Do You Need Different Home Insurance During a House Extension
Why standard UK home insurance can exclude cover during significant building work, when you need to notify your insurer, and how specialist renovation cover works.
Mortgage Affordability: How Lenders Actually Decide How Much You Can Borrow
How UK mortgage lenders calculate affordability beyond a simple income multiple, including stress testing, committed expenditure and self-employed income assessment.
How Mortgage Interest Is Actually Calculated Day by Day
How UK mortgage lenders calculate daily interest, why the day-count convention used (365 vs 365.25) can make your own maths not quite match your statement.
Guarantor Mortgages Explained: How They Actually Work in the UK
How a UK guarantor mortgage works, the difference from a joint borrower sole proprietor mortgage, and what the risk actually means for the guarantor.
Does a CCJ Stop You Renting a Property in the UK?
How a County Court Judgment affects renting in the UK: what letting agents actually check, how landlords tend to respond, and what genuinely improves your chances.
LISA, SIPP or Mortgage Overpayment: Where Extra Money Works Hardest
Comparing a Lifetime ISA, a SIPP and mortgage overpayments as homes for spare cash in the UK: government top-ups, access rules, tax treatment and the real trade-offs.
Getting a Mortgage With a CCJ: What Actually Affects Your Chances
How a County Court Judgment affects a UK mortgage application: satisfied vs unsatisfied CCJs, how long they stay on file, and what lenders actually look at.
Probate Valuation Costs: Property, Contents and Shares (2026)
Probate requires an estate to be valued for inheritance tax purposes before you can apply. Here is what must be valued, the official disbursement fees involved, and HMRC's role.
Andy Burnham's Property Tax Plan Would Replace Council Tax and Stamp Duty
Andy Burnham is reported to be examining a proposal to scrap council tax and stamp duty in favour of an annual property tax based on home value.
Abri and Curo Merger Talks: What a 73,000-Home Landlord Would Mean
Abri and Curo have entered merger talks that would create a 73,000-home housing association serving 142,000 customers across southern England. The financial gap between the two organisations, and what happens next.
FSCS Mortgage Advice Compensation Triples to £1.6m in a Year
FSCS compensation for bad mortgage advice rose from £500,000 to £1.6 million in a year, driven mainly by claims against a firm that defaulted in 2011.
Making Tax Digital for Landlords: The 2028 Threshold Explained
MTD for Income Tax threshold falls to £20,000 by April 2028, catching most unincorporated landlords. What the staged rollout means and what changes when you're in scope.
What Is a CHAPS Payment?
CHAPS is the UK's same-day payment system for high-value transfers, commonly used for house purchases. There is no maximum limit on a CHAPS payment.
What Are Interest Rates?
Interest is what you pay to borrow money, or what you earn for saving it. Bank Rate, currently 3.75%, is the reference point for most UK rates.
What Is the Bank of England Bank Rate?
Bank Rate is the interest rate the Bank of England charges commercial banks. It currently stands at 3.75%, held at the MPC's 18 June 2026 meeting.
What Is the Monetary Policy Committee?
The Monetary Policy Committee is the Bank of England group that sets the UK Bank Rate to keep inflation close to its 2% target.
How to Remortgage in the UK: Complete Guide to Rates, Costs, Timing and What to Check
Complete UK remortgage guide: what remortgaging means, how long it takes, how much it costs, when you can remortgage, product transfer vs switching lender and your FCA rights.
Housebuilders Face GBP4.5bn Class Action Over New-Build Overcharging Claims
A class action seeks up to £4.5bn from 9 major UK housebuilders on behalf of 700,000-plus new-build buyers. What the claim alleges and what it means now.
UK Home Sales Jumped 17% Annually in May 2026: What the HMRC Figures Actually Show
UK residential transactions hit 98,450 in May 2026, up 17% YoY. HMRC explains why the annual comparison is flattered by last year's stamp duty changes.
Opening the Door to Mortgages: What the FCA's Affordability Proposals Mean
The FCA is consulting on giving lenders more flexibility on affordability checks, aimed at first-time buyers, the self-employed and older borrowers.
Proportional Property Tax UK: What Andy Burnham's Council Tax Reform Proposal Means (2026)
Andy Burnham backs a 0.48% Proportional Property Tax to replace council tax and stamp duty. What it would mean, who pays more, and why it isn't policy yet.
Average Mortgage Broker Fee UK 2026: What You Should Expect to Pay
Mortgage broker fees in the UK typically range from £0 to £999 for standard cases. This guide covers what brokers charge, why fees vary, when a fee-free broker makes sense, and what the FCA requires brokers to disclose.
IHT Pension Inclusion UK 2027: How Pensions Will Be Brought Into Inheritance Tax
From April 2027, unused pension funds will be included in the inheritance tax estate for the first time. This guide explains what changes, who is affected, and what steps pension holders can take now.
Mortgage Guarantee Scheme UK 2026: How the Permanent Scheme Works and Who Qualifies
The UK Mortgage Guarantee Scheme provides a government guarantee to lenders on high loan-to-value mortgages, enabling 5% deposit mortgages. This guide covers eligibility, lenders, and how the permanent scheme differs from its predecessors.
What Are Swap Rates? How They Affect UK Mortgage Rates Explained
Swap rates are the wholesale interest rates lenders use to price fixed-rate mortgages. When swap rates rise, fixed mortgage rates follow. This guide explains how swap rates work and what they mean for your mortgage.
FCA Mortgage Affordability Reform 2026: Proposed Rule Changes to Help More Borrowers
The FCA has launched a consultation on proposed changes to mortgage affordability rules to help more people access mortgages - including self-employed borrowers, first-time buyers, and older borrowers. Key changes proposed for 2026.
Andy Burnham Land Value Tax Proposals 2026: What They Mean for Homeowners and Landlords
Andy Burnham, Labour leadership frontrunner, is backing a 0.48% land value tax to replace council tax and stamp duty. This guide explains what a land value tax is, who pays more and who pays less, and the timeline to any change.
Portfolio Landlord UK 2026: Building, Financing and Managing a Property Portfolio
A portfolio landlord owns four or more rental properties. This guide covers how to build a portfolio, finance it, manage tax efficiency, and comply with PRA mortgage rules and the Renters Rights Act 2025.
Renters Reform Act UK 2025: What Changed for Landlords and Tenants
The Renters Rights Act 2025 abolished Section 21 no-fault evictions, replaced fixed-term tenancies with periodic tenancies, and strengthened tenant protections. This guide covers what changed and when.
Portfolio Landlord Mortgage UK 2026: Rules, Lenders and How to Qualify
Portfolio landlords with four or more mortgaged buy-to-let properties face stricter PRA underwriting since 2017. This guide explains the rules, which lenders accept portfolio landlords and how to structure applications.