Posts by liane

As the year draws to a close and households prepare for the busy winter months, many people take time to review their finances. Mortgage rates, energy bills and day-to-day costs can all shift throughout the year, making autumn a sensible moment to check whether your financial safety nets are still fit for purpose. For most…

If your mortgage deal is coming to an end, your lender may already have contacted you with a new rate. It often looks simple. You log in, click a few buttons, and switch to the next deal. However, before you do that, it is important to ask whether that offer is truly the right one…

The buy-to-let market continues to evolve. With rental demand remaining strong and borrowing costs higher than in previous years, choosing the right investment property has become a more strategic decision than ever. A successful investment is no longer just about location or instinct. It is about understanding what you want your investment to achieve, being…

Renters and landlords are facing the biggest shake-up in housing law for more than thirty years after the Government’s Renters’ Rights Act officially became law1. The legislation, which received Royal Assent on 27 October 2025, will end “no-fault” evictions, tighten property standards and create new rights for tenants. It aims to make renting fairer and…

Taking out a mortgage is one of the biggest financial commitments you will ever make. While securing your initial deal can feel like a major milestone, it is only the beginning. With most UK mortgages offering two or five-year fixed rates, many homeowners will need to remortgage sooner than they realise. Failing to plan ahead…

The Bank of England base rate is currently 4.0%, having fallen from a peak of 5.25% over the past year1. While this downward trend has provided some relief to borrowers, the key question for homeowners and landlords is how low rates might go and when. Inflation is now 3.8%, down sharply from a peak of…

Fraudsters pretending to be the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) have targeted thousands of people this year, with almost 5,000 fake FCA scams reported in the first half of 20251. The FCA has issued a stark warning after its consumer helpline received 4,465 reports of scammers posing as its staff in the first half of 2025.…

New figures have revealed that first-time buyers are now paying an eye-watering £163,047 on rent before they are able to purchase their first home. This represents a 40 per cent increase in a decade, according to research from specialist mortgage lender Perenna1. Back in 2015, renters typically spent £116,427 before buying. Today, they are parting…

When your mortgage deal comes to an end, most people focus on securing the best new rate. However, remortgaging is also the perfect time to step back and look at the bigger picture. It is not only about lowering your monthly repayments, it is also about ensuring that your financial safety net continues to protect…

Millions of self-assessment taxpayers are being urged to stay vigilant after HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) revealed it had received more than 170,000 scam referrals in the year to 31 July 20251. While this is a 12 per cent fall compared with the previous year, over 47,000 of the reports involved fake tax refund scams,…