located in Shakespeare's Globe, London. ...

Interest rates were left unchanged again in March, but the Bank of England hinted that increases could be on the horizon. ...

'Join the race to remortgage' was the main theme of this weekend's papers, with the Times keen to point out that 25 lenders have increased their rates in the past 2 weeks, driving 2 year fixed rates to their highest level since September 2016. ...

After several years of steady increases, the number of people working on zero hours contracts has plateaued. ...

NatWest has launched the ability for brokers to extend the offer period on mortgages for new build homes, which could increase it from six to as much as 12 months. ...

House prices are growing at their slowest rate for five years, according to Halifax’s latest monthly House Price Index. ...

Buyers, including many first timers, who signed up for the government’s Help to Buy equity loan scheme in its early stages will soon start being charged interest on their loans. ...

With interest rates predicted to rise in the coming months, this weekend’s financial press highlighted an increase in mortgage activity as borrowers rush to secure a cheap deal. ...

Navigating the mortgage market isn’t always easy, but some seem to manage it with ease, even though it often takes a lot of hard work behind the scenes. That’s the message behind our new advertising campaign ‘Glide’ which you can watch here . ...

There are just a few days to go before around 211 million paper £10 notes featuring Charles Darwin cease to become legal tender. That’s enough cash to pay off more than 14,000 mortgages of £150,000 each! ...

Homeowners and buyers could face steeper mortgage rates when the government’s scheme to boost lending finishes at the end of this month. ...

There was good news for potential buyers in the Times this weekend, with experts reporting an increase in the number of products geared towards those looking to get ...

Average house prices dropped by 0.6% in January, according to Halifax’s latest monthly House Price Index, with strained household finances contributing to the fall. ...

Homeowners with interest-only mortgages who could face a shortfall in their repayment plans should take action or contact their lender as soon as possible to discuss their options. ...

The financial press reported this weekend on the increasing popularity of ‘Joint Borrower Sole Proprietor’ (JBSP) mortgages, which allow the income of family members – usually parents – to be taken into account, while the property title is held only in the child’s name. ...

Interest rates were kept on hold in February, but the Bank of England warned that rates could rise “somewhat earlier and by a somewhat greater extent” than previously forecast. ...

L&C is proud to have contributed a new water pump to Manicaland, a north eastern province in Zimbabwe, which will provide fresh drinking water for upwards of 300 people for decades to come. ...

As household name M&S Bank entered the mortgage market and launched its first product range last week, the Times looked at what they will be offering in terms of criteria....

M&S Bank has launched its first mortgage range, which includes fixed and tracker deals for those moving home or remortgaging, as well as for first-time buyers. ...

Thanks to everyone who took the time to enter our latest competition. We had a huge response from our customers and followers who took part! We’re excited to say that we’ve now chosen a winner. Congratulations to......

First-time buyers are increasingly taking out mortgages with terms much longer than the usual 25 years to help make their monthly payments more affordable. ...

The Guardian revealed this weekend that thousands of homeowners are finding themselves trapped in new-build properties they cannot sell, due to a clause in their lease which allows for a doubling in ground rent every 10 years. ...

The stamp duty exemption for first-time buyers announced in the budget has benefited over 16,000 homebuyers in the first six weeks since it came into effect, according to the government. ...

Here’s our rundown of what economists think will happen to house prices in 2018. ...

Annual mortgage statements will be landing on doormats across the country this January, but don’t just file yours away without checking your current rate. ...

Mortgage lenders began the New Year with a bang, offering a string of rate cuts, the Times reported this weekend. ...

Many people put sorting out their finances at the top of their list of New Year financial resolutions, and reviewing your mortgage can be a great place to start. ...

The Guardian was keen to highlight that home insurance providers are still taking advantage of loyal customers by charging them more than new customers. ...

L&C is excited to announce that it is joining forces with global information services group Experian, in a pioneering move which aims to consolidate L&C’s position as the UK’s leading fee-free mortgage broker. ...

House prices slowed in the year to the end of November, according to Halifax’s latest house price index, rising by 3.9%, down from 4.5% in October. ...

This interactive map shows how deposits required by first-time buyers have increased dramatically over the past two decades, and could rocket again over the next 10 years. ...

