Blog

The built environment contributes around 40% of the UK’s total carbon emissions1, meaning energy efficiency is becoming an increasingly essential issue. Enter green mortgages: loans according to which a lender will offer buyers preferential rates and terms if the home...

Investing in a buy-to-let property delivers an average return of 5%, making it a solid choice for would-be investors. However, the returns you’ll get depend heavily on where you buy, research1 shows. Birmingham takes the top spot The study by Seven Capital examined a...

Nearly a third of homeowners (31%) have said they would only consider purchasing protection insurance if they fell ill1 – which defeats the point as it’s already too late.  Other triggers for taking out protection include having an accident (24%) or a change in...

With house prices continuing to strengthen, many buyers are engaged in a race for space. The extension of the Stamp Duty holiday, and subsequent taper, are helping fuel the market.  In June, Andy Haldane the Bank of England’s Chief Economist at the time, spoke at a...

With limited travel back on the agenda, including staycations for many, it pays to think twice before posting a holiday selfie on social media. Your insurer may think you are advertising the fact that you are away from home, leaving your property unoccupied and your...

Seven million people are keeping quiet about mental health issues, while nearly four million are hiding a physical health problem from their families, according to a study1.  Keeping loved ones in the dark about health issues can create problems both now and in the...

The temporary raising of the nil-rate Stamp Duty band threshold to £500,000 ended on 30 June. The measure was introduced in July 2020 to maintain confidence in the housing market during the pandemic. Don’t despair if you missed the deadline, as there's now a tapered...

House prices continue to rocket, with the Nationwide House Price Index1 revealing annual house price growth of 13.4% in June, the highest level since November 2004.  The extended Stamp Duty holiday, in addition to the new mortgage guarantee scheme and changing...

Many family lawyers are predicting that the stresses of the last year will result in a post-lockdown divorce boom. For couples who own their home, one of the biggest decisions is what to do with the property.   One option is to sell the house and split the...

Association of British Insurers (ABI)1 figures show that the insurance industry paid out £6.2bn in life insurance, critical illness and income protection claims in 2020, which averages £17m a day, the highest combined figure on record and up 8% on 2019.   ...

It’s a good idea to take out life insurance, but don’t forget to make sure the proceeds of any payout will go to those you want to benefit. Too often, policies are set up incorrectly and may mean that your loved ones miss out.    Unmarried partners would not be...

One in four UK households have no home contents insurance1, but even if you are insured, you could be invalidating your cover without realising. Here’s how: Unoccupied homes Home insurance policies usually limit the number of days you can leave your property vacant...

Rightmove reported its highest ever number of website visits (over 9.3 million) on 7 April1. In March, house hunters spent over two billion minutes on the property listing site. Buyer demand is high, as families continue to reassess their priorities for their home. In...

Following a vote in the House of Lords, in favour of introducing a Standard Variable Rate (SVR) cap on closed book mortgages, where members backed an amendment to the Financial Services Bill that would cap the SVR for mortgage prisoners and provide access to fixed...

The Chancellor’s announcement of a new government guarantee scheme for 95% LTV mortgages was welcome news for prospective homebuyers with a 5% deposit, who have effectively been blocked from the property market during the pandemic.    Launched in April 2021, the...

It has been reported that the number of mortgage deals on the market in April, is at its highest level in over a year. There are now 3,842 mortgage products on the market, an increase of 9% on the previous month, where 3,522 products were available1.  Product...

Many people have lost something in the last year or so, perhaps their job, freedom to socialise or confidence in their finances. We feel there may have been at least one silver lining, however: that the pandemic is starting to change attitudes about protection...

It’s been a tough year or so for tenants – but it’s also been a difficult one for landlords, with reduced rental income having a knock-on effect on their mortgage prospects.  Many lenders withdrew buy-to-let mortgage deals early in the pandemic but, according to...

If you’re selling up, it’s important to make your home stand out from the crowd of online listings. Here are our top tips to help: Good photography - Bright, professional photographs that capture the space in natural light will make a better impression than quick...

Spring price surge Rightmove’s April House Price Index indicated a monthly surge in asking prices of 2.1% (£6,733) has rocketed the national average house price to £327,797. This is only the second time in five years that prices have jumped by over 2% in a month and...

Research has shown that 50% of parents in the UK have spent thousands of pounds supporting their adult children (18+) during the pandemic1. Although the average spend has been nearly £1,300 over the three-month period to December 2020, one in 50 parents have spent...

In February 2020, the Financial Conduct Authority conducted its second Financial Lives survey1, which it followed up with further research in October 2020, to see how people had coped with the financial impact of the pandemic. The results indicate a rise in financial...

Recent data from mortgage criteria software provider Knowledge Bank, clearly demonstrates the high interest in the buy-to-let market from first-time landlord clients lately. In February, the most searched criteria by buy-to-let brokers was ‘first-time landlords.’ ...

The effect of the pandemic on children is immeasurable, the regular routine of school life, hobbies and celebrations evaporated overnight. One survey asked children what made them feel stressed during lockdown and discovered money worries featured high up the list,...

The Green Homes Grant, which allows homeowners in England to claim vouchers of up to £5,000 to pay for energy-saving home improvements, has been extended. Homeowners will now have until 31 March 2022 to complete energy efficient upgrades to their home, rather than the...

With UK shoppers expected to have spent an average of £346 on Christmas gifts over the festive period, now’s the time to check whether your home insurance still adequately protects you. Expensive presents for the kids, electronic items and high cost jewellery, for...