News & Insight

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). ...

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. ...

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....

The Bank of England held the base rate at 0.25% again in June, although three members of the Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) called for rates to rise....

Skipton Building Society has become the first savings provider to launch a cash Lifetime individual savings account (LISA), designed to help first time buyers save for a deposit, or for retirement. ...

Homeowners may be wondering which way to turn after two of Britain’s biggest lenders produced conflicting views on which way house prices are going. ...

Political uncertainty may have led to many property buyers and sellers sitting tight in May, according to the latest UK Residential Market Survey from the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyers (RICS) ...

Summer is upon us and this can only mean one thing... That's right, we're talking about Wimbledon. And to celebrate the return of Wimbledon this summer, we're giving our customers (and website visitors) the chance to win the ultimate four person picnic basket. Just add strawberries and cream....

The number of first time buyers over the past year has overtaken the number of home movers for the first time in more than a decade. ...

With the general election drawing closer, the weekend’s financial press looked at the various political manifestos and the potential impact they could have on our personal finances. ...

Over 1.4m people are struggling to pay their mortgages, but there are plenty of steps borrowers can take to help make their monthly payments more manageable. ...

We’re proud to support AquAid by purchasing their water coolers and installing them in each of our offices. Our AquAid water cooler not only benefits our employees, but also gives us the opportunity to help others – slightly further afield....

Read the terms and conditions for our latest prize giveaway - when one lucky winner will win a four person picnic hamper. ...

May is the 99th month that the Bank of England has kept its base rate at or below 0.50%. Around 2.5 million people have bought their first property since then, according to the Council of Mortgage Lenders, and will not yet have witnessed base rate moving in the opposite direction. ...

The Bank of England left the base rate unchanged at 0.25% in it’s May meeting, but warned that rising living costs and falling wages will mean “challenging” times for many households this year. ...

Borrowing into older age is set to become increasingly common, according to a new report, with several lenders already showing a more flexible approach to people in their 60s and 70s. ...

If you’re looking to buy a home, it’s vital to understand the difference between buying a property which is freehold, and one which is leasehold. Let us explain the differences between the two, and the financial implications for homebuyers....

There is a new lender in town, claimed this weekend’s financial press, and it goes by the name of BOMAD. ...

House prices fell by 0.4% in April, according to Nationwide Building Society’s latest House Price Index, the second consecutive month that prices have dropped. ...

With the election fast-approaching, the Times reported that, once again, the Government is coming under pressure to change the stamp duty system....

Homebuyers and those looking to remortgage are enjoying the lowest mortgage rates ever seen - but you’ll need to hurry if you want to take advantage as the top deals don’t hang around for long. ...

The mortgage price war raged on this week, with more lenders slashing rates and others announcing further cuts to come. ...

If you receive a large proportion of your income from bonuses, getting a mortgage isn’t always straightforward. ...

There was only one mortgage story on the lips of the financial press this weekend, and that was the 5-year fixed rate ‘mortgage war’. ...

The start of the new tax year on April 6 has ushered in changes to buy-to-let tax relief which gradually restrict the amount of relief landlords can claim on mortgage interest payments. ...

A new tax year brings new rules, and the weekend’s financial press looked at what this year will mean for Buy-to-Let investors. ...

Take part in the L&C Easter egg hunt and you could win this Easter Hamper from Hotel Chocolat. We’ve hidden three small Easter eggs on the L&C Website. Use the clues below to find the three eggs that we’ve hidden. For the chance to win this Hotel Chocolat Hamper, simply find the eggs that are labelled with city names and list...

The latest Nationwide House Price Index highlights a fall in property prices of 0.3% in March, the first drop since June 2015. ...

Around 1 in 5 people in the UK is either self-employed or on a fixed or zero hour contract, revealed the Telegraph this weekend. ...

Let to buy can be an option for those who want to purchase a new home whilst keeping hold of their current property and letting it out. As someone looking to buy a new property, it can allow you to release some equity from your current home and put it down as a deposit on your new one.It’s a popular choice for couples who move in together later in life, perhaps once they both already have their own properties. In this case, you’d both move into o...

After receiving a huge number of entries, we’ve now chosen a competition winner for our Afternoon Tea at Fortnum and Mason competition. Congratulations to our first, second and third prize winners......

More than 4m households are throwing away an average of £216 a month by sticking with their mortgage lender’s standard variable rate, so if you’re one of them, it’s time to take action. ...

News of the Spring price war continued this week, with the Times looking at recent cuts to 5 year fixed rates. ...

The Bank of England chose to keep interest rates on hold again in March, marking eight years of rock-bottom mortgage rates for homeowners. ...

Following the recent release of a new sub-1% fixed rate, the weekend’s financial press heralded a new mortgage price war, with the Daily Mail urging borrowers to act now and take advantage while they still can. ...

Property and the housing market were noticeable by their absence in this year’s Spring Budget, quashing hopes of any reduction in stamp duty costs or other help for ...

Applying for a mortgage can be tricky, but if you’re a self-employed worker, freelancer or contractor, you could face extra challenges. Here's what you'll need to get a mortgage as a self-employed person... ...

The housing market, while not a part of the Budget announcement this time, was a subject for discussion however....

L&C “Piece of Cake” Baking Event Roundup To celebrate the launch of our new cake-orientated TV advert (you can watch it here if you haven’t seen it yet), we decided to host our very own bake-off with ten of the UK’s top food, travel, lifestyle & parenting bloggers....

