Mortgage Strategy
Samuel Dale Editorial

Escape route

21 May 2012

Many existing borrowers are trapped on their mortgage by tighter lending criteria, interest-only restrictions and falling house prices. Our experts try to find ways out for them

Major banks face £356bn Basel III bill

17 May 2012

Major banks will have to raise an extra £356bn worth of capital to meet Basel III requirements, a Fitch Ratings report claims.

MEPs struggle to agree as European mortgage directive delayed for fifth time

15 May 2012

A key stage of the European mortgage directive has been delayed for a fifth time meaning the vote is now set to take place six months later than first planned.

Back super-regulator, Darling urges industry

14 May 2012

Former chancellor Alistair Darling has called on the financial services industry to support regulatory changes.

60 seconds with... James Chidgey, senior manager of corporate accounts, Nationwide

14 May 2012

No entry

14 May 2012

The market desperately needs more competition and this can’t happen without new entrants. But the FSA’s tough stance and delays in gaining authorisation are making this a difficult prospect

Shapps: Tackling the deficit has kept repossessions low

11 May 2012

Tackling the government’s budget deficit is keeping interest rates low and curbing repossessions, says housing minister Grant Shapps.

BSA conference: New regulator will be stricter than FSA

10 May 2012

The Financial Conduct Authority will be more intrusive and judgemental than the current Financial Services Authority.

BSA conference: MMR still traps borrowers

9 May 2012

The Building Societies Association is warning about mortgage borrowers being trapped by the Mortgage Market Review despite transitional arrangements in the last paper.

BSA conference: Europe treaty will fail, says Darling

9 May 2012

The European fiscal stability pact is akin to the Treaty of Versailles and will not work says former chancellor Alastair Darling.

Lenders ditch plans for a mortgage fraud squad

7 May 2012

Lenders have scrapped plans to launch a specialised mortgage fraud unit within the City of London Police.

Rising cost of wholesale funds threatens lending

7 May 2012

The high cost of wholesale funding may force lenders to scale back their lending, with Lloyds Banking Group revealing that it is looking to cut its market share by 3%.

Pain relief

7 May 2012

No-one can deny the house building sector is in a sickly state and the government is pinning its hopes on a combination of remedies to cure it

James Chidgey to lead Nationwide new-build team

6 May 2012

James Chidgey, senior manager of corporate distribution at Nationwide, is moving jobs to lead the building society’s new-build proposition from July 1.

RBS mortgage market share falls to 11%

4 May 2012

The Royal Bank of Scotland’s share of gross mortgage lending has fallen from 14% in Q1 2011 to 11% in Q1 2012.

End of Stamp Duty holiday sees mutual lending rocket in March

2 May 2012

Gross mortgage lending by mutuals rocketed 40% in Q1 2012 compared to last year as first time-buyers took advantage of the Stamp Duty holiday, Building Societies Association data shows.

Nationwide confirms it will return incomplete paper applications

1 May 2012

Nationwide has confirmed it will return paper applications to brokers who fail to complete them with the required information.

Portillion closes down

30 Apr 2012

Portillion has withdrawn its Financial Services Authority application and decided not to pursue becoming a mortgage lender.

Distributors join with regulated lenders to tackle bridging fraud

30 April 2012

Major distributors are seeking to protect themselves against bridging fraud by teaming up with regulated lenders.

60 seconds with... Tim Johnson, chief executive, Paymentshield

30 April 2012

Return to recession is no surprise and is unlikely to unnerve lenders

30 April 2012

The UK is back in recession after Q1 data from the Office for National Statistics showed a 0.2% drop in gross domestic product.

Turnover up by a fifth for Countrywide's financial services division

26 Apr 2012

Turnover for Countrywide’s financial services division grew by almost a fifth in Q1 2012 compared to last year.

HSBC set to raise new-build LTV to 85%

25 Apr 2012

HSBC is planning to increase its maximum LTV on new-build mortgages from 75% to 85% LTV.

Precise vows to clean up bridging with distributor partnerships

25 Apr 2012

Precise Mortgages has vowed to clean up the bridging market by partnering with seven key mortgage distributors.

Platform extends deadline for buy-to-let range

24 Apr 2012

Platform has extended the deadline to access its two-year fixed rate buy-to-let range until the end of July.

Nationwide may return poor paper applications

23 April 2012

Ray Boulger: Blanket rule will be working

Making a mark

23 April 2012

Ian Andrew has a knack for making changes at the right time - from taking up the challenge to set up Nationwide for Intermediaries to valuing new-build homes. But the lender’s commitment to brokers is something that remains unchanged

SPF Private Clients sets up bridging arm

20 Apr 2012

SPF Private Clients is moving into bridging and launching SPF Short Term Finance.

Proc fee revolution on the cards

16 April 2012

John Malone: Clubs will be able to adapt

Principality slashes product range

16 April 2012

Principality Building Society is restricting its interest-only offering to just three products.

Principality Building Society restricts interest-only

11 Apr 2012

Principality Building Society is restricting its interest-only offering to just three products.

Moneysupermarket urges borrowers to review mortgage

10 Apr 2012

Moneysupermarket.com is urging borrowers to check their current mortgage arrangements after new analysis by the comparison site shows rising mortgage rates.

Comparison sites may fall foul of MMR advice rules

9 April 2012

Comparison websites could face a major shake-up as a result of the Mortgage Market Review proposal to ban non-advised sales.

My Worst Deal, BBC1, available on iPlayer

9 April 2012

Consumer panel wants FSA rules to help mortgage prisoners

3 Apr 2012

The Financial Services Consumer Panel is calling for the Financial Services Authority to introduce specific rules to help mortgage prisoners.

Private banks could pick up interest-only clients

02 April 2012

There are signs brokers are turning to private banks to help clients get interest-only mortgages after a clampdown by mainstream lenders in the last month.

In the money

02 April 2012

The Budget has put the spotlight on high net worth borrowers with changes to Stamp Duty, which have elicited a mixed reaction. Mainly concentrated in London, the sector remains the domain of a few specialist brokers and is predicated on strong relationships

CML: MMR advice proposals could hit third party servicers

30 Mar 2012

The Council of Mortgage Lenders believes making advice compulsory for arrears handling could have a major impact for third party servicers.

£1bn will be lost to mortgage fraud in 2012

29 Mar 2012

The National Fraud Authority estimates £1bn will be lost to mortgage fraud in 2012.

Gross lending at mutuals up 28% year on year

29 Mar 2012

Gross mortgage lending by building societies and other mutuals rose 28% year on year in February 2012, Building Societies Association data shows.

1.6m homes on interest-only deals with no repayment vehicle

28 Mar 2012

One in seven UK households are sitting on an interest-only mortgage with no repayment vehicle, new research shows.

Accord will allow brokers to upload documents

27 Mar 2012

Accord Mortgages will allow brokers to upload documents from tomorrow.

RBS latest lender to restrict interest-only

27 Mar 2012

The Royal Bank of Scotland has become the latest lender to restrict interest-only lending.

Sesame Bankhall makes £2.2m profit in 2011

27 Mar 2012

Sesame Bankhall Group made a £2.2m profit in 2011 down from £5m in 2010, its results show.

Balancing act

26 March 2012

In the good times overvaluations were not uncommon, now it’s talk of downvaluations that gets everyone hot under the collar. It’s clear valuers have to juggle a different kind of pressure in today’s sluggish market

Budget 2012: A taxing Budget

21 Mar 2012

Such was the extent of the leaks to the media before the Budget the joke going around was that chancellor George Osborne was reviewing the newspapers rather than delivering the Budget at 12.30pm today.

Brokers must head for cover

19 March 2012

A lack of confidence and the perception that online firms can’t be beaten seem to be behind brokers’ reluctance to sell GI and protection, but making inroads into insurance sales isn’t that hard

Different strokes

12 March 2012

For military personnel, the disabled or newly divorced singletons getting a mortgage can look hopeless. But products designed specifically for such groups do exist, as do deals for friends who choose to buy together

Claims firms set their sights on interest-only

05 March 2012

Claims firms are believed to be targeting interest-only borrowers, as data from the Financial Ombudsman Service reveals mortgage complaints rose by 38% in the second half of 2011.

Claims overload closes down two Norton firms

05 March 2012

Norton Finance and Norton Insurance Services have been placed in administration due to the volume of payment protection insurance mis-selling claims against them.

Norton Finance and Norton Insurance Services placed in administration

28 Feb 2012

Norton Finance and Norton Insurance Services have both been placed in administration due to the volume of payment protection insurance mis-selling claims.

Treasury committee to grill regulator on MMR

27 February 2012

Mehrdad Yousefi, Details need to be scrutinised

MEP accused of exceeding remit as mortgage directive vote is delayed

27 February 2012

The senior MEP responsible for drafting the European Mortgage Directive has come under fire for over-reaching his remit and causing delays.

Knight's tale

27 February 2012

When Angela Knight became British Bankers’ Association chief executive in 2007, she had no inkling of the turmoil to come. Here she talks about challenging the FSA, banking regulation overhaul, the housing market and why bank chiefs shouldn’t be vilified over their bonuses

Twitter is no place for brokerages to promote products

20 Feb 2012

Mortgage brokers should not use Twitter to promote mortage products, a regulatory expert says.

Brokers question high net worth definition

20 February 2012

Brokers have criticised the Financial Services Authority’s definition of high net worth individuals in the Mortgage Market Review.

The Bank

20 February 2012

By Dan Conagham

Lloyds makes further interest-only changes

15 Feb 2012

Lloyds Banking Group is making a number of restrictions to its interest-only offering from tomorrow.

UK credit rating put on negative watch

14 Feb 2012

Moody’s has put the UK’s AAA credit rating on negative watch because of economic uncertainty.

Mutual respect

13 February 2012

Last year saw building societies shake off their sluggish lending and report impressive growth. This bodes well for the mutual sector and its potential to grab further market share from banks

European mortgage directive delayed again

10 Feb 2012

A key stage in voting through the European mortgage directive has been delayed for the second time.

60 seconds with - Hugh Wade-Jones, director Enness Private Clients

6 February 2012

Fit for purpose

23 January 2012

This week it’s lenders’ turn to reveal how brokers could improve their business. It’s the quality of applications that causes the most grief and the devil’s often in the detail

60 seconds with...

9 January 2012

Lee Gladwell, director of sales and proposition, Platform

AMI calls on FOS go further than 25 free cases a year

6 Jan 2012

The Association of Mortgage Intermediaries has called on the Financial Ombudsman Service to go further in its move to increase the number of free complaints cases from three to 25 a year in 2013.

Ten optimistic predictions for 2012

30 Dec 2011

This year has been flat with a stuttering recovery form recession but there is little optimism about the economy, housing market or lending in 2012 either. To counter the endlless stream of pessimism we have compiled a list of 10 predictions for next year that look on the brighter side of life.

