Parents across the UK are increasingly worried about their children’s health and wellbeing, according to research from LV=. Their latest ‘Reaching Resilience’ report suggests two-thirds of parents (67%) fear their child being diagnosed with a serious illness. Concerns...

Fixer-uppers are the most popular type of home among buyers this year*. Analysis has found that nearly half (46%) of fixer-upper homes on the market are under offer or have sold subject to contract. Meanwhile, 37% of period properties on the market have found a buyer...

Two-year fixed mortgages could become cheaper than five-year deals in 2025*. Typically, longer fixed mortgage deals are more expensive than two-year deals due to uncertainty surrounding interest rates in the long-term. However, since Liz Truss’ Mini Budget in 2022,...

Owners of electrical vehicles (EVs) are advised to check their motor and home insurance policies as they could fall into the double insurance trap. An increasing number of motor insurers are providing cover for EV cables. While this is promising, it could cross over...

A new Learning and Work Institute report suggests just 1% of UK workers looking to return to work after poor health manage to find a job within six months, even though 20% of those considered to be ‘economically inactive’ want to work. According to the report, a...

The housing market continues to show signs of recovery as house price growth remains relatively stable*. In February, the average UK house price rose by 0.4% - the sixth consecutive monthly increase. Meanwhile, annual growth was at 3.9% - only marginally lower than...

The UK mortgage market bounced back strongly at the end of 2024, driven by first-time buyers and home movers, according to UK Finance. First-time buyer mortgages rose 16.4% to 334,000 last year, while home movers increased by 14.7% to 288,000. Total home purchases...

Are you considering making mortgage overpayments? Here’s what to consider. If you can afford it, there are many advantages to overpaying your mortgage, such as: - Becoming a step closer to being mortgage-free - Reducing the amount of interest you owe - Lowering your...

House prices returned to growth in 2024, as half of the UK’s housing stock increased in value by an average of £7,600*. Last year, 15 million homes in the UK rose in price by at least 1%, with 6.9 million increasing by £10,000 or more. Nearly six million homes stayed...

From 1 April, fewer than 1 in 10 homes will be Stamp Duty free for buyers*. Stamp Duty thresholds are reverting to previous levels in April, so buyers will soon pay more tax on their house purchases. First-time buyers (FTBs) currently do not pay Stamp Duty on homes up...

In February, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted to reduce the Bank Rate to 4.5%. Despite this being the third reduction since August 2024, the MPC has still been cautiously restrictive to sustainably return inflation to its 2% target. In Q4 2024, inflation was...

The UK economy may be slowly recovering but many Brits are still feeling the financial pressure, with one in 10 homeowners struggling to meet their monthly mortgage repayments*. So, what should you do if you find yourself in this difficult situation? Speak to your...

Homeowners in the UK may have noticed that their home insurance premiums have significantly increased. In Q3 2024, the average buildings and contents insurance policy cost £407*– up 16% on the previous year. Regional differences Some regions have been harder hit than...

In today's uncertain economic climate, financial resilience is more crucial than ever. In a recent report*, an impressive 69% of UK workers said they feel very financially resilient – up 4% since last year. Despite this, only 52% hold a protection policy, which leaves...

Recent reductions to Bank Rate may have prompted some cautious optimism among consumers, a report* suggests. In December 2024, rent and mortgage spending increased annually by 1.8% – a significant improvement on the previous month, when spending grew by 8.2% annually....