Buy-to-let at 30: the mortgage that changed Britain’s housing market

John Heron helped create buy-to-let when landlords had almost nowhere to turn for finance. Thirty years later, he and Paragon Bank's Louisa Sedgwick reflect on the boom, the backlash - and why they believe Britain needs the sector...

Latest news

PMS reports double-digit growth in mortgages and protection

PMS Mortgage Club says it is on course for its strongest performance in five years after recording higher lending, mortgage completion and protection volumes...

Property firms urged to engage early with digital home-moving reforms

Property professionals have been urged to start testing digital home-moving processes now rather than waiting for new requirements to become mandatory. Industry representatives speaking at...

DPMSG launches consumer guide to Smart Property Data

The Digital Property Market Steering Group has launched a consumer-focused video explaining how Smart Property Data could change the home buying and selling process. The...

Together joins Equity Release Council as later life market broadens

Together has become a member of the Equity Release Council as the specialist lender looks to play a greater role in the developing later...

Cambridge BS funding supports expansion of domestic abuse charity

The Angels Foundation UK has opened a wellbeing centre in Cambridgeshire after receiving the first year of a three-year, £150,000 funding commitment from the Cambridge Building Society. The charity, which supports survivors of domestic abuse, has used the funding...

Landbay adds 11 tracker products and cuts rates by up to 15bps

Landbay has expanded its buy-to-let tracker range with 11 new products and reduced rates on a number of existing deals by up to 15 basis points (bps). The lender has introduced new options across its Core, Premier, Small HMO...

Howden expands in North Wales with Wrexham office

Howden has opened its first commercial insurance office in Wrexham as the broker expands its presence across North Wales. The firm said the expansion reflected growing demand from businesses in the region for specialist insurance, risk management and advisory...

UK buyers reluctant to compromise despite affordability pressures

UK homebuyers remain committed to purchasing a property but are less willing than buyers overseas to change their spending, borrowing or property expectations to make a move possible, according to research from Cotality. The property data and analytics business...

PROFILE

Darrell Walker on LendInvest’s next chapter

After 35 years in banking and mortgages, the former football hopeful thought he might have found the company where he would see out his...

INDUSTRY COMMENT

Harpenden’s expat move could be bigger than the numbers suggest

Harpenden Building Society’s move into expat mortgages this summer has been good news for brokers and borrowers. But I think its importance goes beyond...

Vulnerability and mortgage affordability: two sides of the same coin

Typically, affordability and customer vulnerability have sat in different parts of the business. Credit risk looks after affordability: can this person repay what they’re...

We need to wait to get a clearer picture

It's been a week where the political and economic backdrop has moved almost as fast as rates themselves, and it's worth taking stock of...

Q&As

BUY-TO-LET

Chetwood Bank takes Tower 42 office as balance sheet reaches £7bn

Chetwood Bank has opened a new London office in Tower 42 as it expands...

RAW Capital Partners adds specialist mortgages to L&G Ignite

Brokers using L&G's Ignite sourcing platform can now access RAW Capital Partners' specialist buy-to-let...

Fleet launches broker guide to Renters’ Rights Act changes

Fleet Mortgages has introduced a suite of resources to help brokers discuss the implications...

Portfolio landlords feel growing strain from rental management

Almost three-quarters of portfolio landlords say managing their rental properties has become harder over...

Brilliant Solutions adds SME finance service for introducers

Brilliant Solutions has launched a dedicated SME lending proposition aimed at giving introducers access...

Buy-to-let market reaches £311.6bn as sector marks 30 years

The UK buy-to-let market has grown to almost two million outstanding mortgages worth £311.6bn,...

Rely launches limited edition buy-to-let range with rates from 2.85%

Rely has introduced a limited edition buy-to-let range with rates starting at 2.85% and...

FIRST-TIME BUYERS

FORTO Finance launches with focus on expat mortgage market

FORTO Finance has launched in the UK mortgage and protection market following a pilot that began in April. The new brokerage will advise on residential mortgages, remortgages, buy-to-let lending, specialist property finance and protection. Founded by mortgage and protection adviser Anthony Curtis, with Esmé Rook as...

Gable launches 100% LTV mortgage range for first-time and next-time buyers

Gable Mortgages has launched a 100% loan-to-value mortgage range aimed at first-time buyers and...

First-time buyers face 21-month minimum saving period for upfront costs

A typical private renter would need almost 21 months to save the £26,409 required...

Skipton extends Delayed Start mortgage to more home movers

Skipton Building Society has widened access to its Delayed Start Mortgage, allowing more home...

Leasehold valuation reform: the consultation is asking only half the question

The Government's consultation on leasehold enfranchisement valuation rates is important because it will help...

OPINION

What commonhold will mean for mortgage lenders and brokers

Commonhold is often presented as the straightforward alternative to leasehold. It removes the freeholder, gives flat owners greater control and avoids some familiar problems...

Why you need to know what sits behind the average review score

There’s a funny thing about review scores. The better they are, the less likely...

The new Chancellor wants to remove barriers to growth; he should start with housing

There was probably a degree of unintended irony in the Treasury choosing to call...

Brokers are losing the attention battle 1,000 to 3

Take a client you placed on a 5-year fix last year. Over the life of that deal, their bank is now planning to contact them somewhere between 780 and 1,300 times. Three to five times a week, every week, for five years. That's the published...

Triple lock or no triple lock? That is not the question

The debate over the State Pension triple lock has returned. But perhaps the more important question is what the debate tells us about the...

DISTRIBUTION

Monmouthshire joins Paradigm lender panel

Paradigm Mortgage Services has added Monmouthshire Building Society to its lender panel, giving member...

L&G Mortgage Club adds estate agency referral service

L&G Mortgage Club has partnered with GOTO Estate Agency to launch a referral service...

Subcontext brings protection distribution into ChatGPT and Claude

Subcontext has launched technology that it says will allow UK insurers and brokers to...

Nationwide names Richard Walker to lead intermediary sales and new-build business

Nationwide has appointed Richard Walker as head of intermediary sales and new build, bringing...

Walsham Brothers expands adviser reach with Paradigm Protect panel deal

Walsham Brothers has added Paradigm Protect to its growing list of distribution partners as it seeks to widen adviser access to its mortgage payment protection insurance range. Adviser members of Paradigm Protect will now be able to access Walsham Brothers' mortgage payment protection insurance (MPPI)...