Banks' gross lending hits £8.2bn in November

23 Dec 2011

UK banks’ gross mortgage lending at hit £8.2bn in November, slightly more than October, data from the British Bankers’ Association shows.

Moody's warns banking reform poses credit risks

22 Dec 2011

Rating agency Moody’s has re-iterated its view that the Independent Commission on Banking proposals will have negative credit implications for UK banks.

Jardine Lloyd Thompson lands MIG deal

22 Dec 2011

Insurance brokers Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group have been appointed by the Home Builders Federation to manage and develop the government mortgage indemnity scheme.

MMR: FSA relaxes rules to help mortgage prisoners

19 Dec 2011

Lenders will be allowed to waive affordability rules to rescue so-called mortgage prisoners, the Financial Services Authority.

MMR: Rule changes will hit house prices

19 Dec 2011

The Mortgage Market Review proposals would hit house prices hard over the course of the next decade, the Financial Services Authority predicts.

MMR: Up to 17% of mortgages would have been banned in the boom

19 Dec 2011

The Mortgage Market Review would have banned up to 17% of all mortgages in the boom period, the Financial Services Authority estimates.

Rules offer carrot for direct-only sales route

19 December 2011

Lenders and borrowers will be incentivised to use direct-only channels and ditch brokers after the Mortgage Market Review, the Financial Services Authority predicts.

How The West Went Bust

19 December 2011

BBC Business editor Robert Peston’s latest television show on the state of global economy is so depressing it should come with a health warning.

In limbo

12 December 2011

It’s been one step forward, two steps back in 2011. A year in which regulation played a prominent role saw the industry buffeted between signs of an upturn and the lingering effects of recession

Metro Bank knocking on intermediary doors

5 Dec 2011

Metro Bank is trying to drum up more mortgage business by using brokers but without paying proc fees.

8% Of mortgages under forbearance

5 December 2011

Up to 8% of all mortgages are subject to some kind of forbearance measures, according to the Financial Services Authority.

Bank of England: Mortgage rates may increase in 2012

1 Dec 2011

Mortgage rates may increase in 2012 as banks pass on higher funding costs, the Bank of England reports.

FSA tells banks to prepare for Euro collapse

1 Dec 2011

The Financial Services Authority has asked British banks to prepare for the collapse of the Euro.

Osborne does a Gordon Brown impression in gloomy statement

29 Nov 2011

Barclays told to review underwriting processes

28 Nov 2011

The Information Commissioner has urged Barclays to review its underwriting practices after possible breaches of the Data Protection Act.

B2L boomers

28 November 2011

As buy-to-let sees a rush of new entrants, our industry experts debate whether the sector will be the housing market’s saviour or if this is just the beginning of an unsustainable expansion

Lack of trust in banks makes RMBS attractive

28 November 2011

The UK mortgage securitisation market is more attractive now than ever before, industry experts claim.

Countrywide profits hit £1m for another quarter

21 November 2011

Countrywide’s financial services division made a £1m profit in Q3 2011 for the second quarter in a row, its results show.It represents a turnaround from a £332,000 loss for the same period last year. Profits for the first nine months of 2011 stood at £2m compared with losses of £896,000 in the same period in 2010.

Nick Clegg: The Biography

21 November 2011

It is hard to imagine now but prior to the 2010 general election Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg was ridiculed for being unknown.

Property firm offers alternative to 100% LTV mortgage

17 Nov 2011

Property firm the Gentoo Group has launched a product allowing people to buy a property without a deposit or mortgage.

23 Things They Don't Tell You About Capitalism

14 November 2011

Free market dogma has dominated western economies since the 1980s and came to a spectacular end in 2008.

Metro Bank has sold just 100 mortgages since launch

11 Nov 2011

New lender Metro Bank has sold just 100 mortgages in the 15 months since it launched, according to

60 seconds with...Martin Leong

17 October 2011

Martin Leong, Group commercial director, OneSavings Bank (trades as Kent Reliance)

Pushing offset up the agenda

17 October 2011

A lack of availability, low broker confidence in selling the product and general misconceptions about it are preventing the offset sector from growing, say our round table experts

New shadow housing minister appointed

11 Oct 2011

Labour MP Jack Dromey has been appointed shadow housing minister to replace Alison Seabeck.

Abu Dhabi bank plans November launch into UK

10 October 2011

The Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank is to open its first UK branch in November at the One Hyde Park development in London and says it has plans to offer mortgages in the future.

Barclays sets sights on conquering buy-to-let

10 October 2011

Barclays has revealed plans to quadruple its buy-to-let lending next year.

Barclays looking to quadruple B2L lending next year

7 Oct 2011

Speaking at the Mortgage Intelligence annual conference yesterday, David Finlay, head of intermediaries at Barclays, told delegates the lender is planning to significantly increase its buy-to-let lending next year.

The fraud fightback

03 October 2011

Fraud is back in the spotlight after the FSA’s review found lenders’ processes and controls wanting. Although the mortgage industry has taken strides in tackling the problem there is still plenty to do to stamp out this menace.

Countrywide offers lenders low LTV business to offset high-risk lending

26 Sep 2011

Countrywide is trying to tempt lenders into offering high LTV new-build mortgages by offering to put more lower LTV business their way, in a bid to mitigate risk.

60 Seconds With...Nick Cheek

26 September 2011

NICK CHEEK, DEPUTY EDITOR, WHICH? MONEY

Debating the new homes problem

26 September 2011

The UK is desperately short of homes but new-builds are dogged by cautious LTVs and inconsistent valuations. Our round table discussion tries to get to the bottom of these issues and find ways to kick-start the sector

60 seconds with...

19 September 2011

Dominik Lipnicki, Director, Your Mortgage Decisions

FSA extends sale and rent back regulation

16 Sep 2011

The Financial Services Authority has extended its regulation of sale and rent back by bringing all transactions under its control from today unless it is to family members or a partner.

Near-prime time

12 September 2011

Near-prime is a growing niche which can offer borrowers locked out of the mainstream market a helping hand. But take-up of these products has been low so we ask the experts to shed some light on the sector

Direct approach

5 September 2011

HSBC’s head of lending Martijn Van der Heijden insists dealing directly with customers instead of using brokers is the best way to get the volume it wants, but he’s keeping an open mind

Contagion alert

29 August 2011

Although still relatively unscathed from eurozone troubles and the US downgrade, the UK must be on its guard to prevent the debt virus coming our way, says Samuel Dale

Rising LIBOR may squeeze lending

29 August 2011

RAY BOULGER, SMALL MOVE IS SYMBOLIC

Suing client for PPI libel could breach FSA rules

15 Aug 2011

Regulatory experts warn that brokers who sue clients for complaining could be in breach of Treating Customer Fairly principles.

On a mission

15 August 2011

Grenville Turner (right) and Nigel Stockton are helping realise Countrywide’s ambition to become bigger and better with acquisitions in new areas, but they are still hungry for more

Is bridging the new sub-prime?

12 Aug 2011

Bridging is going through a boom period with lenders flooding in and volumes rising as funding is restricted elsewhere.

Broker set to sue former client over PPI allegation

8 Aug 2011

A mortgage broker is looking to sue a former client for libel over claims made against him concerning the mis-selling of payment protection insurance.

Set to blow

8 August 2011

With forbearance measures under scrutiny from a regulator worried about the true level of arrears being masked, the debt time bomb could soon be set alight if lenders’ policies change and interest rates rise

Bloodbath at the banks

6 Aug 2011

The tens of thousands of bank jobs being axed is nothing short of a bloodbath and must concern chancellor George Osborne.

60 seconds with...Mark Lofthouse

1 August 2011

Buy-to-let lending set to grow further, says BoE

29 Jul 2011

Buy-to-let lending is set to increase further after two years of rising demand and supply, the Bank of England claims.

FSA investigates firm's record on compliance

25 Jul 2011

The Financial Services Authority is investigating a mortgage lender over its compliance systems and controls, Mortgage Strategy can reveal.

FSA hospitality spend leapt by 30% last year

18 Jul 2011

The Financial Services Authority’s expenditure on food and drink increased by just over 30% in 2010 compared with 2009.

Caring role

18 July 2011

The Dilnot report is a huge step towards recognising the role of equity release in funding care and could bring the sector back to life

Media Spotlight: Outliers: The Story of Success

18 July 2011

By Malcolm Gladwell

60 Seconds with...Ian Atkinson

11 July 2011

FSA issues warning on override commissions

11 July 2011

The Financial Services Authority has warned short-term lenders not to offer override commission on regulated business after concerns overtheir practices towards unregulated loans.

Grant Shapps talks a good game but does precious little

6 Jul 2011

Housing minister Grant Shapps hosted his second first-time buyer summit this year yesterday and once again little was achieved.

Foundation for growth

4 July 2011

Around 15,000 people build their own homes in the UK every year and the government is committed to pushing this number up significantly. But first it has to solve the issues of land scarcity and lender reluctance

Media Spotlight: The Psychopath Test

4 July 2011

By Jon Ronson

Ex-Money Partners CEO to head up Omni Capital

29 Jun 2011

The former chief executive officer of GE Money Home Lending and Money Partners Colin Sanders has been appointed CEO at Omni Capital.

60 Seconds With...James Watson

27 June 2011

Nine brokers under FSA investigation for fraud

27 June 2011

The Financial Services Authority is investigating nine brokers for suspected fraud, Mortgage Strategy can reveal.

CML pledges to work with FSA over fraud criticisms

22 Jun 2011

The Council of Mortgage Lenders says it will work with the Financial Services Authority and lenders to tackle fraud after criticisms in the FSA’s thematic review of lenders’ anti-fraud systems.

Brightstar appoints business development executive

20 Jun 2011

Specialist distributor Brightstar Financial has appointed a new business development executive at its Brentwood offices.

Which? adviser service to open to public in autumn

20 Jun 2011

Which? is expanding its mortgage advice service by hiring more advisers and plans to roll out its offering to the public later this year.

Battle for London begins

17 Jun 2011

Coalitions are all the rage at the moment with Countrywide and Mortgage Advice Bureau seemingly inspired by the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats by teaming up to service high-net worth clients.

EC rules may put the brakes on TV adverts

13 June 2011

ROBERT SINCLAIR: PROBLEMS WITH INTERPRETATION

Commission could push brokers to sell surveys

6 June 2011

E.surv and Colleys are considering paying commission to mortgage brokers to sell private surveys.

Value of surveys

6 June 2011

The downturn and allegations of over-valuations and potential fraud have taken a toll on the surveying industry and its relationship with brokers. But it’s time to start rebuilding trust and ensure advisers are educated on how surveys can help business and customers

Treasury backs CML proposals to amend European mortgage directive

1 Jun 2011

The Treasury is backing the Council of Mortgage Lenders’ proposals to amend the European mortgage directive.

