Comment

Reeves’ reforms are a welcome boost but the housing market must modernise

Rachel Reeves’ announcement marks a clear shift in housing policy, with measures that could...

What is the Protection Claims Charter – and how does it work?

The moment of truth for any insurance product is at point of claim. Insurers have...

Affordability reforms, housing ambition and the uncomfortable PRS truth

Let’s be clear: the FCA’s recent Discussion Paper (DP25/2) isn’t necessarily about buy-to-let lending....

Broker proactivity can ease path back to prime

One of the lessons we’ve taken from the ever rising levels of interest in...

We need to look again at two-year swaps…

Over the last 12 months, we’ve seen three notable things happen in the swaps...

How product transfers can help landlords and brokers in a challenging market

In an ever-changing buy-to-let market, the task of managing a property portfolio becomes increasingly...

Finding the ‘yes’ on finance for trading businesses

Pressure on UK trading businesses continues to mount, driven by rising costs, tight cash...

Bridging finance for refurbishment – is it light, medium or heavy?

Not all refurbishment projects are created equal. The type of works being undertaken will...

Complaints: A pain that you can handle

One of the biggest problems an adviser can face is a complaint. And those...

The next decade for mortgage advice: back to the future?

The mortgage market has always moved in cycles, and right now it feels like...

Reflecting the modern realities of retirement

There’s a quiet revolution happening in the world of mortgage lending, driven by the...

Energy efficiency is now a mainstream concern for landlords

The energy efficiency of rental property has moved from being a regulatory side note...

Property transactions are slower than ever – why?

While much of the financial services sector is becoming faster and more automated, the...

Beyond the payslip: the importance of rethinking borrower profiles

In our market, the term ‘non-standard borrower is often used to describe applicants whose...

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