Open Finance Meets SME Lending
The FCA has identified SME lending as a priority use case for open finance as it seeks to reduce friction in access to funding. Its review found that regulation was not the principal barrier, but highlighted complex applications, duplicated checks, limited awareness of options and difficulties for businesses with limited collateral or intangible assets. This […]
AI Targets Mortgage Administration Delays
Conveyancing capacity is becoming a significant transaction risk. The number of solicitors practising in residential conveyancing has fallen by more than 2,000 since the end of 2021, while average time to exchange has reached around 123 days. Delays can expose clients to expired offers, changing rates and heightened uncertainty across the purchase chain. Technology providers […]
Fixed Rates Rise Despite Hold
The Bank of England held Bank Rate at 3.75% in September, but mortgage pricing has moved higher. Moneyfacts reported that average two-year fixed rates rose by 17 basis points and five-year fixes by 16 basis points in a week, with the average five-year rate reaching its highest level since 2023. The divergence is a useful […]
First-Time Buyers Reshape Mortgage Advice
First-time buyers accounted for 52.8% of UK mortgage sales in 2025, according to Office for National Statistics figures, compared with 33.8% around two decades earlier. This points to a material structural shift in the mortgage market, even as higher rates, stamp duty changes and affordability pressures continue to shape buyer behaviour. For financial advisers, the […]