News

Most houses have at least a little clutter lying around. Maybe a few old schoolbooks circa 1960, or some of the children’s old teddies; lofts and cupboards across the country are full of what optimists might call ‘keepsakes’ and what others would label ‘junk’. Over the years, some priceless artefacts have been uncovered in the […]

Launched in September 2020, the Green Homes Grant is a government scheme that allows homeowners in England to claim vouchers of up to £5,000 to help pay for energy-saving home improvements. Examples include insulating your home to reduce your energy use or installing low-carbon heating to lower the amount of carbon dioxide your home produces. […]

The equity release market is gradually showing signs of recovery following the initial lockdown last spring, although activity is still below the previous year’s levels. A total of £963m of equity was released in Q3 2020 by new and returning customers, according to data from the Equity Release Council (ERC), up 38% from Q2 but […]

Here’s a quick reminder of your mortgage ready tips for the year ahead: Advice – Choosing the right mortgage deal can be a challenge, which is why we’re here to advise and support you throughout the process and help you find the right deal for your circumstances. Budget and Be prepared – Go through your […]

Whatever 2021 has in store, we want to reassure you that we’re here for you and your financial planning needs. In addition to uncertainties created by the pandemic, Brexit, trade and political issues will no doubt persist. As always, the only real certainty is that we live in uncertain times. There are many factors involved […]

When the property market reopened in mid-May last year, pent-up demand, combined with many people reassessing their housing needs following lockdown, led to a surge in buyer demand. Demand was further bolstered when, in July, the Chancellor announced a Stamp Duty holiday, during which the first £500,000 of most residential property purchases in England and […]

Most people (98%)1 appreciate the impact their home has on their sense of wellbeing, which can be thrown into turmoil if problems with neighbours present. Nearly two thirds of Britons (64%) have had a dispute with a neighbour2, with Welsh residents having the most gripes (72%), followed by those in Northern England (70%), South West […]

Granny and Grandad lend a hand Nearly half (48%) of grandparents have stepped in to shore up their financially-struggling grandchildren during the pandemic1. This help has come in the form of cash (32%), childcare (8%) and assistance with rent and mortgage payments (6%). FCA announces new mortgage support Borrowers struggling to make their mortgage repayments […]

It seems the months spent at home have been put to good use as the nation reflected on their living space and chose to spend an average of just over £4,000 each on renovating their homes, since lockdown commenced in March. A study1 has highlighted that the key area for improvement has been upgrades to […]

Your first port of call should be getting your finances in good shape before lenders review them and assess your ability to make repayments on your loan. Some top tips for standing yourself in good stead include:  Save – To improve the chances of being offered a mortgage on favourable terms, save as much as […]