affordability

Mortgage availability rises as lenders cut pricing

Mortgage availability increased in the first quarter of 2026 as lenders loosened supply and...

Market stalls as rates surge on Middle East tensions

The UK housing market lost momentum in March with rising borrowing costs and geopolitical...

Finova Broker Payments links with Mortgage Broker Tools on broker research offering

Finova Broker Payments has agreed a partnership with Mortgage Broker Tools that will give...

Modified affordability remortgages more than double after FCA rule change

The number of borrowers switching to a new lender using modified affordability assessments more...

Regulators set out framework for higher loan-to-income lending as cap is eased

The Prudential Regulation Authority and Financial Conduct Authority have published proposals setting out how...

Property transactions rebound from January dip

UK property transactions picked up in February but activity remains below last year’s levels...

Targeted deposit scheme could help one million first-time buyers onto housing ladder

A new government-backed deposit scheme could provide a route onto the housing ladder for...

RSM UK urges action as house price growth stalls and transactions fall

RSM UK is calling for stamp duty reform and more support for first-time buyers...

Solar and heat pump rules could push up mortgage prices

New rules forcing developers to install solar panels and low-carbon heating systems on most...

Five things brokers across the country are telling me right now

The thing I’ve always enjoyed most about working in the specialist mortgage market is...

The FCA has made the case for holistic mortgage advice

Last Thursday, the head of the FCA stood up at the JP Morgan Pensions...

Skipton index charts three decades of worsening access for first-time buyers

The proportion of under-25s buying their first home in England has fallen sharply since...

Brokers want live criteria as AI changes how cases are placed

Brokers are increasingly turning to technology to ensure they are working with accurate, up-to-date...

Growing demand for faster, more supportive broker service among first-time buyers

First-time buyers are leaning heavily on brokers for speed, reassurance and help navigating affordability...

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...

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...

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 determine what leaseholders pay to extend leases or buy freeholds,...

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 we are to question them. If a company is sitting at...

Latest news

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...

Howden expands in North Wales with Wrexham office

Howden has opened its first commercial insurance office in Wrexham as the broker expands...

UK buyers reluctant to compromise despite affordability pressures

UK homebuyers remain committed to purchasing a property but are less willing than buyers...

Keystone trims buy-to-let fixed rates by up to 15bps

Keystone Property Finance has reduced pricing across a number of its buy-to-let mortgage ranges,...

PROFILES