There were snippets of festive cheer in the mortgage news this weekend, with The FT highlighting the fact that the number of fee free mortgage deals on the market has increased by c38% since 2012...

The Budget introduced a range of measures designed to boost the housing market and improve the supply of new homes in the UK. Here’s our rundown of the changes announced. ...

Here’s how lenders are reacting to the Bank of England’s decision to increase Base Rate. We’ll keep updating this page as news comes in. ...

As expected, the weekend’s financial press focused on the Budget ‘winners and losers’, and in particular First-Time Buyers....

In the November 2017 Budget, Chancellor Philip Hammond announced an immediate reduction in Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) that will benefit the vast majority of first time buyers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and mean 80% of first timers will pay no stamp duty at all. ...

Tomorrow’s Autumn Budget sees growing speculation that the Chancellor could announce measures to help first-time buyers, as well as plans to build more houses. ...

The main theme of the weekends press was unsurprisingly speculation on Wednesdays Budget.  Will Philip Hammond help the UK housing market? ...

Much of the focus since the base rate rise last week has been on what impact the increase has on homeowners, but it also has implications for landlords, many of whom have already had to adapt to several other changes this year. ...

With rates edging up over the last few weeks, the Times looked this weekend at what borrowers can do to secure a competitive deal while they are still available. ...

For the chance to win this £50 Lakeland gift card, simply like our Facebook or LinkedIn page (or follow us, if you prefer Twitter) and like our post. ...

For a chance to win a £50 Lakeland giftcard, simply Like one of our social pages and competition posts before midnight on Monday 15th January 2018. Terms and conditions apply....

As expected, this weekend’s financial news focused largely on the first increase in the Bank of England base rate for more than 10 years. ...

The Bank of England has raised the base rate for the first time in more than a decade, meaning higher mortgage costs for millions of homeowners on variable rate deals. ...

Landlords with four or more mortgaged buy-to-let properties can now expect greater scrutiny of their entire portfolio when trying to buy a new property. ...

The anticipation of an upcoming rate rise was once again the focus in this weekend’s financial press. Over recent weeks, lenders have been increasing rates across all Loan-to-Value brackets, said the Mirror, although experts were keen to highlight tha...

Several lenders have increased their fixed rates over the last couple of weeks, so anyone hoping to secure one of the best deals should act fast while they are still available. ...

The main focus of the weekend papers was to urge readers to grap a cheap fixed rate deal before they're gone. . ...

The average house price in the UK reached a record high of £225,109 in September, according to Halifax’s latest house price index, with prices supported by a shortage of properties for sale and low unemployment. ...

There was one main talking point in this weekend’s financial press – the rumble of an approaching base rate rise. ...

You’ve found the property you want to buy, but now you need to get it for the right price. We understand that haggling on the property price can be tricky... So here are our top tips to help you buy a property at the best possible price. ...

Predictions for an imminent rise in interest rates continued this weekend, with the Times and Sunday Times warning homeowners sitting on their lender’s Standard Variable Rate not to hold off any longer. ...

Moving home is supposedly one of life’s most stressful events, but a bit of careful planning can help ease the strain. Here are some of the things you need to think about when making your move....

With the markets predicting the first interest rate rise in 10 years, possibly as early as November, this weekend’s financial press urged borrowers to take action. ...

Buying a property to let out is very different to buying a property to live in, so if you’re planning to become a landlord, it’s really important to plan properly. ...

As the end of the year approaches, mortgage lenders are keen to secure as much new business as possible, and this weekend’s financial press looked at the current crop of enticing deals. ...

Interest rates were held at 0.25% again this month, but the Governor of the Bank of England warned that rates could increase “over the coming months.” ...

With new lending rules for portfolio landlords coming into force at the end of this month, the Times and Sunday Times looked at the likely impact on borrowers. ...

Low mortgage rates and a continuing shortage of properties helped push house prices up by 1.1% between July and August....

L&C is delighted to announce that we’ve been nominated for the prestigious Financial Innovations Awards 2017 in the ‘Innovation in Product or Service Design’ category....

Increasing numbers of homeowners are opting to stay put rather than move up the property ladder, according to research by the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML). ...