After the surrender

30 May 2011

Banks have given up their fight on PPI and set aside billions to pay compensation for mis-selling policies. But their fruitless attempt to fight the FSA will cost them more in terms of reputation and customer trust. By Samuel Dale

Targeting talent

30 May 2011

The industry needs to nurture the next generation of advisers and training schemes or apprenticeships could be the way forward

Bullish on buy-to-let

23 May 2011

Despite the prospect of competition from a rash of new entrants in the buy-to-let space, Paul Howard, head of corporate accounts at Nationwide, is confident the mutual will hold on to its market share

Santander UK issues £3.75bn securitisation

19 May 2011

Santander UK has launched the largest publicly placed UK residential mortgage-backed securitisation since 2007 with a £3.75bn deal.

Left standing

16 May 2011

With the financial crisis leaving banks’ reputation in tatters, the time was ripe for building societies to jump in and make a difference. But some argue they have just watched as opportunities have sailed by

Warnings on arrears are coming thick and fast

11 May 2011

Mortgage lenders like to tell everyone how low they have kept arrears and repossession figures during the last few years.

60 seconds with...Peter Griffiths

9 May 2011

CHAIRMAN, BUILDING SOCIETIES ASSOCIATION

Leeds Building Society joins calls for Northern Rock re-mutualisation

5 May 2011

Leeds Building Society has joined the chorus calling for Northern Rock to be remutualised when it comes out of state ownership.

EC directive could extend to LTV caps

4 May 2011

The scope of European mortgage regulation could extend to LTV caps, the European Mortgage Federation says.

Police urges industry to fund anti-fraud division

3 May 2011

The police and mortgage lenders are in discussions about setting up an industry-funded police unit to investigate mortgage fraud.

Police urges industry to fund anti-fraud division

2 May 2011

The police and mortgage lenders are in discussions about setting up an industry-funded police unit to investigate mortgage fraud.

FSA victory heralds end of unfair PPI practices

2 May 2011

The failure of banks to force a judicial review of the Financial Services Authority’s payment protection insurance rule changes last month is widely viewed as a victory for consumer protection.

Inflation is key issue for UK economy, says Sentance

26 Apr 2011

Inflation remains the key issue for the UK economy, says Monetary policy Committee member Andrew Sentance.

Gross mortgage lending up 21% in March

20 Apr 2011

Gross mortgage lending was an estimated £11.3bn in March, a 21% rise from £9.3bn in February, Council of Mortgage Lenders’ data shows.

Media Spotlight: Marketing Your Business

4 April 2011

By John Westwood

Two become one as Pink and BDS networks merge

4 April 2011

BDS Mortgage Group’s network is to be merged into Pink Home Loans.

Funding crisis hits brokerage

29 Mar 2011

The Good Mortgage Company is making a last ditch attempt to secure investment this week after its main shareholder, Octopus, pulled its funding.

Capital gains

28 March 2011

The housing market across the country is still stuck in the doldrums but not in London, where foreign buyers are flooding the market, funded largely by private banks. By Samuel Dale

Funding cuts trigger fraud fears as police force says it has to axe probes

28 March 2011

Fears are growing that mortgage fraud is no longer a priority for police, following reports that one force has approached a lender to say it will no longer investigate fraud due to reductions in its budget.

Media Spotlight: Moving Forward

28 March 2011

Edited by Nicolas Retsinas and Eric Belsky

Metro Bank to launch into buy-to-let

25 Mar 2011

Metro Bank is planning to launch into the buy-to-let sector later this year.

60 seconds with...David Blanchflower

21 March 2011

Former member, monetary policy committee

Reinventing the market

21 March 2011

Sharing risk between parents and offspring, tax relief on savings for a deposit, helping first-time sellers and a reworked MIG are just some of the innovations that could kickstart the market

Mortgage Force secures deal with GSPC

17 Mar 2011

Mortgage Force has secured a referral agreement with Glasgow Solicitors Property Centre that will operate via Mortgage Force Scotland.

Basel III capital requirements should be higher in ideal world, says FSA

16 Mar 2011

Lord Turner, chairman of the Financial Services Authority, says that in the Basel III capital requirements should be 15% to 20% of risk-weighted assets in an ideal world,

£4.2Bn gross lending by Northern Rock in 2010 is lower than pledged

14 March 2011

Northern Rock plc undertook gross mortgage lending of £4.2bn in 2010, falling short of its pledge to achieve £14bn lending in 2009/10, which was made before the bank was broken up.

Building up bridging

14 March 2011

United Trust Bank, traditionally focussed on development finance, is now setting its sights on the booming bridging sector

Linear joins Pink as AR

11 Mar 2011

Linear Financial Solutions has joined the Pink network as an appointed representative.

Gross mortgage lending flat at Northern Rock

9 Mar 2011

Gross mortgage lending at Northern Rock was flat at £4.2bn in 2010 as the bank posted a £232.4m loss for the year in its annual results.

Property giants set aside £22.8m to tackle claims

7 March 2011

Countrywide and LSL Property Services have set aside a combined £22.8m to deal with an increase in claims from mortgage lenders that are alleging inflated valuations.

Little improvement in number of mortgage complaints made to FOS

7 March 2011

Complaints to the Financial Om-budsman Service against mortgage lenders remained almost flat in the second half of 2010 compared with the first half of the year.

Brightstar forms alliance with Ingard Financial

2 Mar 2011

Specialist distributor Brightstar Financial has agreed a strategic alliance with Essex based network, Ingard Financial.

Remortgages 10% above average in January

1 Mar 2011

The number of remortgages grew to 33,498 in January, 10% above the six month average of 30,407, the Bank of England’s Lending to Individuals data shows.

House prices increase 0.3% in February

1 Mar 2011

House prices increased 0.3% in February, the Nationwide House Price Index shows.

HSBC's gross lending increases by £1.6bn in 2010

28 Feb 2011

Gross mortgage lending at HSBC increased to £15.4bn in 2010, up from £13.8bn in 2009.

Countrywide on hunt for high net worth brokerage

28 February 2011

Rumours are rife that Countrywide is in the market for a high net worth broker as it prepares to expand further into the sector.

Media Spotlight: Selling With NLP

28 February 2011

By Kerry Johnson

Gross lending at RBS falls 3% in 2010

24 Feb 2011

Gross mortgage lending at the Royal Bank of Scotland fell by 3% in 2010 compared to 2009, its annual results show.

TBMC launches exclusive deal with Hinckley & Rugby BS

22 Feb 2011

TBMC has launched an exclusive buy-to-let mortgage product with Hinckley & Rugby Building Society.

Leadbay creditors only likely to receive 10%

21 February 2011

Some creditors of Leadbay are set to receive just 10% of money owed to them after the firm entered into administration, Mortgage Strategy understands.

Higher oil prices and VAT prompt inflation to hit 4%

21 February 2011

Inflation hit 4% in January, up from 3.7% in December, the Office for National Statistics revealed last week.

Media Spotlight: Open: An Autobiography

21 February 2011

By Andre Agassi

Nationwide increases fixed rate deals

16 Feb 2011

Nationwide Building Society is increasing some of its fixed rates for house purchase from tomorrow.

Brightstar links up with Intrinsic

16 Feb 2011

Specialist distributor Brightstar Financial has made the first of a number of high profile distributor appointments with Intrinsic Financial Services.

Yorkshire names its man to lead launch into B2L

14 February 2011

Yorkshire Building Society has confirmed plans to launch into the buy-to-let sector and is likely to offer the products through its intermed-iary brand Accord Mortgages (Mortgage Strategy February 7).

High LTV costs paving way for top-up loans

14 February 2011

The cost of high LTV mortgages could lead to top-up mortgages becoming more common, says Ray Boulger, senior technical director at John Charcol.

The colour of money

14 February 2011

After a tough year, the future looks rosier for Pink Home Loans since its acquisition by LSL

Rental properties snapped up as demand increases

11 Feb 2011

Private rental properties are being let within 15 days on average - five days quicker than a year ago, data from Countrywide shows.

Yorkshire BS hires head of B2L to lead entry into sector

10 Feb 2011

Yorkshire Building Society has appointed a head of buy-to-let to lead its entry into the sector this year.

Borro joins AMPD's panel

10 Feb 2011

Borro has joined the Association of Mortgage Packagers and Distributors’ panel.

Darlington BS joins Paradigm lender panel

9 Feb 2011

Darlington Building Society has joined the lender panel of Paradigm Financial Advisers, the network service for ARs.

Shapps calls for more FTB support ahead of summit

7 Feb 2011

Housing minister Grant Shapps says more can be done to help first-time buyers ahead of a summit next week.

Brokers protest at high funding requirement rise

7 February 2011

Most brokers will pay at least 15% more in Financial Services Authority fees in 2011/12, the Association of Mortgage Intermediaries says.

Martin Lewis lambasts lenders for direct deals

7 February 2011

MARTIN LEWIS: BROKER VALUE STRESSED

Media Spotlight: The Fearful Rise of Market

7 February 2011

By John Authers

Yorkshire to lead trend with buy-to-let launch

7 February 2011

ANDY YOUNG: OPPORTUNITY FOR MARGINS

House prices increased 0.8% in January

4 Feb 2011

House prices rose by 0.8% between December and January, the Halifax House Price Index shows.

Sesame launches holistic advice forums

3 Feb 2011

Holistic Advice Forums are being launched for Sesame network members and Bankhall customers as part of the group’s 2011 learning and development programme.

Mortgage approvals fall again in January

3 Feb 2011

Mortgage approvals shrank again in January to the lowest level since February 2009, data from the e.surv Mortgage Monitor shows.

CPMA chief confirmed by FSA

2 Feb 2011

The Financial Services Authority has confirmed that Martin Wheatley will be chief executive officer of the Consumer Protection and Markets Authority.

TMW launches two-year fixes from 2.15%

2 Feb 2011

The Mortgage Works is launching two-year fixed rate deals from 2.15% and three-year deals from 3.09% in its residential range tomorrow.

Northern Rock increases fixed, tracker and B2L rates

1 Feb 2011

Northern Rock is increasing the rates on selected fixed rates, trackers and buy-to-let deals from the start of business tomorrow.

Montello rebrands to signal bridging move

1 Feb 2011

London-based real estate bridging financier Montello Private Finance will from today be branded as Montello Bridging Finance.

Former Leadbay bosses launch lead generation firm

31 Jan 2011

Two former Leadbay employees who left the firm in May 2010 have launched a lead-generator firm.

CML backs call for a halt to EU's plans for revamp

31 January 2011

The Council of Mortgage Lenders is backing the Financial Services Authority’s call to stop Europe-wide mortgage regulation.

Feeling the heat

31 January 2011

With swap rates volatile and no-one sure when the base rate will rise, lenders are under pressure when it comes to pricing products in the face of all the uncertainty in the financial markets. By Samuel Dale

Product access boosts confidence

31 January 2011

A boost in lending and access to products has led to an improvement in intermediary confidence for 2011, says Platform.

35 debt management firms surrender licences in OFT review

28 Jan 2011

The Office of Fair Trading says 35 debt management firms have surrendered their consumer credit licences and at least 15 are facing licensing action as a result of an OFT compliance review.