For a chance to win the Hotel Chocolat Happy Easter Hamper, simply find the three Easter eggs on the L&C webpage and tell us the place names of the three eggs before midnight on Monday 17th April 2017. Terms and conditions apply....

Nearly a million people working in the UK are now on zero hour contracts. ...

The housing market is a tough nut to crack for first-time buyers, with rising house prices requiring bigger deposits, and tough affordability criteria making it difficult to secure a mortgage. ...

Buying a property is likely to be the biggest purchase you’ll ever make, so it’s vital you choose carefully. Here are five things you should ask when viewing a property....

Have you watched our advert and fallen in love the with chocolate cake? Now you can recreate it in your own home with our recipe....

In our new climate of tougher regulation, there are several groups of borrowers who now find themselves struggling to secure a mortgage....

London & Country is hosting a baking event with some of the UK’s top bloggers, to celebrate our new TV ad....

Following last week’s Government White Paper on Britain’s housing market; the weekend’s financial press looked at the possible implications for homeowners and potential buyers. ...

To celebrate the launch of our latest TV advert, we're running a competition to win luxury afternoon tea for two at Fortnum and Mason. ...

Let’s face it, if you’re buying a home or remortgaging, the huge choice of mortgages available can seem bewildering. Should you go for a fixed rate deal, a variable rate deal, or an offset mortgage? And how much will you be able to afford?...

The Financial Times reported this weekend on claims that industry experts are urging the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to reduce the stress test interest rate applied to borrowers when assessing affordability. ...

If you’re buying a home, chances are you’ll want to exchange contracts as soon as possible to seal the deal. But rushing in without finding out everything you need to know about the property you’re purchasing could end up costing you more. Here are eight things you need to do before exchanging contracts....

The latest Bank of England data shows the cost of mortgages is beginning to edge up, according to this weekend’s Daily Telegraph, with longer-term fixed rates experiencing the biggest increases. ...

The Times reported this weekend on alternative ways for First-Time Buyers to get their foot in the door in a difficult market. ...

The mortgage guarantee part of the Help to Buy scheme finished on 31 December 2016, so should first-time buyers be worried that they’ll now have fewer mortgages to choose from? ...

Your mortgage is likely to be your biggest monthly outgoing, so if you haven’t reviewed yours for a while, it’s a good idea to make sure you aren’t paying more than you need to. ...

Last year isn’t one any of us are likely to forget in a hurry thanks to Brexit, but amidst all the political turmoil, homebuyers and owners enjoyed some of the lowest mortgage rates ever recorded. ...

Today we are excited to launch our latest TV ad - Let’s L&C. Choosing a mortgage isn’t as simple as choosing a cake, so it shouldn’t be treated like one. With the right expert help from L&C, the whole process can be a piece of cake. ...

Following a seemingly endless raft of ‘rock-bottom’ rates in 2016, increasing funding costs have led to lenders gradually beginning to bump up their prices. ...

Annual UK house price growth remained stable in 2016 according to the latest Nationwide House Price Index, ending at 4.5%, the same rate as 2015. ...

The financial press took the opportunity this weekend to take a glimpse at what the year ahead will bring for our finances. ...

If you're selling your home you'll want to get the best price possible, but there could be things you aren't even aware of that are affecting its value. Here we reveal six surprising things that could affect your property's price....

1. The competition runs from 8am 17/01/2017 until midnight 17/03/2017. Entries received after this time will not be put forward for the draw. 2. The prize draw is open to residents of the UK aged 18 or over, excluding employees or agencies of London & Country Mortgages, MoneySuperMarket or their respective group companies or families or anyone else connected to the Prize Draw....

When buying a property in England or Wales, two of the most important terms to get to grips with are ‘exchange’ and ‘completion’. Only once you’ve done both of these will you be able to get your hands on the keys to your new home. Here’s what you need to know....

If you’re looking to bump up the value of your property, perhaps with a view to selling it, then the good news is that lots of improvements can be made without breaking the bank. Here are our top tips on how to add value to your home....

How to save on your winter household bills: As winter draws ever nearer and energy bills begin to climb, we wanted to share some simple steps to save money on your household bills with small changes that will make a big difference....

First-time buyers struggling to get onto the property ladder often find that they can only afford to buy if they club together with friends....

As expected, the weekend’s financial press focused largely on looking at the impact of Phillip Hammond’s recent Autumn Statement on consumers. ...

Phillip Hammond has delivered his first Autumn Statement as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Compared to recent budgets and statements there was relatively little directly affecting the housing market though we did get two further housing initiatives announced: ...

Recent ‘goings-on’ in the US prompted a great deal of discussion in the press this weekend, as journalists discussed the impact of the recent election result on our own economy. ...

The annual rate of growth has continued to ease, slowing from 5.8% in September to 5.2% in October, according to the latest Halifax House Price Index. ...

With the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement approaching, the Telegraph reported this weekend on calls for the Government to restructure the stamp duty system in order to help ‘fix’ the UK housing market. ...

Santander has announced it will tighten the rental calculation for landlords from 23rd November. This makes them the first major lender to declare policy changes since the Prudential Regulatory Authority published new requirements in September....

You’ve found a property you want to buy and got your mortgage application ready to go, so now you need to hire a solicitor and make sense of their quotes...

Although there had been suggestions that a further cut to Base Rate could be on the cards, it came as little surprise that the Bank of England elected to make no change in its November meeting. ...

The Christmas sales have come early for high net worth borrowers, reported both the Times and FT this weekend, with news that a price war has begun amongst lenders competing for large loan business. ...