Simon Bridgland's Media Coverage

Daily Mirror

Brokers have said the current market means the issue is on the rise

Daily Express

Stop falling for the flattering figure

Sky News

Rising gilt yields are “awful news for the government” - but those nearing retirement may be cheering, according to advisers. Here’s why.

Daily Mirror

These changes form part of a broader hit for borrowers as lenders across the board ramp up mortgage rates

Express.co.uk

The changes are part of a wider blow for borrowers

Sky

The pound has plunged to its lowest level in months, as Iran war uncertainty continues. And in another blow for British tourists, visitors to Barcelona are facing a doubling in the city’s tourist tax....

Daily Mirror

The past couple of weeks have been chaos

Express.co.uk

Anyone currently in this position must be wondering what’s happened over the past fortnight

Express.co.uk

‘It’s not clear which way we go from here.’

Thisismoney

Major lenders are raising the price of their mortgages as markets respond to the conflict in the Middle East.

Devon Live

Check where you stand before your current deal ends

Daily Mirror

Check where you stand before your current deal ends

Chronicle Live

Check where you stand before your current deal ends

Thisismoney

First-time buyers have been given a boost to take the first step on the property ladder as another lender launches a zero-deposit mortgage.

This Is Money

First-time buyers with a 20% deposit can now get an interest-only mortgage thanks to a new deal from the lender Gen H.

what MORTGAGE

An interest-only mortgage has been launched by Gen H to provide an affordability boost for borrowers, including first-time buyers.

FTAdviser

HSBC is cutting residential and buy-to-let rates across the board from Monday (February 24).

Daily Mail

The departure of the Spanish banking giant from the UK would deal a hammer blow that risks impacting 14million customers and tens of thousands of staff.

The i Paper

Mortgage rates could still fall in 2025, according to experts

Express.co.uk

Strike action will be disastrous and have serious implications for the UK’s property market, experts warn.

Bristol Live

It comes as finance experts are predicting a home sales boom in the coming weeks as buyers attempt to avoid a rise in stamp duty from April 1

Express.co.uk

Both Barclays and TSB have cut interest rates on new deals with rivals expected to follow suit in the coming days

Manchester Evening News

It comes as finance experts are predicting a home sales boom in the coming weeks as buyers attempt to avoid a rise in stamp duty from April 1

Wales Online

The reductions come as finance experts predict there will be a house sales boom in the coming weeks to avoid the rise in stamp duty from April 1

Express.co.uk

Sweeping changes to stamp duty being brought in next year will lower the threshold at which first-time buyers are liable.

Mortgage Soup

NatWest is making rate cuts of up to 39bps across selected purchase, remortgage and buy-to-let 2- and 5-year fixed rate mortgages tomorrow. Newspage asked brokers whether the tide is turning and if more...

Express.co.uk

A number of banks and building societies have raised interest rates on fixed rate mortgages in recent days

Express.co.uk

The Chancellor has claimed the pension reforms could unlock billions of pounds of investment in UK businesses.

Daily Mail

Markets were spooked in the days following Chancellor Rachel Reeves ′ Budget , which has dented hopes of mortgage rate cuts following next week’s base rate decision by the Bank of England.

Freelance Informer

New research from Aldermore reveals the extent to which self-employed first-time buyers are struggling to get on the property ladder.

GB News

NatWest has confirmed a "huge drop" in the interest rates attached to some of its leading mortgage products in a boon for prospective homebuyers.

Express.co.uk

Economists at Goldman Sachs have suggested the Bank of England base rate could come down from the current figure of 5 percent

Newspage News

Coventry have announced they are hiking selected residential rates, potentially following the ongoing uptick in swap rates caused by concerns around the conflict in the Middle East and uncertainty ahead...

FTAdviser

More2life has launched the UK’s first and only lifetime mortgage with no early repayment charges.

FTAdviser

Coventry Building Society has “killed off any further hopes of a rate war” after raising mortgage rates, according to brokers.

Introducer Today

10 brokers have been asked whether it’s cheaper to buy or to rent, the challenges people face in getting on the ladder and what should be considered.