FSA urges EU not to implement Europe-wide mortgage regulation

27 Jan 2011

The Financial Services Authority is urging the European Union not to implement Europe-wide mortgage regulation.

Earning £100 less would make mortgage unaffordable for 5% of middle-aged

27 Jan 2011

One in 20 of 45-54 year olds say they couldn’t keep up repayments if their monthly income dropped by up to £100, research by Callcredit Information Group shows.

Paragon already has £75m worth of deals in pipeline

27 Jan 2011

Paragon has already advanced £8.8m of loans and has £75m in the pipeline between October and December last year.

Nearly half of brokers expect B2L boost in 2011

26 Jan 2011

Nearly half of mortgage brokers are expecting to increase their of buy-to-let business during 2011, research from Paragon Mortgages shows.

House purchase approvals fall 10% at banks in 2010

26 Jan 2011

Approvals for house purchases at banks fell by 10% in 2010, data from the British Bankers Association shows.

FSA proposes more qualifications for advice on specialist products

25 Jan 2011

The Financial Services Authority is proposing advisers take more qualifications when advising on non-mainstream products.

Wrong time for MMR, says CBI

24 Jan 2011

The Confederation of British Industry says it is the wrong time to introduce the Mortgage Market Review.

Part exchange properties rise for first time since 2007

24 Jan 2011

Part exchange properties rose for the first time in three years, research by LSL Property Services.

Jupp secures backing of Tiuta, MAB and Coreco

24 January 2011

Tiuta, Mortgage Advice Bureau and Coreco are backing a specialist distributor headed by Rob Jupp.

Reading the market's future

24 January 2011

House prices, interest rates and mortgage funding are all predicted to be the hot topics of 2011, with no-one certain which way the market will go

Bright Grey extends critical illness cover

21 Jan 2011

Bright Grey is enhancing its critical illness cover by extending the definitions of three critical illnesses it covers as from Monday.

Gross lending falls to £11bn in December

21 Jan 2011

Gross mortgage lending fell in December to an estimated £11bn, Council of Mortgage Lenders data shows.

Unemployment hits 2.5 million

19 Jan 2011

Unemployment rose by 49,000 to reach 2.5 million and 7.9% in the three months leading to November 30 2010, data from the Office of National Statistics data shows.

Inflation jumps to 3.7% in December

18 Jan 2011

Inflation jumped to 3.7% in December, up from 3.3% in November, data from the Office of National Statistics shows.

Landlord yields hit 8.7% on HMOs in 2010

18 Jan 2011

Yields for landlords on houses with multiple tenants were 8.7% in 2010 - almost double those of normal buy-to-let properties, the Mortgages for Business Complex buy-to-let Index shows.

Paragon has no firm plans to relaunch two-year fixes

17 Jan 2011

Paragon has no fixed plans to relaunch its two-year fixed rate deals after withdrawing them due to unpredictable swap rates.

Quarter of households are underinsured

17 Jan 2011

A quarter of homeowners are underinsured by undervaluing their home contents, according to new report from Direct Line.

Flurry of product launches boosts choice of B2L trackers and fixes

17 January 2011

The mortgage industry has welcomed the flurry of buy-to-let deals launched in the new year.

Skipton relaunches three and five-year fixed rates

14 Jan 2011

Skipton Building Society is relaunching its range of three and five-year fixed rate mortgages from Monday after withdrawing them in the last fortnight.

Abbey cuts rates on trackers

12 Jan 2011

Abbey for Intermediaries is reducing rates on two and three-year trackers by 0.11% from tomorrow.

Halifax revamps mortgage rates

12 Jan 2011

Halifax is increasing rates on lower LTV mortgages but is reducing rates on high LTVs.

Mortgage approvals to be flat in 2011

12 Jan 2011

Mortgage approvals are set to remain flat over next 12 months as new norm in lending is set, Hometrack reports.

Platform revamps entire product range

12 Jan 2011

Platform’s is launching an entirely new range of mainstream and buy-to-let products today.

No worries until £15,000 in debt, say Britons

11 Jan 2011

Britons only see themselves in serious financial difficulty once they are in over £15,837 of debt, according to Scottish Provident’s Financial Safety Net report.

Just Retirement appoints three directors

11 Jan 2011

Life assurance and retirement provider Just Retirement has appointed three new senior directors.

New owners to relaunch Leadbay

10 Jan 2011

Leadbay is set to be relaunched after its assets were transferred to Mitchell Farrar Group.

Homeowners want to pay 3.3% on fixed rates

10 Jan 2011

The average rate homeowners would be prepared to fix at is now just 3.3%, dropping from 4% in January 2009, research from unbiased.com shows.

Media Spotlight: Management? It’s Not What You Think!

10 January 2011

By Henry Mintzberg, Bruce Ahlstrand and Joseph Lampel

Shapps' meeting with FSA wins industry backing

10 January 2011

The mortgage industry has wel-comed housing minister Grant Shapps’ meeting with the Financial Services Authority to discuss the Mortgage Market Review.

AToM allocated £10m by building society

7 Jan 2011

All Types of Mortgages has been allocated £10m by a small southern building society on its Complex Prime Panel.

Rob Jupp to launch specialist distributor

6 Jan 2011

Rob Jupp, former managing director of Savills Lending Solutions, is launching a specialist distributor in February, Mortgage Strategy understands.

Cameron slams lenders' strict criteria

6 Jan 2011

Prime Minister David Cameron has slammed banks and building societies for holding back the housing market with overly strict lending.

Islamic Bank of Britain relaunches broker website

5 Jan 2011

The Islamic Bank of Britain has re-launched its intermediary website.

Estate agents urge Shapps to stop MMR

5 Jan 2011

Estate agents are urging housing minister Grant Shapps to stop the Mortgage Market Review when he meets with Hector Sants, chief executive of the FSA, this week.

Personal insolvency falling after years of rises

4 Jan 2011

Levels of personal insolvency are starting to decline following a steady upward trend over the last ten years, The Insolvency Service reports.

Four in 10 landlords plan to increase rents in 2011

4 Jan 2011

Four out of 10 landlords in the private rented sector plan to increase the rent they charge tenants in the next year, research from Paragon Group shows.

HSBC stops fees on trackers in January sales

4 Jan 2011

HSBC is launching its January sales with zero fees on all tracker mortgages.

Remortgages up £400m in November

4 Jan 2011

Remortgages increased by £400m in November, Bank of England Lending to Individuals’ data shows.

Broker from the Apprentice pleads guilty to mortgage fraud

22 Dec 2010

A mortgage broker who appeared on the BBC show the Apprentice has pleaded guilty to mortgage fraud.

Leadbay ceases trading

22 Dec 2010

Lead generation firm Leadbay has stopped accepting new business and is seeking a buyer, Mortgage Strategy understands.

GDP growth revised down to 0.7% in Q3

22 Dec 2010

The UK economy grew by 0.7% in Q3 compared with the previous quarter, revised down from the 0.8% rise published in November, Office for National Statistics data shows.

Failure to obtain PI cover leads Spinnaka into administration

20 December 2010

DAVID GILLAM: ALL CREDITORS WILL BE PAID

Media Spotlight: Our favourites of 2010

20 December 2010

Two mortgage brokers jailed for £28m B2L fraud

20 December 2010

Two mortgage brokers from a franchise of The Money Centre have been imprisoned after a £28m buy-to-let fraud.

Bad time to buy property, says Capital Economics

17 Dec 2010

Buying residential property at the moment is unwise, says Capital Economics.

FSA releases retail training requirements

17 Dec 2010

The Financial Services Authority has published final rules to strengthen training and competence requirements for all individuals carrying out customer facing regulated retail activities.

HML starts voluntary redundancies after GMAC-RFC loss

17 Dec 2010

HML is starting a voluntary redundancy programme after GMAC-RFC decided to move its mortgage book in-house.

FSA has opened 48 broker fraud cases in last six months

16 Dec 2010

The Financial Services Authority has opened 48 fraud cases on mortgage brokers in the last six months.

Single House Price Index 'should be introduced'

16 Dec 2010

A single official house price index should be introduced to meet the needs of users, a review by the National Statistician has found.

No need to overreact on inflation, says MPC member

16 Dec 2010

A member of the Monetary Policy Committee is claiming there is no need to overreact on above target inflation.

Conti teams up with SimplyBiz for overseas mortgages

16 Dec 2010

Conti Mortgages Overseas is teaming up with SimplyBiz Mortgages to provide a specialist referral service for overseas mortgages.

Financial services contributes the most tax

16 Dec 2010

The UK financial services industry was the highest contributor of corporation tax to the UK exchequer in the year up to March 2011, a new report for the City of London Corporation by PwC shows.

FSA hopes to publish report on RBS and its own failings

15 Dec 2010

The Financial Services Authority says it hopes to publish a report into the Royal Bank of Scotland board and its own failings during the bank’s collapse by March 2011 but needs the bank’s consent.

Unemployment rises by 35,000

15 Dec 2010

Unemployment has increased by 35,000 to 2.5 million between August and October, data from the Office for National Statistics shows.

FSA set to publish RBS investigation

15 Dec 2010

The Financial Services Authority is set to publish a fuller account of its decision to clear Royal Bank of Scotland of any wrongdoing.

Gross lending to remain flat in 2011, says CML

15 Dec 2010

Gross mortgage lending is forecast to remain flat at £135bn next year, Council of Mortgage Lenders data shows.

MP questions whether FSA is lying about authorisation times

14 Dec 2010

An MP has questioned whether the Financial Services Authority is lying about waiting times for new entrants.

FSA pressured to take firm stance on Iran

14 Dec 2010

Hector Sants, chief executive of the Financial Services Authority, was being pressurised to take firmer action on Iranian banks in London, US embassy cables released by WikiLeaks show.

House prices continue to fall, says RICS

14 Dec 2010

Over half of surveyors have experienced falling house prices in the last three months, data from the latest Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors UK Housing Market survey shows.

RBS chairman says directors breached duty

14 Dec 2010

Leaked US embassy cables show that the Royal Bank of Scotland chairman believes former bank directors failed to live up to their duties.

LV= launches protection helpbook

13 Dec 2010

Insurance, investment and retirement group LV=, is launching the LV= Little Book of Protection.

Gross lending will be flat in 2011, says Spicerhaart

13 Dec 2010

Spicerhaart predicts gross mortgage lending for 2011 will be virtually flat against 2010 at around £135bn to £140bn as liquidity remains an issue.

Six out 10 landlords feeling confident

13 Dec 2010

Six out of 10 residential landlords are more confident than last month, up from 54% in November, the December Upad Landlord Confidence Index shows.

Tight credit supply behind lower lending, says BoE

13 Dec 2010

A tight credit supply rather than weak demand is the driving force behind lower lending levels, the Bank of England’s Quarterly Bulletin shows.

