Category archives: Mortgages & General Property News

In a housing downturn, not all cities and towns are equal. New research1 has highlighted which areas of the UK are the most resilient in the face of falling prices.  On the slide  In January, overall property prices fell for a fifth consecutive month, as the market continued to cool. Sliding prices have been brought […]

Homeowners are delaying improvements to the sustainability of their homes, according to the latest ‘Greener Homes Attitude Tracker’ from Natwest1, as cost-of-living difficulties remain.  Cost-of-living delay  More than a quarter of homeowners indicated they are less inclined to implement energy saving measures in the upcoming 12 months amid enduring financial concerns. In the three months […]

One in five 18 to 24-year-olds plan to cancel their home contents insurance at renewal to save money, according to new research1.  Risky game  As well as highlighting current cost-of-living concerns, the statistic reveals a worrying picture for young people who plan to abandon protection.  Home contents insurance can be a shrewd financial investment because […]

More than two in five landlords are not aware of the proposed Renters’ Reform Bill, a new study1 has claimed, despite the impact it will have on their portfolios. Should landlords be worried?  What could change?  The proposed legislation, which is set to be voted on before May 2023, includes many significant elements. If passed […]

Buyers priced out  Some 41% of participants in a recent survey1 agreed with the statement, ‘I cannot afford to live in the area I want or need to live in’. Many renters and homeowners alike were unhappy with their current location, with job opportunities (37%), proximity to friends and family (35%) and a better lifestyle […]

An increasing number of older homeowners are choosing to release equity, latest figures1 reveal, with cost-of-living pressures still the main reason for tapping into the value of their home.  Equity release allows over-55s to access some of the value of their home as tax-free cash. In total, homeowners used equity release to borrow £6.2bn in […]

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has been reported to estimate over a quarter of a million homeowners are trapped on mortgage deals because their lenders have become inactive or unable to authorise new products1.  What could change?  Many of these ‘mortgage prisoners’ are no longer able to keep up with repayments, prompting campaigners to reiterate […]

Rising rates have been a feature of the mortgage market for almost a year. Following the latest Bank Rate rise, how should mortgage holders react?  What happened?  With Bank Rate at its highest level in 15 years, in the short term, this will affect anyone with a tracker or variable rate mortgage through higher repayments. […]

If you’re planning to put your home up for sale, there’s a lot to think about right now. As the first daffodils start to bloom across gardens and verges, the housing market usually blossoms too.  In 2023, with expectations of slowing demand and house price falls, it has never been more important to focus on […]

Cost-of-living difficulties are forcing people to reconsider their housing situations, with a new survey1 showing that three in 10 UK homeowners are considering saving money by moving to a smaller property, relocating or living with others. Race for space? After the pandemic-induced race for space, downsizing is back on the cards. Almost one in five […]