Manchester Evening News

Metro Bank has added a question about narcotics to its mortgage affordability check - and people are not impressed

Liverpool Echo

Metro Bank has added the inquiry about narcotics to an application form’s affordability check in a bid to understand its customers’ lifestyles and spending habits

Daily Star

Metro Bank has baffled mortgage brokers and applicants by asking how much customers spend on narcotics as part of the process to take out a home loan

Express.co.uk

The question appears in the application form as part of the affordability check

Grimsby Live

The Bank of England’s decision to keep the base rate on hold can be seen as a sign of fear

Express.co.uk

So-called “Sonia swap rates”, which set the benchmark for lending between financial institutions, have risen slightly over the past week.

The Sun

PAYING for somewhere to live each month is the biggest bill that most of us have to foot. But there can be a big difference in exactly how much this cost is, depending on whether you have a mortgag…

The Mirror

A mortgage price war is been hotting up, with the prospect that the cheapest home loans could break the sub-3% barrier next year, bringing much-needed relief for borrowers after years of pain

Express.co.uk

Major banks and building societies have been playing a game of leapfrog with new home loan rate cuts being announced every few days

Birmingham Live

Over the last 60 days, swap rates have fallen by an average of 0.08 per cent daily, compared to an average daily increase of 0.13 per cent over the previous 60 days.

Express.co.uk

The move by Barclays follows a reduction earlier in the day from the TSB while other lenders are expected to follow suit over the next few days.

Express.co.uk

Mortgage brokers described the rate cuts across a series of products as “aggressive” and predicted that other major lenders will follow suit

The Telegraph

Bank regularly reserves best possible deals for new buyers only, brokers claim

Birmingham Live

It appears to be a response to other high street lenders making cuts earlier this week.

Express.co.uk

There were 62,000 home loan approvals in July as falls in interest rates made monthly repayments more affordable.

Daily Mail

The Prime Minister sparked panic with a gloomy Downing Street speech on Tuesday, in which he warned Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ upcoming budget would be ‘painful’.

Birmingham Live

It is changing rates on a selection of products across its Residential Purchase, Remortgage and Reward ranges. Notably, its 5-year fixed at 60% LTV has been reduced to 3.84%.

The Mirror

The mortgage price war has intensified with Barclays launching the UK’s cheapest home loan at 3.84 percent as banks and building societies battle to attract homebuyers

Express.co.uk

Further cuts are expected in the coming days which are predicted to trigger a rush to buy through the rest of this year.

The Telegraph

Major banks slash ‘lock-in period’ for loan offers as rate cuts intensify

FTAdviser

Introducing a hardship test for landlords will force many good landlords to flee the rental sector, some brokers have warned.

The Sunday Times

A new deal at less than 4 per cent is offering hope to homeowners, but those coming off a five-year fix are still in for a shock, says Rachel Mortimer

The Sun

THE mortgage price war continues to heat up, with four more lenders slashing rates amid hopes of an interest rate cut. TSB and Santander are the latest big names to reveal a drop in the cost of bor…

Express.co.uk

The new spate of mortgage rate cuts comes ahead of the release of important inflation data this week.

The Sun

MORE major lenders have revealed cuts to mortgage rates following hot on the heels of several big banks. First Direct, Nationwide and Coventry Building Society are the latest to reveal a big drop i…

Moneyweek

Homeowners and landlords are being offered cash to fund energy improvements on their property. We explain how the latest green mortgage works

Birmingham Live

The new HSBC UK rules take hold on Wednesday, July 10 and will see the bank remove the 65 per cent and 80 per cent loan to value tiers, allowing customers to access higher lending amounts at a higher LTV.

Express.co.uk

HSBC’s criteria switch-up has been largely met with praise from mortgage brokers.

Express.co.uk

Chancellor Rachel Reeves gave an update on Monday about her fiscal plans for the UK.

Sky News

Santander has become the latest lender to announce cuts across a range of its mortgage products.

Birmingham Live

The high street bank has confirmed new rates which brokers say will kick off a war among high street banks.

Express.co.uk

Industry experts say this latest move has the potential to ramp up a rates battle between Britain’s biggest lenders.

Introducer Today

Big banks drop rates and likely to trigger copycat cuts

The Intermediary - Latest UK mortgage news

Following the Bank of England’s decision to hold the base rate steady last week, a number of major banks have introduced rate reductions.

Express.co.uk

The maximum loan it will allow on a house in terms of loan to value (LTV) is going up from 85 percent to 90 percent.

This Is Money

Three major lenders have cut mortgage rates in what could be the start of a downward shift in interest rates.

Buytolet Insider

This follows the news that UK housebuilder Berkeley will be launching its own BTR platform, with plans to comprise an initial 4,000 homes across 17 of its sustainable brownfield regeneration sites as an...

