Archive

New statistics from the Financial Conduct Authority, analysed by a legal firm, show the clear disadvantage and worsening picture for single...

The times, they are indeed a-changin’. But what Dylan may not have appreciated, however, was how fast that change would be...

Around half a million mortgage-holders are facing an imminent financial shock as their fixed deals end in the run-up to Christmas...

The number of people taking out mortgages with terms of 35 years or more hit a high of 88,059 in 2022,...

The majority of mortgage lenders have committed to showing more flexibility to struggling borrowers but the Government has confirmed that support...

The majority of estate agents are in the dark about the Government’s Economic Crime Levy (ECL), when it was implemented or...

The financial regulator has revised its own data on how many mortgage borrowers may face repayment difficulties as it calls on...

FCS Compliance has announced the latest in its anti-money laundering (AML) series of webinars with Rightmove.  The latest is titled The Role...

Record numbers of buyers have taken out fixed rate mortgages to lock-in lower priced home loans before rates rise further, analysis...

Lower income households and homebuyers could start seeing their mortgage options dwindle as interest rates rise and the cost of living...

A new lender is preparing to enter the mortgage market with long-dated fixed rate mortgages in a move seen by some...

Cybersecurity and cryptocurrencies have been identified among the main risks facing conveyancers. The latest Risk Agenda report from the Council for Licensed...

The Bank of England has confirmed plans to withdraw the requirement for lenders to conduct interest rate stress tests on mortgage...

A group of mortgage advisers has proposed a range of reforms to reduce barriers to home ownership for first time buyers. The...

The stamp duty holiday last year has caused a surge of borrowers taking on mortgages with terms of more than 35...

The Bank of England has issued a consultation on changing the affordability tests for large mortgages introduced in the wake of...

Some agents say they have as many as one in 10 vendors taking their properties off the market and seeking to...

The phrase ‘time is money’ is particularly pertinent for estate agents. Since the stamp duty holiday ended, the forecast drop in...

Disclaimer: This article is intended for information only and does not constitute legal advice. As part of its 2020 budget, the UK...

Regulators are warning the UK’s property, finance and legal sectors to be aware of the possible impacts of the exit from...

The end of a largely-forgotten mortgage initiative connected with the pandemic could end up derailing the current strong housing market, agents...

The long running saga of insurance firms failing to honour agents’ Business Interruption claims appears to be making progress at last. A...

With property fraud on the rise and an ever-increasing number of transactions taking place in the lettings sector, having strict anti-money laundering...

The current crisis has led to many of us to re-evaluate our lives to ensure that we put ourselves in the...

A new campaign to urge whistleblowers to come forward with evidence of wrongdoing has been launched by the Financial Conduct Authority. This...

From 4 May 2021, your agency could be blocked from charging late fees, compounding interest on missing rent and taking any...

New guidance has been issued in a bid to allow agents to get the insurance payouts they expect from the Business...

The Countrywide name is set to disappear from the stock market in a week’s time - and may soon be gone...

The Financial Conduct Authority is extending the ban on repossessions by two months until April 1, in light of the pandemic. The...

The Supreme Court will give its judgment on the long-running Business Interruption Insurance case on Friday. In November a Supreme Court appeal...

Start-up letting agents looking to enter the market are finding it increasingly difficult to set up in business as banks point...

The hundreds of estate and lettings agencies involved in various Business Interruption Insurance policies must wait even longer to find their...

Agents anxious to know if they will receive a payout from their Business Interruption Insurance will have to wait still longer...

A new report funded by high profile consumer champion Martin Lewis says the government must do more to help ‘mortgage prisoners’. These...

The Business Interruption Insurance saga, involving hundreds of agencies awaiting pay-outs on policies, enters its next and final stage later this month. An...

There’s one key takeaway for agents from the weekend’s announcements on the next England-wide lockdown - the housing market is staying...

A security company says it is “disappointing” the estate agency industry is only around 55 per cent through preparations to cope...

The many agents believed to be awaiting pay-outs on their Business Interruption Insurance will have some consolation in knowing that the...

Despite the recent effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, there is still much opportunity in the market for letting agents to grow...

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has been criticised for its lack of enforcement of anti-money laundering (AML) legislation so far in...

The result of a test case over Business Interruption Insurance involving agents has been handed down by the High Court. It has...

