Landlord Costs, Rental Supply and Climate Risk
Buy-to-let advisers face a converging set of pressures: landlords are concerned about potential tax rises, rental stock has reportedly fallen by more than 15,500 homes since the Renters’ Rights Act, and rural landlords could face an estimated £8,900 premium for energy-efficiency upgrades. Research also suggests that summer heatwaves added more than £200,000 on average to […]
First-Time Buyers Face Deposit and Debt Pressures
First-time buyer conditions remain challenging. OneFamily research found that 70% of surveyed young adults with student loans believe repayments make it harder to save a deposit, equating to more than 1.5 million people. Separately, first-time buyer demand softened in the third quarter, while higher mortgage rates and the prospect of Budget measures appear to be […]
Leasehold Reform and Agent Regulation: What Changes
The government has set out plans to tackle leasehold-related charges and introduce independent regulation of estate, letting and property-management agents. Proposals referenced in the coverage include mandatory licensing and qualifications for property agents, with the prospect of sanctions for those failing to meet new standards. A timetable for further leasehold legislation has also been indicated. […]
AI Financial Advice: Demand Grows, Governance Matters
Capital One UK research indicates that 13% of people used an AI tool for financial information or advice in the previous year. This is a clear signal that clients may arrive at mortgage and protection conversations with AI-generated assumptions about affordability, rates, credit files or product eligibility. Advisers can turn this into an opportunity by […]
Mortgage Rates Rise: Adviser Actions and AI Monitoring
Mortgage pricing is moving higher again. Nationwide for Intermediaries is increasing selected fixed and tracker rates by up to 21 basis points, while TSB, Virgin Money, Barclays, Foundation and Kensington have also announced repricing. The average two-year fixed rate has reportedly reached 5.93%, while the Bank of England recorded net mortgage borrowing of £4.4bn in […]