Protection Reporter

On the 14th March 2024, Shepherds Friendly announced that it would “no longer take on any business as DeadHappy’s underwriter,” closing doors to new life insurance customers.

Protection Reporter

On the 14th March 2024, Shepherds Friendly announced that it would “no longer take on any business as DeadHappy’s underwriter,” closing doors to new life insurance customers.

This Is Money

Three major lenders have cut mortgage rates in what could be the start of a downward shift in interest rates.

Birmingham Live

Products with the biggest cuts include a two-year fixed with £899 product fee - 60 per cent loan-to-value (LTV), min loan £5k, max loan £2m

Express.co.uk

The reductions come despite the fact the Bank of England refused to cut the base rate from its 16 year high of 5.25 percent last week.

Sky News

Barclays has announced rate reductions across a number of its mortgage deals, with brokers suggesting more lenders could follow suit in the coming days.

Sky

Welcome to the Money blog, your place for personal finance and consumer news and advice. Let us know your thoughts on any of the topics we’re covering using the comments box below.

FTAdviser

NatWest has broken the mould by making changes to its product pricing, according to Samuel Mather-Holgate, IFA a Mather and Murray Financial.

Landlord Today

Mortgage experts have criticised the Reform UK housing and tax policies as being superficially appealing but risking a return to the financial damage created by the Liz Truss mini-Budget in 2022.

Moneyweek

The general election manifestos say little about mortgage support for homeowners, yet many will see their cheap deals end as the nation heads to the polls.

Bristol Live

Some careers and job types could hinder Brits trying to apply for their first mortgage as brokers share vital warning

The Telegraph

Buyers in careers with early average retirement ages face more scrutiny from lenders

Express.co.uk

Mortgage brokers have slammed the increases, questioning whether they are justified.

FTAdviser

Lenders need to adopt a more pragmatic long-term view to lending to overcome uncertainty in the market, according to Kevin Bailey, managing director at Wessex Investment Management.

Letting Agent Today

Any lingering hope of a pre-election interest rate cut by the Bank of England has been hurt by the government’s Office for National Statistics (ONS) data showing wages rising at 6% annually over the last...

The Negotiator

Labour it would change the existing mortgage guarantee scheme into a permanent fixture if it wins the election, but leading brokers are unimpressed.

FTAdviser

Gen H's tool to address credit search transparency has been hailed as a “mortgage market game-changer” by brokers.

Sky News

HSBC has today announced wholesale rate hikes across its residential and buy-to-let mortgage product ranges. Read this and the rest of today’s consumer and personal finance news below - and leave your...

Express.co.uk

The situation is so serious that brokers are urging City watchdogs at the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to take an urgent look at the issue.

Express.co.uk

Labour has indicated it will back a ban on no fault evictions of tenants, while the party is also under pressure to allow councils in some areas to introduce a cap on rents.

The Intermediary - Latest UK mortgage news

In response one broker said: “Many of the borrowers I deal with have far more unsecured debt these days, often worrying amounts, which they are then looking to consolidate into their mortgage.”

The Intermediary - Latest UK mortgage news

The latest official individual and company insolvency data has been released today by The Insolvency Service.

The Intermediary - Latest UK mortgage news

Average house price annual inflation was 1.8% in the 12 months to March 2024, compared with negative 0.2% in the 12 months to February.

The Intermediary - Latest UK mortgage news

UK inflation falls to 2.3%, nearing the Bank of England’s target and potentially prompting interest rate cuts this summer.

inews.co.uk

A higher-than-expected inflation reading and general election call on Wednesday was followed by mixed signals in the mortgage market

FTAdviser

Mortgage rates, pensions policy and investments could all be affected by the upcoming general election.

Express.co.uk

The rise, which equates to 9.5 percent, suggests more of the nation are effectively living on borrowed money.

Protection Reporter

According to Newspage, there’s growing concern amongst brokers battling ill-informed excuses for failed financial planning and consumer reliance on price comparison sites for life & health insurance.

FTAdviser

A psychic medium telling a client they will live into their 80s and needing to pay for pet insurance are some of the reasons given by clients for not taking out protection cover.

The Intermediary

“The Government will pay the mortgage” & “smoking is not bad for you”, are among the strangest reasons why borrowers have refused life cover.

Express.co.uk

Forty-two percent of new mortgages taken out in the last quarter of 2023 had an end date beyond the state pension age.