CHL snaps up £295m buy-to-let portfolio

13 Dec 2010

Specialist lender CHL Mortgages has revealed the addition of a £295m buy-to-let portfolio to its existing mortgage book.

Labour slams Shapps for late action on MMR fears

13 December 2010

Housing minister Grant Shapps has come under fire from the Labour party for failing to respond quickly enough to the Mortgage Market Review.

Platform claims interest-only cap is bid to stave off more regulation

13 December 2010

Platform says it is trying to prevent greater regulation being imposed on the industry by capping interest-only loans at 75% LTV and £500,000.

Over half of UK have no life insurance

11 Dec 2010

More than half of adults in the UK do not have life insurance, despite two-thirds of those surveyed also having dependants, research from Barclays shows.

Apprentice mortgage broker charged with fraud

10 Dec 2010

A mortgage broker who appeared on the Apprentice has been charged with four counts of mortgage fraud.

Owner-occupier rates falling, says RICS

10 Dec 2010

Owner occupier rates look set to fall in the UK, Spain and the US, a Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors report shows.

Shapps unveils Affordable Rent proposals

9 Dec 2010

Housing minister Grant Shapps has released further details of the government’s Affordable Rent product which housing associations will be able to offer from April 2011.

Platform caps interest-only at 75% LTV

8 Dec 2010

Platform is capping interest-only loans at 75% LTV and to a maximum value of £500,000 from December 13.

PMS partners with Omnii Solutions

8 Dec 2010

PMS is partnering with Omnii Solutions to give intermediaries access to CheckIT, a client credit check and property assessment tool.

Hector Sants rewarded for serving financial services with distinction

7 Dec 2010

Hector Sants, chief executive officer at the Financial Services Authority has been honoured for contributing to financial services with distinction.

Gordon Brown says he was misled by RBS

7 Dec 2010

Gordon Brown is claiming he was misled about the extent of reckless lending at the Royal Bank of Scotland.

Stonebridge Group links up with PruProtect

7 Dec 2010

Stonebridge Group, the mortgage and insurance network, is teaming up with PruProtect to boost its protection proposition.

FSA appoints new risk adviser

6 Dec 2010

The Financial Services Authority has appointed Robert Stansbury as a new senior adviser on risk management.

Half of brokers say BTL sales have risen

6 Dec 2010

A total of 47% of brokers believe that buy-to-let enquiries have risen over the last three months, The Mortgage Alliance November Distribution Indicator shows.

FSA accused of being half-hearted in effort to encourage new lenders

6 December 2010

The Financial Services Authority is only half-heartedly encouraging new lenders to the mortgage mar-ket, says Peter Birch, chairman of Home & Savings Bank.

MP blasts FSA's reign of fear as MMR creeps onto political agenda

6 December 2010

The Mortgage Market Review edged a step closer to becoming a political issue last week after an MP hit out at the regulator for creating a reign of fear.

Regulatory reform delays approved persons regime

6 December 2010

The Financial Services Authority is delaying the approved persons regime by up to two years, blaming the government’s decision to introduce a new regulator.

Estate agency wins fees for property it did not sell

3 Dec 2010

An estate agency won fees for a property it did not sell after a ruling in the Court of Appeal on Wednesday.

Proc fee changes at Barclays, TMW and Lloyds

2 Dec 2010

Procuration fees are changing at The Mortgage Works, Barclays and Lloyds Banking Group on January 1 2011.

NAEA hits out at self-serving lenders

2 Dec 2010

The housing market recovery is being threatened by self-serving and stubborn mortgage lenders, the National Association of Estate Agents warns.

Former MPC member calls on Mervyn King to quit

1 Dec 2010

A former member of the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee has called on Mervyn King, governor of The Bank of England to quit over Revelations in Wikileaks.

More demand and less supply leads to rising rents

1 Dec 2010

Fewer properties and higher demand for housing has led to a rise in rents in the three months to the end of October, says the latest Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors’ Residential Lettings Survey shows.

House prices could drop 10% next year

1 Dec 2010

House prices could drop 10% next year, Capital Economics forecasts.

BPF calls for housing benefit paid direct to landlords

1 Dec 2010

The British Property Federation is warning that the government was in danger of breaking a pre-election promise to pay housing benefit directly to landlords.

Housing benefit cap delayed nine months

30 Nov 2010

The cap on housing benefit has been delayed by nine months until January 2012.

Tesco Bank joins CML

30 Nov 2010

Tesco Bank has joined the Council of Mortgage Lenders as an associate. 

Wikileaks to reveal scandal at major US bank

30 Nov 2010

The founder of Wikileaks, Julian Assange, is claiming he has information for a megaleak set to rock a major US bank early next year.

LV= appoints new head of sales for protection

30 Nov 2010

Mike Farrell has joined LV= as head of sales for the firm’s protection business and will be responsible for business development and overseeing the account management teams for IFA protection sales.

House prices will fall 3.1% next year, says OBR

29 Nov 2010

House prices will fall by 3.1% next year the Office of Budget Responsibility forecasts after previously predicting a 1.6% increase.

Housing benefit cap delayed until 2012 - reports

29 Nov 2010

The introduction of the housing benefit cap will reportedly be delayed until January 2012.

Gross lending at mutuals drops 10% in October

29 Nov 2010

Gross mortgage lending by mutuals dropped by 10% to £2bn in October, compared to £2.2bn lent in September, Building Societies Association data shows.

Shapps criticises MMR paper as a step too far

29 November 2010

GRANT SHAPPS: FSA MUST LEARN FROM MISTAKES

Experts slate charities' support of FSA's affordability proposals

29 November 2010

Industry experts have criticised Shelter and the Citizens Advice Bureaux for backing the Financial Services Authority’s Mortgage Market Review.

Omni Capital is an early entrant into high-value bridging market

29 November 2010

New short-term lender Omni Capital will be the first of a number of serious players in the high-value property market, says Affirmative Finance.

Snowdon quits in bank reshuffle

29 November 2010

Colin Snowdon says he quit as chief executive of residential mortgage lending at Aldermore because of the bank’s decision to integrate its two mortgage businesses.

Grant Shapps brands MMR “a step too far”

26 Nov 2010

Housing minister Grant Shapps has branded the Financial Services Authority’s Mortgage Market Review paper a “step too far.”

Eric Daniels defends Lloyds' high street dominance

25 Nov 2010

Eric Daniels, chief executive of Lloyds Banking Group,  has defended the bank’s high street dominance amid reports the bank could be broken up.

Brokers can earn referral fees from Woolwich legal fees

25 Nov 2010

Conveyancing Alliance, the online conveyancing distributor, has revealed that advisers using its Rapid Remo product will earn a £135 referral fee if they take the £300 cashback now offered by Woolwich rather than use the lender’s ‘free legal’ offering.

Dan Waters to leave FSA

23 Nov 2010

The Financial Services Authority has announced that Dan Waters, director of conduct risk and asset management sector leader, has decided to leave the organisation.

No dual pricing is most valued pledge

23 Nov 2010

Research by Coventry Intermediaries reveals that the pledge brokers value most is its policy not to dual price its mortgage products.

Metro Bank has not ruled out broker deals

23 Nov 2010

Metro Bank says it has not ruled out offering its mortgages through brokers.

Intermediaries feel confident in the economy

22 Nov 2010

An increasing number of intermediaries feel more confident about the current economic climate, research from Aviva’s quarterly Hot Issues Tracker shows.

Precise launches home owner range

22 Nov 2010

Precise Mortgages is launching its first product range for home owners today.

FOS upholds some complaints on banks' mortgage payment errors

22 November 2010

The Financial Ombudsman Service has found in favour of some cus-tomers affected by an error by Yorkshire and Clydesdale banks that meant thousands of customers underpaid on their mortgages.

MPC will do whatever is needed to get inflation on an even keel

22 November 2010

Mervyn King, governor of the Bank of England, says the Monetary Policy Committee will take whatever action is necessary to curb inflation, after it rose to 3.2% in October.

Lenders may turn to brokers after MMR

19 Nov 2010

Lenders may rely more on brokers rather than sell direct after the Mortgage Market Review paper on distribution and disclosure, says Stephen Smith, director of housing and external affairs for Legal & General.

Access to finance hits construction sentiment

19 Nov 2010

Government spending cuts and concerns over access to finance saw construction industry sentiment turn increasingly negative during Q3 2010, says the latest RICS Construction Market survey.

Ulster Bank launches two broker-only deals

19 Nov 2010

Ulster Bank is launching two broker exclusive products for intermediaries in Northern Ireland.

Banks must ease buy-to-let funding restrictions

18 Nov 2010

Landlord Assist, the nationwide tenant eviction and rent recovery firm, believes the shortage of rental properties can only be addressed if banks ease their lending restrictions and improve their buy-to-let deals.

FirstAssist launches broker legal service

18 Nov 2010

FirstAssist Legal Protection is launching a scheme to help the SME clients of mortgage brokers gain cheaper legal services for the running of their business.

Gross lending in October down 9% on last year

18 Nov 2010

Gross mortgage lending in October was an estimated £12.4bn, down 9% on last year’s £13.6bn, data from the Council of Mortgage Lenders shows.

Estate agent licence launches

17 Nov 2010

A licence for estate agents is today introduced for the first time in a major push to raise standards in the industry.

MMR: IMLA says FSA has long way to go on distribution

17 Nov 2010

The Intermediary Mortgage Lenders Association says the Financial Services Authority has a long way to go on regulating distribution.

Leeds launches shared ownership deal

17 Nov 2010

Leeds Building Society is launching a shared ownership mortgage product, which has been designed to help first-time buyers onto the housing ladder, with a competitive fixed rate for shared ownership of only 5.99%.

Mortgage finance biggest obstacle for FTBs, say estate agents

17 Nov 2010

Over half of estate agents say the lack of mortgage finance for first time buyers poses the single biggest threat to their business, according to a survey of 300 estate agents by Obligo.

MMR: FSA encourages advised sales, says CML

16 Nov 2010

The Financial Services Authority’s latest mortgage market review consultation paper on distribution and disclosure appears to push the market towards more advised sales, with less consumer responsibility, the Council of Mortgage Lenders believes.

MMR: IDD and KFI changes apply to equity release

16 Nov 2010

Proposals to remove the Initial Disclosure Document and change the use of the Key Facts Illustration will also apply to equity release sales.

House prices fell by 0.8% in September

16 Nov 2010

House prices fell by 0.8% in September but increased by 6.1% over the year, the Communities and Local Government House Price Index shows.

FOS upholds customer complaints in Yorkshire and Clydesdale dispute

15 Nov 2010

The Financial Ombudsman Services has found in favour of some customers affected by the Yorkshire and Clydesdale banks’ mortgage error leading to thousands of underpayments.

39% increase in equity release at Just Retirement

15 Nov 2010

Just Retirement is reporting a 39% increase in its equity release sales compared to last year.