Agents involved in a test case over their Business Interruption insurance will know the result next Tuesday morning. The test case concluded...

Letting agents are struggling to open new bank accounts and even large established letting agents with a long history of trading...

Agents are awaiting the outcome of a test case regarding Business Interruption Insurance, which may determine whether they receive thousands of...

An eight day court hearing kicks off this morning as the Financial Conduct Authority begins a test case regarding Business Interruption...

More details have been released about a test case being brought by the Financial Conduct Authority about the ongoing Business Interruption...

The Financial Conduct Authority has published new draft guidance for lenders which will set out options available to their customers in the extended...

There’s been a cautious welcome for the extension to the current mortgage holiday scheme, due to run out for ‘early adopters’...

The City regulator which is bringing a test case over insurance firms refusing to honour Business Interruption policies wants policyholders including...

The Financial Conduct Authority is reported to be considering offering homeowners up to 12 month’s mortgage holidays. Currently 1.2m mortgage payment holidays...

The scandal over Business Interruption Insurance policies is hotting up, with class actions being discussed against insurance firms and the Financial Conduct Authority announcing...

New temporary rules have thrown a lifeline to troubled agencies like Countrywide and Purplebricks which may need to raise additional funds...

Much like PropTech, Open Banking has been used as a buzzword in recent years. However, when it comes to the rental...

Yet another one of the giants of our industry, Hunters, says it’s taking “appropriate measures” to safeguard the firm in the...

The Financial Conduct Authority has released new guidance which clears up some of the uncertainties surrounding the mortgage holidays announced last...

The Financial Conduct Authority has issued a shock warning that mortgage borrowers who purchased properties through the Help To Buy scheme...

In the field of conveyancing, there’s a new dynamic at play. And that dynamic is customer-driven and customer-focused, using digital technology...

Rightmove’s half year figures this morning continue to show strong growth in profits and revenue - but there are the first...

Specialist providers catering for the over-50s has welcomed a move by high-end estate agency Knight Frank to move into equity release. Commenting...

There was a time when the mere mention of the financial services industry brought with it scorn and mistrust. The issues arising...

Mortgage brokers are claiming that “a big number” of buyers are being cajoled into using estate agents’ in-house brokers. The Financial Conduct...

Mortgage prisoners - borrowers unable to switch lenders despite being up-to-date with payments - may have an escape route in sight...

I don’t believe it’s unfair to state that our government, indeed, the entire political establishment is in some turmoil at the...

There’s been a warm welcome from the property and consumer sectors for a suggestion that the Financial Conduct Authority may be...

Whatever one thinks about online estate agencies, it’s a cause of genuine sadness when people lose their jobs - close proximity...

Shock figures out this morning show that a staggering £15.4 billion of annual interest is being paid by mortgage borrowers sitting...

A website that lists private sale properties and calls itself “the all in one property marketplace” has valued itself on a...

Since January 2018, nine of the UK’s biggest banks have allowed competitors direct access to customer data as part of the...

The Financial Conduct Authority says house buyers need more help to find the best priced and most appropriate mortgage deal for their...

An online platform has been launched with the aim of allowing first time buyers to seek crowdfunding to raise enough cash...

The Financial Conduct Authority says it is to review lenders offering solely interest-only mortgages to home owners. In its business plan for...

In recent years the mortgage industry has gone through some testing times. Recession and regulation have led to more stringent lending...

The Financial Conduct Authority is to investigate mortgage competition, including the introduction of clients to lenders by estate agents.    It’s part of...

The Financial Conduct Authority is consulting on new guidance to lenders on how to measure and treat the repayment of arrears...

This week, tech startup Habito claims to have launched the world's first artificially intelligent 'digital mortgage adviser'.  The robo-adviser takes into account...

The Financial Conduct Authority is to encourage lenders to give would-be buyers more choice in the mortgages available. In the Responsible Lending...

Newspapers and other journalists’ outlets are reporting that rooms in care homes are being offered to purchase as buy to let...

The Financial Conduct Authority is remaining tight-lipped as to whether its newly-announced assessment of MMR will lead to easier access to...

The Financial Conduct Authority says it is to hold a review of the mortgage market after last year’s controversial MMR to...

A scam property fund has been wound up on the recommendation of the Financial Conduct Authority after glaiming to offer guaranteed...