The Intermediary

In the last quarter of 2021, nearly a third - 31% - of new mortgages had an end date beyond the state pension age.

The Intermediary - Latest UK mortgage news

After yesterday’s hold by the Bank of England, Newspage asked 20 financial services experts when they think the first rate cut will come.

The Intermediary - Latest UK mortgage news

With a cut to base rate looking less likely in the coming months, the money markets are pricing in for higher rates in the short term.

The Intermediary - Latest UK mortgage news

Lloyds Banking Group’s profits plunged by 28% in early 2024 as competition grew for mortgages and deposits.

The Intermediary - Latest UK mortgage news

TSB informed brokers that it will be increasing selected rates across its offering, as well as withdrawing a number of existing products.

The Intermediary - Latest UK mortgage news

Net mortgage approvals for house purchases rose from 60,500 in February to 61,300 in March, data from The Bank of England has found.

The Intermediary

A number of brokers have expressed frustration on Newspage recently about the state of mortgage underwriting, specifically around lenders suddenly asking for huge amounts of evidence for even the most...

Money Marketing

Insurance intermediary DeadHappy has shut its doors to new customers after its insurance partners pulled the rug following a disastrous advertising campaign. DeadHappy, known for its hugely controversial...

Cover magazine

Life insurer, DeadHappy, has been told that it cannot accept new life insurance customers at the moment.

FTAdviser

The life insurance firm DeadHappy has announced that it “cannot accept” new life insurance customers at the moment.

The Intermediary

Life insurance firm, DeadHappy, known for its controversial ads — with one featuring Harold Shipman “because you never know who your doctor might be’ — has announced that it is unable to accept new life...

FTAdviser

A series of mortgage rate increases among the biggest lenders, including NatWest, Santander, and Halifax, have been announced.

The Observer

Homebuyers have to try to navigate their way to an affordable deal with no help in the budget to ease the pain

The Intermediary

This comes following January reports that the Chancellor was set to introduce 1% deposit, or 99% loan-to-value (LTV) mortgages as part of the upcoming Spring Budget.

This Is Money

Anyone taking out a mortgage at the moment will likely be pondering the same questions - how long to fix for? Should they fix at all?

Mortgage Professional

Brokers offer an update

Mortgage Professional

Brokers discuss where they feel their knowledge may need a boost

FTAdviser

The closure of Amazon’s insurance business less than two years after its launch has not come as a surprise to brokers.

The Intermediary - Latest UK mortgage news

George Freeman, former minister for Mid-Norfolk, has resigned from his position, citing an inability to cope with skyrocketing mortgage payments.

The Intermediary - Latest UK mortgage news

HSBC’s max age at the end of term remains 80 however, affordability needs to be evidenced up to the 70th birthday of the oldest applicant.

Mortgage Solutions

Brokers have emphasised the importance of working with later life specialists if the market is outside the adviser’s usual area of expertise.

Mortgage Professional

Brokers discuss where they feel their knowledge may need a boost

Yahoo News

HSBC has become the latest lender to cut mortgage rates amid predictions that more banks and building societies will follow suit in the coming weeks. First Direct, a division of HSBC, is also set to announce...

The Guardian

Five- and 10-year fixed-rate remortgage offers announced as lenders big and small reduce rates

FTAdviser

Brokers have questioned how the government expects households to cope with increased mortgage costs if minsters themselves are struggling.

Mortgage Solutions

Brokers need to be creative in finding the right protection solutions for clients with reduced budgets, intermediaries have suggested.

The Intermediary

Lenders are not letting a small increase in inflation spoil the recent pattern of fixed rate cuts, with both Santander and Skipton announcing cuts this morning.

Daily Mail

Halifax, the UK’s largest lender, became the first company to slash rates on its remortgage deals by up to 0.83 percentage points yesterday, just hours into the first working day of the year.

The Times

Intense competition is expected to trigger a ‘manic week’ in the housing market

The Intermediary - Latest UK mortgage news

The adjustments include a 2-year fixed remortgage rate now at 4.68%, a decrease from the previous rate of 5.25%.

The Intermediary - Latest UK mortgage news

With the Spring Budget having now been confirmed for 6th March 2024, mortgage brokers have urged Chancellor Jeremy Hunt to take bold steps to rejuvenate the housing market.

FTAdviser

It is a matter of time before individuals see the emergence of a sub-4 per cent mortgage rate following a fall in Swap rates, according to brokers.