CHL launches recruitment drive

15 Nov 2010

Specialist lender, CHL Mortgages, is actively recruiting for a number of specific vacancies across its business.

Brokers must make £20,000 profit just to cover the cost of regulation

15 November 2010

Regulation for mortgage brokers currently costs £20,000 per head, the Association of Mortgage Intermediaries has revealed.

Fewer properties were repossessed in Q3, says CML

15 November 2010

Repossessions fell by 5% in Q3 and there were 2,100 fewer properties in arrears than in Q2, according to the Council of Mortgage Lenders’ latest arrears and repossession figures.

Barclays lending hits £20.6bn so far in 2010, more than in whole of 2009

15 November 2010

Barclay’s gross mortgage lending in the first nine months of 2010 has exceeded its lending for the whole of 2009.

Media Spotlight: Does Britain Need A Financial Regulator?

15 November 2010

By Terry Arthur and Philip Booth

Abbey launches new £2m broker-only deals

12 Nov 2010

Abbey for Intermediaries is launching two new larger loan products up to £2m, available exclusively to the intermediary market.

Decline in home buyers and sellers in October

12 Nov 2010

The housing market contracted in October as the number of sellers and buyers declined month-on-month, data from the National Association of Estate Agents shows.

BSA slams "irrational pessimism" of regulation proposals

11 Nov 2010

The Building Societies Association has slammed the “irrational pessimism” that is leading to a revolution in mortgage regulation.

Mortgage lending static in September, says CML

11 Nov 2010

Mortgage lending remained static in September, figures from the Council of Mortgage Lenders reveal.

EXPO 2010: Regulations cost brokers £20,000 each

10 Nov 2010

The Association of Mortgage Intermediaries has calculated that financial regulations are currently costing brokers £20,000 a year each.

EXPO 2010: Funding offers rolling in, says Tiuta

10 Nov 2010

Guy Garrard, head of business development at Tiuta, revealed at the Mortgage Business Expo today that the lender is receiving a number of offers for funding.

EXPO 2010: AMI criticises Which? mortgage service

10 Nov 2010

Robert Sinclair, director of the Association of Mortgage Intermediaries, has hit out at Which?’s new mortgage service.

One-third of estate agents dissatisfied with brokers

9 Nov 2010

A total of 31% of estate agents are either dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with their agency’s mortgage brokers, new research by Obligo reveals.

Gross mortgage lending hits £20.6bn at Barclays

9 Nov 2010

Gross mortgage lending at Barclays has hit £20.6bn for the first nine months of this year with net lending at £4.8bn.

Products with short deadlines can boost business for efficient brokers

08 November 2010

Mortgage deals that are available for seven days or less are good for brokers, says Ray Boulger, senior technical director at John Charcol.

Mortgage approvals for purchases hits 18-month low

5 Nov 2010

Mortgage approvals for purchases fell to their lowest level since May 2009, data from e.surv Chartered Surveyors’ mortgage monitor shows.

Chairman's daughter appointed Santander UK chief, say reports

3 Nov 2010

Santander UK has reportedly appointed Ana Patricia Botin, daughter of Santander’s chairman, Emilio Botin, as its new head.

Two-thirds use equity release for home improvements

3 Nov 2010

Nearly two out of three customers opting for equity release are using some of the cash for home and garden improvements, analysis from Key Retirement Solutions shows.

CHL reports arrears improvements

3 Nov 2010

Specialist lender, CHL Mortgages is reporting ongoing improvements to its arrears levels across its buy-to-let and homeloan mortgage book.

Public spending cuts could cost 1.6m jobs

2 Nov 2010

Cuts in public spending and the rise in the standard rate of VAT to 20% in January 2011 will result in the loss of almost 1.6 million jobs across the UK economy by 2015-16, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development reveals.

E.surv launches register of new build developments

2 Nov 2010

E.surv Chartered Surveyors has launched a New Homes Register which collects valuation data on over 90% of all the new build developments in the UK.

Rightmove reports four months of growth

2 Nov 2010

Rightmove is reporting four months of healthy growth in revenue and earnings and strong cash generation in its Interim Management Statement

Economy too tender for remortgage revival

1 Nov 2010

The US Federal reserve is widely expected to increase its quantitative easing this week with some reports suggesting it could be up to $1 trillion.

House prices fell by 0.9% in October

1 Nov 2010

House prices fell by 0.9% in October, the fourth consecutive monthly decline, Hometrack data reveals.

The Mortgage Works launches guarantor deals

1 Nov 2010

The Mortgage Works is making a number of additions and rate improvements to its full and limitedliability guarantor mortgage ranges.

Alliance & Leicester starts rebranding to Santander

1 Nov 2010

Santander has started re-branding its Alliance & Leicester branches with 300 expected to change by the end of the month.

FSA praises brokers in feedback to MS petition

25 October 2010

The Financial Services Authority has praised the role of intermediaries in its initial response to Mortgage Strategy’s Fighting For Our Industry petition.

The hurt is hidden

22 Oct 2010

After months of pessimistic rhetoric and stark warnings of 40% cuts the Comprehensive Spending Review didn’t actually seem that bad.

Aviva launches broker underwriting service

22 Oct 2010

Aviva is launching an online resource for advisers to improve the application process for life, critical illness and income protection insurance.

Housing benefit changes will boost flat sharing

22 Oct 2010

Changes to the housing benefit system could see the UK’s flat sharing population swell by 9.4%, the latest research from flat sharing website, easyroommate.co.uk shows.

Landlords must prepare for tenant job losses

21 Oct 2010

Landlord Assist, the nationwide tenant eviction and rent collection firm, is advising landlords to consider the impact of tenants who could lose their jobs due to the government cutbacks and to take preventative measures.

CSR: Paragon slams social housing changes as "dangerous"

20 Oct 2010

The Paragon Group has slammed the government’s changes to social housing as “dangerous”.

Adviser firm becomes proprietary funder

20 Oct 2010

Independent advisory firm Interbanc has partnered with London-based asset manager The Business Lending Secure Income Fund to become a proprietary funder – offering three exciting new products to the market.

BSA warns over Bank of England's new powers

20 Oct 2010

The Building Societies Association is claiming that regulatory changes will lead to the concentration of power in the Bank of England, increased costs and complexity, and overlapping responsibilities.

Obligo launches mortgage tool for estate agents

19 Oct 2010

Property and mortgage market website, Obligo, is launching a mortgage solution for estate agents that will qualify buyers in minutes, enable faster mortgage offers and generate a healthier bottom line through competitive referral fees.

Just retirement sales up 33%

19 Oct 2010

Just Retirement has revealed that sales are up 33% on last year and have overtaken £1bn for the first time.

EU clamps down on members states' debt

19 Oct 2010

European Union member states could face sanctions if they take on too much debt with no prudent fiscal policy, the European Commission has revealed.

Barclays backs Basel III proposals

18 Oct 2010

John Varley, chief executive of Barclays, has praised the “substance and timetable” of the Basel II proposals, the Financial Times reports.

NatWest Intermediary Solutions launches two five-year fixes

18 Oct 2010

NatWest Intermediary Solutions is launching two new five-year fixed rate remortgages tomorrow and making rate reductions to a further five products.

Property prices falling below LTV levels could face repossession

18 Oct 2010

An increasing number of properties could face repossession if their property price falls below their LTV level, Hatfield Philips International says.

Public sector cuts will hit property prices

18 Oct 2010

Property prices in areas with high rates of public sector employment are set to take a disproportionately hard knock over the coming months, research by Zoopla.co.uk shows.

LSL closer to signing Pink Home Loans deal

18 October 2010

LSL Property Services is expected to announce the purchase of Pink Home Loans this week.

Uncertainty remains over property prices

18 October 2010

MICHAEL COOGAN: WE EXPECT A MUTED

The Mortgage Works makes changes to buy-to-let deals

15 Oct 2010

The Mortgage Works is cutting rates on existing products and introducing two new deals as part of changes to its buy-to-let range.

OFT will merge with Competition Commission

14 Oct 2010

The Office of Fair Trading will be merged together with the Competition Commision, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has revealed.

Sentance says MPC losing credibility over inflation

14 Oct 2010

Monetary Policy Committee member Andrew Sentence has warned that the Bank of England must not lose credibility over tackling inflation.

Kent Reliance to transfer assets to OneSavings plc

13 Oct 2010

Kent Reliance Building Society has signed a conditional transfer agreement to move its assets and liabilities to new firm OneSavings plc.

Link Loans launches three year fixed secured loan

13 Oct 2010

Secured loans lender, Link Loans, has announced the launch of a three-year fixed rate product, starting at 13.4% with a £795 arrangement fee.

Unemployment falls as benefit claimants rise

13 Oct 2010

Unemployment fell by 20,000 to 2.45m in the three months up to August but those claiming jobless benefits increased, the Office of National Statistics reveals.

Fall in house hunters in September

13 Oct 2010

The National Association of Estate Agents’ market report for September showed a decrease in the number of house hunters registering with an agent across the country.

Osborne chooses preferred OBR members

12 Oct 2010

Chancellor of the exchequer George Osborne has chosen Stephen Nickell and Graham Parker as his preferred candidates for members of the Budget Responsibility Committee of the Office for Budget Responsibility.

Shapps calls for house price stability

12 Oct 2010

Housing minister Grant Shapps is urging a period of house price stability to prevent generations of potential homebuyers being priced out of the market.

Inflation remains at 3.1%

12 Oct 2010

Inflation remained at 3.1% in September, the same level as August, data from the Office of National Statistics shows.

Child benefit cut could lead to more repossessions

12 Oct 2010

The removal of child benefits for those earning over £44,000, may increase repossessions due to the fragile nature of many middle class families’ finances, Moore Blatch solicitors is warning.

Remortgages at lowest proportion of market for a decade

12 Oct 2010

Remortgaging accounted for only 25% of loans in August, the lowest proportion in over 10 years, the latest survey data from the Council of Mortgage Lenders shows.

90% drop in BTL products since peak

11 Oct 2010

There has been a 90% drop in buy-to-let mortgage products compared to the peak of the market, Moneyfacts research reveals.

Invest in commercial property, says Capital Economics

11 Oct 2010

Commercial property is now looking relatively well valued compared to bonds, equities and residential property, says Capital Economics’ chief property economist.

IMLA slams interest-only changes

11 Oct 2010

The Intermediary Mortgage Lenders Association is warning that interest-only mortgages will be obsolete if the Financial Services Authority continues with the Mortgage Market Review consultation paper.

Innocent AR wins battle to be reinstated to panel

11 October 2010

A newly-qualified mortgage broker claims he was kicked off Lloyds Banking Group’s panel despite never having done a mortgage.

Management takeover of Chartwell Group's mortgage division

8 Oct 2010

The Chartwell Group’s mortgage broker division has been bought by management as Close Asset Management completes a £17m takeover of the firm’s financial planning arms.

