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The property market has taken a beating, but it still compares well with a traditional pension Two pillars have long held up hundreds of thousands of retirement dreams: the stock market and the property market. Cracks have emerged in both this year. Savers relying on their workplace pension have watched the value of their pots […]

Despite the latest increase to the Bank Rate, mortgage rates are expected to continue to edge downwards during the coming weeks.   The Bank of England has increased interest rates by 0.5% to 3.5% – the highest level since October 2008. It was the ninth meeting in a row at which the Monetary Policy Committee […]

Price increase is being fuelled by a chronic shortage in available properties Rental prices have increased at the fastest rate since records began, adding to the cost of living squeeze for tenants. Private rental prices increased by 3.8% in the 12 months to October 2022, representing the largest annual percentage change since records began in […]

The average cost of a fixed rate mortgage is on its way down, with some high street lenders reducing their deals by 0.75%   The average cost of a fixed rate mortgage has fallen despite the recent interest rate hike. The typical rate charged on a two-year fixed rate deal has dropped by 0.11% during […]

  We asked a team of property experts the most pressing questions of all; then we translated their answers into language we can all understand   The housing market can be ­a confusing and frightening arena at the best of times – and let’s face it, these are not the best of times. Because the […]

The Bank Rate is up by 0.75% but the outlook for mortgage rates is unchanged, with the likelihood borrowing costs will be lower by the year end. Bank of England Rate is up, outlook for mortgage rate improves. The Bank Rate moved 0.75% higher this week. This does not mean the average mortgage rate of […]

Mortgage product choice increases as nearly 900 deals are added, while mortgage rates could ease as the market shows signs of stabilising.   Mortgage rates have hit a 14-year high in the wake of the chaos caused by the mini-Budget. The average cost of a two-year fixed rate deal has soared to 6.65%, while the […]

Landlords have been overwhelmed by demand with 13 prospective tenants lining up for every rental property. Would-be tenants face huge competition as the average number of people registering on letting agents’ books has increased by 88% from 78 to a record high of 147 between February and September, according to the trade body Propertymark. Estate […]

Government could U-turn on housing strategy promise during chronic rental crisis Landlords could be able to continue to evict tenants without reason after reports that the Government plans to scrap its promise to abolish Section 21. Ministers are discussing putting legislation to ban so-called “no-fault” evictions on ice, as the Government no longer considers the policy a […]

Homeowners on the cusp of selling their property were initially buoyed by the news of the stamp duty cut revealed in Kwasi Kwarteng’s mini-Budget. Many were convinced they could bank a windfall from the tax giveaway and rushed to renegotiate deals with their prospective buyers. But within days sellers were themselves under pressure as the balance of power […]

Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng has slashed stamp duty rates, saving the average buyer in England £2,500 in tax on a home purchase. He has doubled the nil-rate stamp duty band from £125,000 to £250,000 in England and Northern Ireland. This means an extra 200,000 buyers will pay no stamp duty whatsoever. Assuming that the pre-existing stamp […]

How long is too long when it comes to buying a home? Here’s how long it takes, the steps involved and what might slow you down when purchasing a property.# It can seem like the process of buying a home is shrouded in mystery. What happens once you’ve made an offer? What’s the next thing […]

  House prices aren’t as overvalued as they were in previous economic cycles Value has spread across the country, giving more people the ability and motivation to move More people are working from home, retiring and reevaluating their lifestyle, which all prompt sales and purchases Nearly a quarter of people said they want to move […]

Smart home tech can help you save time, money and energy – plus it can add value to your home. Here’s how to turn your house into a smart home.   45% of people in the UK already have smart home technology. And it’s expected to hit nearly 85% by 2026, according to Statista. It’s […]

Rising energy bills and a hunger for greener living mean a good EPC rating is now more important than ever. Here’s how to get one for your home. An Energy Performance Certificate (or EPC) rating is essentially a review of a property’s ability to use energy efficiently. All homes must have an EPC certificate when […]

As the housing market starts to slow, if you’re looking to sell your home, now’s a good time to do it, according to the latest signs in our House Price Index.   The average UK property price has remained broadly unchanged this month, rising by just 0.1% since May, according to our latest House Price […]

Nearly two million homeowners will face higher mortgage repayments after the Bank of England increased interest rates for the fifth consecutive time.   The Bank of England has increased interest rates for the fifth consecutive time, lifting the official cost of borrowing to a 13-year high. Its Monetary Policy Committee increased the Bank Rate from […]

For a would-be buyer, the property market is intimidating. House prices are at record highs after two years of frenzied demand and competitive bidding. But there are clear signs that the market has peaked. Rising interest rates are pushing up mortgage costs, just as inflation is eating away at savings, households are battling the biggest drop in […]

Rents have risen by 9.1% in the past year, tempting investors back to the market Landlords have returned to the property market in the biggest bounce back seen since the Government’s buy-to-let tax crackdown six years ago. Investors bought more homes in the first three months of this year than they sold – for the first time since […]

With interest rates rising four times in the last three months, and further rises expected later this year, could now be a good time to remortgage?   The Bank of England has raised interest rates four times in the last three months. The latest rise, from 0.5% to 0.75%, means rates are at their highest […]