News & Insight

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.

How do cashback mortgages work?

Increasing numbers of lenders are offering cashback to encourage borrowers to sign up to their mortgages, but it’s vital to look at the overall cost of any deal before committing. ...

Base rate held at 5.25% in February

The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee voted by 6-3 to leave the base rate unchanged at 5.25% in February, despite an unexpected rise in inflation in December. ...

Interest rates held at 5.25%

The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee voted 6-3 to leave the base rate unchanged at 5.25% in November, suggesting that interest rates may have peaked for now. ...

A year on from the mini-budget mortgage meltdown

September 23rd marked a year since Kwasi Kwarteng’s disastrous mini-budget, which prompted the pound to plummet and borrowing costs, inflation, and swap rates all to soar, triggering mortgage market mayhem. ...

Should I overpay on my mortgage?

Homeowners currently on low fixed rates may be keen to overpay their mortgages to minimise the impact of higher rates when they remortgage, but it’s worth weighing up whether saving might be a better option. ...

What the Mortgage Charter means for you

Rising mortgage costs are extremely worrying for homeowners, many of whom may be wondering whether they’ll be able to afford their monthly payments when they come to remortgage. ...

Mortgage market mayhem: what it means for you

It’s been a tumultuous few weeks for the mortgage market, with lenders pulling products especially fixed rates before usually replacing them with higher rate deals. T...

Is now a good time to remortgage?

With speculation that rates might reduce further, homeowners may be wondering whether now’s the right time to remortgage. ...

Interest rates jump to 15-year high

The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy voted to raise the base rate from 4% to 4.25% in March, its highest level since 2008. ...

Green mortgage options increase

Borrowers wanting green mortgages have a growing number of options to choose from, with lenders recognising the Government’s push for homes to be made more energy efficient. ...

Could you benefit from the mortgage price war?

Mortgage rates have tumbled in recent weeks as lenders battle to attract borrowers, so those who have put their mortgage plans on pause may want to take another look at what’s available. Many people have held...

SVR Watch November 2022

The Bank of England has increased base rate by 0.75 percentage points to 3.00%. Here’s our rundown of how lenders are reacting to the rise....

Base rate rises to 3%

The Bank of England has raised the base rate by 0.75 percentage points to 3%, the biggest rate increase for 30 years. Some had expected rates to increase by a full percentage point, but action taken by the new Chancellor Jeremy Hunt to reverse tax cuts announced by his predecessor Kwasi Kwarteng may have helped to avert the need for such a substantial increase. Rates are rising to try to curb rampant inflation. The Consumer Prices Index measure of inflation rose by 10.1% in the year to Sep...

Interest rates jump to 2.25%

The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee voted to raise the base rate by half a percentage point in September, from 1.75% to 2.25%. ...

Interest rates could top 2% in a year

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....

SVR Watch June 22

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

Nine mortgage myths busted

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

Fifth consecutive rise for interest rates

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. ...

Mortgage payments jump by £100 a month

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. ...

Interest rates rise to 1%

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

Bank of England raises interest rates to 0.75%

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. ...

SVR Watch February 2022

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. ...

How to get ahead of a base rate rise

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. ...

Base rate jumps to 0.5%

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

Bank of England raises interest rates

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. ...

Bank of England keeps interest rates at 0.1%

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. ...

L&C Mortgage Ratewatch

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

Rates held at 0.1% despite soaring inflation

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. ...

Mortgage rates fall to historic lows

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%. ...

Borrowers urged to explore remortgage options

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. ...

Unanimous vote to hold base rate at 0.1%

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. ...

Base rate held but negative rates possible

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. ...

Further support for mortgage customers

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. ...

Mortgage payment holidays could be extended

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. ...

Fixed mortgage rates start to rise

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. ...

Base rate held at 0.1% in August

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. ...

Shake-up of leasehold system proposed

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....

Base rate held at 0.1% in June

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. ...

Mortgage rates continue to fall

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

Mortgage payment holiday scheme extended

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. ...

Mortgage market update - Lenders re-introduce deals

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. ...

7 myths about switching your mortgage

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......

Mortgage market update - What happens next?

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? ...

Base rate held at 0.1%

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. ...

Mortgage market starts moving again

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

One in nine takes mortgage payment holiday

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

Credit scores protected during mortgage payment holidays

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. ...

SVR Watch - March 2020

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....

Base rate cut to record low

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. ...

Help With Mortgage Costs

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 to offer interest-only mortgages

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

Budget 2020: How it affects the property market

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. ...

Overpaying your mortgage

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. ...

Should you say ‘I do’ to a joint mortgage?

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?...

Cut monthly costs by remortgaging

Around 140,000 mortgage deals are due to mature this April, so if you’re one of them it’s worth looking into remortgaging as soon as possible. ...

What are YOUR 2020 mortgage resolutions?

After all that festive spending, the New Year is the ideal time to review your finances and look at ways you might be able to save money in 2020. ...

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