Historically, a decline in property sales has also led to a boost in private rental market stock. This is based on research1 looking at both sales and rental markets during the 2008-09 financial crisis and recent pandemic downturn. In 2008 property sales volumes...

A recent survey1 has shown that four in five people have no understanding of green mortgages. The terms of each individual deal differ, but typically lenders offer enhanced mortgage deals, for example lower interest rates or cashback, to qualifying homes. Generally,...

There is a natural connection between protection and homeowners, but new research suggests that renters could in fact gain more from the benefits of cover. Rent rise The number of households renting privately in the UK rose by 63% in the decade to 20171, reaching an...

The start of a new year is an ideal time to reassess your finances. Protection should be near the top of your list in 2023. Get protected The right protection for your unique needs is an indispensable safety net against any unexpected downturn in your financial...

Unpredictability was certainly a theme for UK housing in 2022, with political turbulence, Bank Rate hikes and shifting post-pandemic supply and demand patterns all contributing to an uncertain and fast-changing market. As we move in 2023, questions still abound. House...

House prices are widely predicted to fall next year, with drops of around 5% anticipated1. As mortgage rates rise, dampening demand and supply increases mean that prices are projected to fall. Buyer demand has dropped by a third since the September ‘mini-budget’ when...

After the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted to increase Bank Rate to 3% in early November, households across the country are feeling the effects of pricier borrowing. Going up The rise of 0.75 percentage points, an eighth consecutive increase and...

The home-buying process can be complex for the first-time buyer (FTB). So much so that finding the right home can start to seem like the least of your concerns! Here are some top tips to prepare financially before you kick off your search: 1. Know what you need....

As times change, so do tastes. Unsurprisingly, homebuyers in 2022 have a different set of priorities to those in 2012, a new study1 has found. Since the pandemic, interest in garden offices has soared, with 11 times more listings including outdoor office space as a...

First Time Buyers (FTBs) face many external challenges when trying to get on the housing ladder. House prices, mortgage rates and property availability are not within most FTBs’ control. Yet something you can have an impact on is your credit score. Give your score a...

Inflation hit new heights in October, with a rise of 11.1% year-on-year1, driven mostly by essentials such as food and fuel. As the increasing cost of living continues to impact on people’s lives, it is more important than ever to remember another financial essential...

Housing was not at the forefront of Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s Autumn Statement, delivered on 17 November, though a few significant announcements were made in relation to Stamp Duty and social rents. For those looking to buy, the latest fiscal event provided...

With house price growth easing and mortgage rates rising, the economic factors that influence the decision to buy or sell are hard to read. After the lockdown slowdown of 2020 and the home-buying rush of 2021, the housing market has steadied somewhat in 2022. Yet,...

Why are rising interest rates bad news for mortgage holders? And what role does inflation play in pushing repayments higher? Inflationary effect The pace of inflation has been well ahead of the Bank of England’s (BoE’s) target of 2% throughout 2022. In September, the...

It now takes five months, on average, to complete the process of buying a house1, a rise of nearly a quarter since 2019. In the last six months, the average time taken to complete the home buying process stands at 153 days, up from the 124 days recorded in 2019....