AVIVA hits equity release milestone

8 Oct 2010

Aviva hit 100,000 equity release customer completion after a boom in sales over the last decade.

Northern Rock cuts rates on Everyday range

8 Oct 2010

Northern Rock is improving its Everyday mortgage range, offering rates from 3.09% on remortgages and purchases.

European banks must accept more capital requirements

7 Oct 2010

Europe is the “cry-baby” of Basel III and must accept more capital requirements, a top European lawmaker says.

Intermediary products jump 57% in six months

7 Oct 2010

The number of mortgage products available to intermediaries has jumped up 57% during the past six months, the Mortgage Brain’s Monthly Product Analysis shows.

PMS and Rent on Time to offer landlord protection

7 Oct 2010

PMS is linking up with Rent on Time to enable intermediaries to provide their client landlords with additional protection.

Assureweb link up with TrigoldCrystal

6 Oct 2010

Mortgage brokers will have access to Assureweb products through TrigoldCrystal’s systems after the two firms struck a deal.

Remortgages leap 35% in September

6 Oct 2010

The number of remortgages jumped up by 35% in September as mortgage purchases fell by 20%, the John Charcol Mortgage Index reveals.

Countrywide Residential Lettings reveals rapid expansion

5 Oct 2010

Countrywide Residential Lettings is set to expand by opening 150 new offices in the next 18 months.

Lenders ditch brokers for simple application errors

4 Oct 2010

Concerns are being raised over mortgage brokers being kicked off lenders’ panels for minor errors.

Halifax offers £500 towards customers' energy bills

4 Oct 2010

Halifax, is offering all new mortgage customers £500 towards gas and electricity bills in the next month.

Banks might need second bail-out to fill funding gap

4 Oct 2010

British banks may need second bail-out to plug a funding gap as borrowing rises £25bn a month next year, the New Economics Foundation shows.

Buy-to-let boosts valuations in September

4 Oct 2010

A boom in buy-to-let investorshas boostedhousing market activity in September, research by Connells Survey and Valuation shows.

CML proposes methods to bring interest-only back from the brink

4 October 2010

The Council of Mortgage Lenders has suggested an alternative to banning interest-only, as one industry expert says the Financial Services Authority is right to restrict this type of lending.

Fraud alert

4 October 2010

With attempted fraud on the rise and fraudsters getting more sophisticated, brokers must ensure they don’t become soft targets by doing robust due diligence on all cases

Paragon puts its return down to increasing investor confidence

4 October 2010

Paragon Mortgages says its return to buy-to-let lending is the result of increased confidence in the mort-gage market.

Northern Rock changes intermediary website

1 Oct 2010

Northern Rock is introducing an improved online affordability calculator to its Intermediary website.

CML warns government over ISMI cuts

1 Oct 2010

The Council of Mortgage Lenders is urging the government not to cut Income Support for Mortgage Interest any further.

House prices fall 1% in Q3

30 Sep 2010

House prices dropped by 1% in Q3 2010 but are still 4.5% higher than the same period in 2009, the Nationwide House Price index reveals.

MarketGuard launches online adviser centre

29 Sep 2010

MarketGuard, the financial markets insurance specialist, is launching a new online adviser centre to help intermediaries sell the cap insurance product, RateGuard.

Lloyds TSB launches direct three-year fix at 3.99%

29 Sep 2010

Lloyds TSB is launching a direct deal of a three year fixed rate mortgage at 3.99%, available at 70% LTV.

Mortgage broker on Apprentice has alleged knuckleduster conviction

29 Sep 2010

A mortgage broker who has a conviction for possessing a baton and knuckle duster is set to appear on BBC show The Apprentice, reports claim.

UK economy too dependent on financial services, says Ed Miliband

29 Sep 2010

Newly crowned Labour leader Ed Miliband says the UK is too dependent on financial services in his speech to the Labour party conference.

First Title launches home owner protection

28 Sep 2010

First Title Insurance has launched the Home Owners’ Protection Policy to provide solicitors with an effective tool to de-risk the process of house buying for their clients and mortgage-lenders.

Coventry launches fixed rate deals from 3.59%

28 Sep 2010

Coventry Intermediaries is launching best buy fixed rate residential and buy-to-let mortgages with no arrangement fees starting from 3.59%.

Paragon returns to lending

28 Sep 2010

Paragon Mortgages is returning to new lending this morning and is launching a new range of buy-to-let products targeted at professional landlord investors.

60 Seconds with...Colin Franklin

27 September 2010

Sales and Marketing Director, Coventry Building Society

FSA taking stock of firms that are no longer lending

27 September 2010

The Financial Services Authority is scrutinising regulated lenders that have stopped lending due to funding issues.

Industry estimates put number of brokers in market at around 10,000

27 September 2010

ROBERT SINCLAIR BROKER NUMBER STILL IN DECLINE

MMR is not the right medicine

27 September 2010

A Mortgage Strategy round table, sponsored by Abbey for Intermediaries, debated the Mortgage Market Review proposals and concluded that the abolition of fast-track and self-cert will cause the industry and consumers an almighty headache

Santander to hire 400 new staff

24 Sep 2010

Santander is recruiting over 400 call centre staff in Liverpool, Glasgow and Leicester.

Nottingham BS chief executive to retire

23 Sep 2010

The chief executive of Nottingham Building Society is set to retire by May 2011 at the latest.

£99 fee deal from Nationwide

23 Sep 2010

Nationwide Building Society is offering remortgage products free from product, standard valuation and standard legal fees, with a booking fee of just £99, from Friday.

John Malone signs with PMS for further two years

23 Sep 2010

John Malone, executive chairman of PMS, has extended his contract with PMS for at least a further two years.

It’s reporters’ turn to face the wrath of the FSA

23 Sep 2010

I’ve written plenty of stories on the Mortgage Market Review and heard many complaints of brokers and lenders alike.

A third of consumers want tighter lending criteria

22 Sep 2010

Over a third of consumers believe the government should introduce more conservative lending policies, YouGov and Council of Mortgage Lenders research shows.

Public sector borrowing hits £15.9bn in August

21 Sep 2010

Public sector borrowing hit £15.9bn at the end of August compared to £14.1bn latest year, the Office of National Statistics reports.

Lack of landlord regulation leaves tenants exposed says ARLA

21 Sep 2010

The lack of regulation of landlords is leaving tenants exposed across the UK, says the Association of Residential Lettings Agents.

Complex prime continues to rise at The Mortgage Alliance

21 Sep 2010

The Mortgage Alliance has had three consecutive month-on-month rises in complex prime enquiries.

FSA agrees US co-operation deal

20 Sep 2010

The Financial Services Authority and the US Financial Industry Regulatory Authority have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to support more robust cooperation between the two regulators.

Northern Rock denies plans to sell mortgage portfolios

20 Sep 2010

Northern Rock has refused to rule out selling its mortgage portfolios to repay government loans but says it has no current plans to do so.

Aldermore launches 75% LTV two-year fix

20 Sep 2010

Aldermore is adding two more two-year fixed products to its residential mortgage range

KFI could become history if EC plan gets green signal

20 September 2010

The European Commission is proposing scrapping Key Facts Illustrations in favour of a European Standardised Information Sheet.

Media Spotlight - A Journey by Tony Blair

20 September 2010

Rental void periods at eight year low

17 Sep 2010

The average void period has fallen to its lowest level for eight years as demand for rental property remains high, the Association of Residential Lettings Agent’s survey reveals.

FSA warns European regulators not to interfere

17 Sep 2010

The Financial Services Authority has reportedly warned the new European regulators not to interfere in UK regulation.

GE Money CEO to retire

16 Sep 2010

GE Money Home Lending’s Colin Shave is retiring on December 31 2010, after a 35-year career with GE.

Quarter of consumers say it's bad time to buy property

14 Sep 2010

A quarter of consumers think it’s not a good time to buy a property, the September BSA Property Tracker Survey reveals.

Nine in 10 borrowers don't understand mortgages

14 Sep 2010

Nine out of 10 people planning to take out a mortgage in the next 12 months don’t completely understand the difference between the main types of mortgage, a First Direct survey reveals.

Increase in supply pushing down house prices, says RICS

14 Sep 2010

An increase in the supply of property has pushed house prices down for the second month in a row, says the latest Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors’ UK Housing Market survey.

Coventry keeps A rating from Moody's

13 Sep 2010

Coventry Building Society has retained its A ratings from Moody’s Investor Service.

First-time buyers have lowest market share for three years

13 Sep 2010

First-time buyers are at their lowest proportion of the mortgage market for three years, the Council of Mortgage Lenders’ monthly regulated mortgage survey reveals.

B2L regulation will not go ahead, says Paragon

13 September 2010

JOHN HERON PRIVATE RENTING MUST FILL GAP

Brokers must wake up and smell fraud coffee

13 September 2010

PMS chairman John Malone has warned that mortgage fraud will increase in the next few years and brokers must be willing to take responsibility.Figures released last week by Experian show mortgage fraud jumped 37% in the first half of 2010, compared with the last six months of 2009.

Government refusal to invest in private rental sector angers BPF

10 Sep 2010

The British Property Federation says the government has missed “a real opportunity” to support the private rented sector after it ruled out giving financial support to increase renting.

Housing cuts should be delayed says CAB

10 Sep 2010

The Citizens Advice Bureau is warning that cuts to housing benefit will result in higher levels of poverty, debt, rent arrears and homelessness and should be delayed.

Teachers BS branches out from education

10 Sep 2010

Dorset-based Teachers Building Society is making its mortgage service available to people outside of the education profession in the BH postal area.

Godiva launches 2.49% fixed rate

10 Sep 2010

Godiva Mortgages is launching two fixed rate deals at 60% LTV with 2.49% for two years and 2.99% for three.

Basel III agrees on 7% core capital

9 Sep 2010

Banks will require a minimum core Tier 1 capital ratio of 7% after an agreement was struck at the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision.

NLA calls for crackdown on rogue landlords

8 Sep 2010

Local authorities must prosecute landlords who wilfully ignore laws aimed at protecting tenants, says the National Landlords Association.

HSBC boss to join government

7 Sep 2010

Stephen Green, chairman of HSBC, will become minister for trade and investment in January 2011.

Seven times more broker products than direct

7 Sep 2010

There were seven times more intermediary products than direct products in August, TrigoldCrystal reports.

Bob Diamond gets top job at Barclays

7 Sep 2010

Bob Diamond is replacing John Varley as group chief executive at Barclays.

FSA promotes fraud chief to board

7 Sep 2010

Margaret Cole has been appointed to the Financial Services Authority board as managing director of enforcement and financial crime.

Brokers are fighting for clients' insurance claims

6 Sep 2010

Brokers are fighting harder in the downturn to get fairer claims payments from insurers, British Insurance Brokers’Association data reveals.

