Business

Major lenders start lifting fixed mortgage rates

HSBC and Coventry Building Society have become the first major lenders to announce increases...

Foxtons financial services revenue climbs 10%

Foxtons increased revenue from its financial services division by 10% in 2025, supported by...

Digital ID guidance leaves mortgage firms seeking clarity

New government guidance endorsing digital identity verification services for regulated sectors has raised questions...

Sanctions evasion networks pose growing AML challenge

Global organised crime networks are being used to help Iran evade sanctions and obscure...

ANALYSIS: Swaps surge and the market braces for impact

It’s been an interesting week so far. Sadly, we’ve had to cancel our BDM...

Spring Statement: Stability welcome but housing reform still missing

The Chancellor’s Spring Statement delivered few surprises for the mortgage and housing sectors prompting...

Luxury asset lending soars 260%

Demand from high-net-worth buyers to finance property purchases using luxury assets has surged by...

Spring Statement 2026: Standing still on debt as risks mount

Yesterday, the Chancellor delivered her Spring Statement. Given the backdrop of war in the...

Analysis: Market shock pushes fixed rates towards imminent rise

With the crisis in the Middle East showing no signs of abating any time...

Broker confidence holds firm as market sentiment dips

Mortgage advisers ended 2025 increasingly confident in their own businesses even as sentiment towards...

Conveyancing strain grows as volumes rise

Conveyancing volumes rose at the end of 2025 easing fears of another market dip...

CA warns SDLT shake-up risks delays and higher costs

The Conveyancing Association has criticised HMRC’s proposed changes to Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT)...

Mortgage borrowing dips as approvals ease

Mortgage borrowing slowed at the start of the year with approvals for house purchases...

Mortgage lending jumps 16% in 2025

Mortgage lending climbed 16% in 2025 to its highest level since the pandemic as...

COMMENT

The case for tech fluency before AI adoption in the mutual sector

It often feels like there is only one conversation taking place in financial services at the moment: artificial intelligence. Whether it’s trade shows and...

Commonhold and RTM: do not mistake control for simplicity

Commonhold is presented as a fairer form of flat ownership. Right to Manage (RTM) is sometimes portrayed as a quick way for residents to...

No holidays: advice firms need a plan for a busy August

Every summer, the same quiet risk runs through the intermediary market. Advisers, case managers and administrators go on holiday. Specialist lending cases, which have...

Every rate shock is becoming a test of the modern mortgage business

Halifax, Barclays and HSBC increased selected mortgage rates by up to 0.20% this week, effective 21 July. Halifax removed its sub-4% deals entirely. Barclays'...

Your next client is probably more complicated than your last one

There's a shift happening in the mortgage market that most small firms aren't ready for. It's not about rates. It's not about the political...

Latest news

Final call for views on FCA mortgage reforms

The mortgage industry has until tomorrow to respond to Financial Conduct Authority proposals intended...

One in five borrow to fund private healthcare

Almost one in five people who recently accessed private healthcare used a credit card...

Digital mortgage ID checks unaffected by government U-turn

Digital identity verification used by mortgage lenders, brokers and other regulated firms is unaffected...

Family BS launches broker Mortgage Hub

Family Building Society has launched an online mortgage application platform designed to give brokers...

PROFILES