The Intermediary - Latest UK mortgage news

Simon Bridgland, broker/director at Release Freedom, shares his enthusiasm for the later life sector in 2024.

The Intermediary - Latest UK mortgage news

Brokers debate whether reverting to a three-month window for Product Transfers will work better for the industry.

The Intermediary

Approximately 2,466 companies registered for insolvency throughout November.

Introducer Today

Nationwide’s slashed rates means price war goes on to end of year

FTAdviser

It is "madness" that the Financial Conduct Authority allows firms to solely offer equity release advice, South Coast Mortgage Services director, Gareth Davies, has argued.

Mortgage Introducer

Advise Wise, the later life sourcing platform, recently launched its fact find and suitability letter system in the wake of the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) review of the equity release market –...

The Intermediary

Brokers welcomed the news and said it should boost the property market as the year draws to a close.

Mortgage Solutions

The revolving door of the housing minister is actively harming the sector, holding back the chances of building enough homes, brokers have argued.

inews.co.uk

The reasons behind taking out equity release are changing and are now primarily as people need access to more cash

The Intermediary - Latest UK mortgage news

The typical home now costs £281,974, up around £3,000 on the previous month.

The Intermediary

The post suggests that borrowers may be able to tackle rising cost of living pressures by making overpayments on their mortgage, extending their mortgage term, or switching to an interest-only deal.

Mortgage Solutions

Interest in equity release products has improved of late, brokers have reported, though the reasons for borrowing have moved from the aspirational to the necessary.

This Is Money

Some lenders are now charging a percentage of the mortgage balance as a fee - which could add thousands of pounds to the cost of a borrower’s loan.

Mortgage Professional

Brokers discuss their advice for clients with the Christmas break looming

Mortgage Professional

Brokers discuss how to build trust with their clients

The Intermediary - Latest UK mortgage news

Newspage asked brokers how a slight decline might affect the mortgage market.

The Intermediary - Latest UK mortgage news

One specialist suggested an extra field should be added to Direct Debit mandates where people can write what the payment relates to in their own terms, e.g. “Pays off mortgage if I’m ill” — which could...

Mortgage Professional

“Hell will freeze over before the regulator, government or industry bodies educate people in some sort of joined up way”

The Intermediary

Following its rebrand last week, brokers have shared their views on the new Nationwide logo and strapline.

Protection Reporter

In the last six months, the individual protection market has lost Canda Life, Aegon, and now AIG Life UK, leaving advisers concerned about the future of innovation.

The Intermediary

Brokers and protection specialists have shared their views on how and when protection advice should be provided, and whether it can be overlooked during busier times.

LinkedIn

Thanks Newspage for the sound bite.

The Intermediary

Brokers told Newspage that this was a “lifeline for first-time buyers.”

FTAdviser

Protection experts have warned that an increasing number of people are ignoring or even cancelling protection policies due to rising mortgage payments.

The Intermediary - Latest UK mortgage news

UK house prices showed no signs of growth in September, marking a 5.3% decrease year-on-year, according to the latest data from Nationwide.

The Negotiator

A review of the multi-occupancy buildings insurance market found that leaseholder insurance premiums had risen since Grenfell tragedy.

The Telegraph

House prices dropped for the eighth month in a row as mortgage approvals plummeted.

Protection Reporter

According to Newspage, advisers have seen a growing majority of people ignoring or even cancelling Life, Critical Illness (CI), and Income Protection (IP) because it’s a “luxury” they can’t afford.

Financial Reporter

Halifax is the latest lender to reduce rates across its range.

BirminghamLive

Brokers welcomed the news but warned that, with SWAP rates edging up, the rate battle may slow in the weeks ahead.

Financial Reporter

Residential and buy-to-let rates have reduced by up to 0.50%.

Mortgage Professional

It is also reducing all residential and BTL fixed rates across its new business and product transfer ranges

BirminghamLive

5-year fixed rate for purchase clients of 4.95% at 60% loan-to-value, and a sub-5.5% 2-year fixed rate launched

Mortgage Professional

Brokers say higher interest rates have resulted in declining demand

Financial Reporter

The increase will apply to customers on fixed or tracker rate products.

Mortgage Strategy

NatWest has made changes to allow new and existing mortgage customers to make an overpayment of up to 20% without incurring an early repayment charge (ERC). The overpayment allowance, which has increased...