The Guardian and Times both reported this weekend on newly released Government figures, which show that a million Help to Buy ISA accounts have been opened since December 2015. These accounts, they suggest, have helped struggling First-Time Buyers save £1.8bn. ...

The Times looked at home ownership this weekend, following recent research by L&C which revealed that around 1.8 million adults have stayed in a relationship in order to get on to the housing ladder. ...

Thanks to everyone who entered our competition to win a four person picnic hamper. After receiving over 900 entries, we’ve now chosen a winner. Congratulations to......

The Times looked at interest-only mortgages this weekend, and in particular borrowers who do not have a repayment strategy in place. ...

Leaseholds on new build-houses could soon be banned under new proposals being considered by the government. The government said that it will consult on whether to prohibit the sale of new build leasehold houses and limit the amount of ground rent that can be charged. ...

The spotlight in this weekend’s financial press was very much on newly announced Government plans to tackle the issues surrounding leasehold houses. ...

Saving a deposit can take years, but there are schemes and mortgages that can help. Here are three ways to get on the property ladder with a smaller deposit....

Mortgage lending reached £22.1 billion in June, up 9% on the previous month, but the challenging economic situation could dampen activity going forward. ...

Another win for L&C! L&C Mortgages was named Best National Mortgage Adviser at the 2017 What Mortgage Awards on July 19, the sixth consecutive year L&C has won the award....

More changes on the way for landlords.. Landlords who own four or more mortgaged buy-to-let properties can soon expect lenders to look across their whole portfolio if they want to apply for a mortgage on a new property....

The Times focused on the new Buy to Let rules from the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) that will come into force this October. They will affect ‘portfolio landlords’ (those with 4 or more mortgaged properties). Previously, lenders might assess a new mortgage in isolation but will now have to undertake a review of all the client’s assets, liability, tax position, business plan and exit strategy. Buy to Let Mortgage lenders are beginning to announce how they will implement these changes,...

The traditional spring bounce in the housing market failed to materialise this year, according to Halifax’s latest house price index, which showed prices have fallen for the third quarter running....

The Telegraph was keen to highlight that in the first quarter of 2017 almost one in seven borrowers took a mortgage term of 35 years or more.......

Lenders will have to adopt a more uniform approach to mortgage stress tests, following a clarification of the rules by the Bank of England’s Financial Policy Committee (FPC)....

L&C Mortgages was named Best Mortgage Adviser at the prestigious Money Marketing Awards held in London on June 22. The awards recognise those who have reached the top of their field ..............

If you own property you rent out, make sure you aren’t paying more than you need to for your buy to let mortgage........

How far ahead can I start a remortgage? Looking to remortgage? Don’t assume you have to wait until your existing deal finishes before you can start the ball rolling. If you’ve spotted a mortgage deal you really want, or you’re concerned that fixed rate deals are edging up and want to lock into a low rate now, it is possible to secure a new deal even if you’re currently tied into another mortgage. Many remortgage offers are valid for between three and six months from the date they ar...

The number of first-time buyers relying on the ‘Bank of Mum and Dad’ to help them onto the property ladder has risen to a record high, according to new research. More than a third of first-time buyers now turn to their family for financial help when buying a property, a study by the Social Mobility Commission found, compared to one in five seven years ago. One in 10 relies on inherited wealth to fund their property purchase. The Commission claims that this increasing reliance on financial...

First-time buyers and those remortaging continue to drive lending activity, according to the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML), whilst the number of home movers and buy to let borrowers is falling. The number of buy to let purchases is nearly half what it was a year ago, the CML said, averaging around 6,000 purchases a month over the last 12 months. Buy to let figures have fallen dramatically following the introduction of the second home stamp...

Less than 2m interest-only mortgages across the UK remain outstanding, according to the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML), down from 3.2m in 2012. There are currently 1.9m interest-only loans, with a third of these due to mature in the 2030s. With this type of mortgage, as the name suggests, you only repay the interest on the amount you’ve borrowed each month. The capital must be repaid when the mortgage term ends. Millions of borrowers took out this type of...

Rising living costs combined with falling earnings are placing mounting pressure on household budgets, making it more important than ever to look at ways to reduce monthly outgoings....