MMR claimed to be a ploy to remodel housing sector

6 September 2010

COLIN SNOWDON MARKET IS BEING RESHAPED BY MMR

Gay's appointment as AMI boss questioned

6 September 2010

STEPHEN GAY NO MORTGAGE BACKGROUND

Healthier market will push lenders to rethink automated credit scoring

6 September 2010

Industry experts predict that when the market gets back on its feet and competition increases major len-ders will be forced to change their automated credit scoring systems.

Landlord confidence falters due to fears over tax and benefits changes

6 September 2010

The National Landlords Associa-tion says landlord confidence has dipped for the first time in two years due to uncertainties over tax changes and housing benefits.

Savings drought in July will not stop societies lending, says BSA

6 September 2010

The Building Societies Association says lending in the mutual sector will be unaffected by the whopping £1.3bn drop in savings seen in July.

Stephen Gay to be new AMI director-general

3 Sep 2010

Stephen Gay, director of distribution development at Aviva, has been appointed director-general of the Association of Mortgage Intermediaries.

Average fraudster is middle aged man with clean record

3 Sep 2010

The average fraud perpetrator is a man aged between 31 and 45 with no prior fraud convictions, research by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners.

Principality offers fixed option on tracker deal

3 Sep 2010

Principality Building Society is launching a three year tracker which can be switched to a fixed deal at any time in the future.

Lifetime ban for insurance broker

2 Sep 2010

The Financial Services Authority has imposed a lifetime ban on a former chief executive of insurance brokerages, Target Underwriting and Professional Insurance Select.

Lloyds TSB launches 2.94% two year fix

2 Sep 2010

Lloyds TSB is launching a 2.94% two year fixed rate deal at 70% LTV.

Automated lending systems are holding back housing market

1 Sep 2010

The housing market is being held back due to lenders’ reliance on automated systems, Aldermore research shows.

Seven in 10 keep banks in the dark over financial problems

1 Sep 2010

Seven in 10 people who have suffered financial pressures in the past two years have never spoken to their bank or building society about their difficulties, Callcredit Information Group data shows.

Blu Debt and Paymentshield to stage insurance seminars

1 Sep 2010

Blu Debt Management has teamed up with Paymentshield to staget 18 joint seminars for mortgage advisers and IFAs across the country. 

The Mortgage Works launches buy-to-let lifetime variable product

31 Aug 2010

The Mortgage Works is offering a lifetime variable product as part of a new range to its buy-to-let range.

One in five on interest-only last year

31 Aug 2010

One in five borrowers took out interest-only mortgages in the last year, Financial Services Authority data reveals.

Unemployment could hit 10% in the regions

31 Aug 2010

One in 10 will be unemployed in half of UK regions over the next five years, says the Centre for Economics and Business Research.

Home owners in negative equity could be stuck for years

31 Aug 2010

Home owners who bought at the peak of the market in 2007 are likely to experience continued negative equity until 2014, says the National Housing Federation

Northern Rock re-introduces £99 application fee after delay

31 Aug 2010

Northern Rock is re-introducing its £99 mortgage application fee after a technical problem caused a delay.

Gross lending by mutuals hits £2bn in July

31 Aug 2010

Gross mortgage lending by mutuals was £2bn in July, the highest monthly figure so far this year, Building Societies Association statistics reveal.

Countrywide claims 10% share of broker market

30 August 2010

GRENVILLE TURNER OUTPERFORMING THE MARKET IS KEY

Bradford & Bingley sues law firms over same-day remortgaging deals

30 August 2010

Bradford & Bingley is pursuing negligence claims against law firms over advice received on same-day remortgage buy-to-let deals.

Demand for mortgages likely to fall as BBA points to a lacklustre July

30 August 2010

Gross mortgage lending at banks was £8.4bn in July, slightly below the previous six-month average of £8.6bn, the British Bankers’ Asso-ciation reports.

Lack of finance is holding landlords back, warns RICS

30 August 2010

JOHN HERON RICS RESULTS NO SURPRISE

Santander cuts rates by 0.24% on fixed deals

27 Aug 2010

Santander is cutting its two, four and five-year fixed rate deals by up to 0.24% today.

Falling demand hits credit products

26 Aug 2010

Low consumer confidence in the economy is affecting the take-up of consumer credit products.

Barclays' customers get 0.54% rate cuts

26 Aug 2010

Barclays is launching its loyalty mortgage discounts of up to 0.54% on September 2.

60% of mortgages were purchases in July

25 Aug 2010

More than six out of 10 mortgage in July were for purchase, data from Charcol.co.uk reveals.

Former Egg.com CEO joins borro.com board

25 Aug 2010

The former chief executive officer of Egg.com, Paul Gratton has been appointed to the board of borro.com, the short term asset loan provider.

Remortgages will get boost with interest rate rise

25 Aug 2010

Conveyancing Alliance is expecting remortgage activity to rise as more borrowers find themselves on increasingly uncompetitive SVRs.

Nigel Stockton to join Countrywide

24 Aug 2010

Nigel Stockton is leaving his position at Lloyds Banking Group to become financial services development director at Countrywide.

Banks' gross mortgage lending drops to £8.4bn in July

24 Aug 2010

Gross mortgage lending at banks was £8.4bn in July, slightly below the previous six months’ average o f £8.6bn, reports the British Bankers’ Association.

Landlord confidence drops in Q2 2010

24 Aug 2010

Landlords’ confidence in buy-to-let has fallen in the last three months, data from the landlord sentiment survey by LSL Property Services.

Drawbridge launches new products

24 Aug 2010

Drawbridge Finance is offering second charge loans up to £2m from 1.3% a month on short term deals and 10.99% up to three years.

V Loans adds Norton Finance to its panel

24 Aug 2010

V Loans, the national secured loans packager, has added Norton Finance Services to its lending panel.

Lifetime fixed rates cost more

23 Aug 2010

The average fixed rate charged for lifetime mortgages has increased compared to the long term fixed rate mortgage, reports Defaqto.

30% of households report drop in finances

23 Aug 2010

Three in 10 UK households reported a drop in their household finances in August, says the Markit/YouGov Household Finance Index.

Government says dual pricing is a commercial decision

23 Aug 2010

The government has rejected a broker petition calling for a ban on dual pricing.

Tiuta cuts rates and legal fees

23 Aug 2010

Tiuta has reduced its closed bridge rates by 0.5% and slashed the cost of upfront legal fees.

Consumers choosing broker deals over direct when searching online

23 August 2010

JAMES SADLER, BROKER DEALS, IN DEMAND

Gross lending up but slow market predicted for 2010

23 August 2010

PAUL SAMTER, LENDING WILL, REMAIN SLOW

Outsourcing affordability checks may create two-tier proc fee model

23 August 2010

RAY BOULGER, BROKER PROC, FEES WILL VARY

Lloyds drops Bank of Scotland Ireland

20 Aug 2010

Lloyds Banking Group is set to pull Bank of Scotland out of Ireland and cease all lending by the end of the year.

Hanley Economic BS joins Mortgageforce panel

20 Aug 2010

Mortgageforce has added Hanley Economic Building Society to its mortgage panel.

Cheval will stage bridging finance roadshows

20 Aug 2010

Cheval is staging the Blue Skies Bridging Roadshows to explain bridging opportunities to intermediaries.

Mortgage margins hit new high for lenders

19 Aug 2010

The margin between mortgage rates and the cost of funding to lenders through the swap rate market stands at an all time high, reports Moneyfacts.

Bank of England reports fixed rate demand

19 Aug 2010

Lenders are reporting an increase in long term fixed rate mortgages, says the Bank of England’s Trends in Lending Report.

Nationwide cuts rates on remortgage deals

19 Aug 2010

Nationwide is reducing its remortgage rates by up to 0.20% from tomorrow.

House price indices under review

18 Aug 2010

The National Statistician is conducting a review of house price indices to see of there any gaps in consumer information.

Islamic mortgages boosted by £20m investment

18 Aug 2010

UK Islamic mortgages are set for growth after the Islamic Bank of Britain received a £20m boost from shareholderQatar International Islamic Bank.

Yorkshire cuts rates on 85% LTV deals

18 Aug 2010

Yorkshire Building Society has cut mortgage rates on 85% LTV deals with a three-year fixed rate deal at 4.59% with a £495 fee.

CoreLogic Solutions brings in fraud expert

17 Aug 2010

CoreLogic Solutions has appointed Beverley Houlbrook as its expert fraud consultant.

Repossession drop is 'false sense of security'

17 Aug 2010

Mortgage brokers should take notice of the facts and not be lulled into a false sense of security by arrears forecasts, says sale and rent back firm, Residential Property Solutions Ltd.

Inflation slows to 3.1% in July

17 Aug 2010

Inflation has slowed to 3.1% in July, down by 0.1% on June, reports the Office of National Statistics.

Aldermore offers 80% LTV for FTBs

17 Aug 2010

Aldermore is accepting first time buyer mortgages up to 80% LTV in a string of changes to its mortgage range.

Rent arrears cause nearly half of landlord possessions

16 Aug 2010

Nearly half of all landlord possessions are caused by tenants not paying rent, says the National Landlords’ Association.

HSBC extends lifetime tracker offer

16 Aug 2010

HSBC is extending its low rate, low fee lifetime tracker mortgage from its original two week offer period due to “exceptional demand”.

Ahead of the curve

16 August 2010

Lloyds Banking Group is staying at the forefront of the market by pre-empting many FSA requirements. It’s also a firm believer in the power of brokers, as the lender’s head of intermediaries Peter Curran reveals

House prices fall for first time in a year as supply outstrips demand

16 August 2010

House prices fell in July for the first time in a year, says the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

Three lenders waiting for go-ahead from FSA

16 August 2010

DAVID TWEEDY: NEW LENDERS ARE A POSITIVE SIGN

Barclays says no to lending targets

13 Aug 2010

Barclays would refuse to sign up to any government lending targets because it says it would encourage irresponsible lending.

Boulger slams lenders' 'computer says no' attitude

13 Aug 2010

There is a ‘computer says no’ attitude among lenders with one admitting to refusing nine out of 10 borrowers on 90% LTV mortgages, says John Charcol.

Drop in arrears is 'calm before the storm' says CAB

13 Aug 2010

The Citizens Advice Bureau says the drop in the Council of Mortgage Lenders’ arrears figures is the “calm before the storm”.

Northern Rock launches broker-only tracker

12 Aug 2010

Northern Rock is launching a two-year tracker at 2.93% and 70% LTV exclusively for brokers tomorrow.

Buy-to-let mortgages up 13%

12 Aug 2010

There was a 13% increase in buy-to-let mortgages taken out in Q2 2010, reports the Council for Mortgage Lenders.

Bank lowers 2011 growth forecast by 0.9%

11 Aug 2010

The Bank of England has downgraded its forecast for economic growth by 0.9% for next year.

Nearly half of borrowers took out fixed rate in June

11 Aug 2010

Nearly half of new borrowers took out a fixed rate mortgage in June, reports the Council of Mortgage Lenders.

House price recovery has 'run out of steam'

10 Aug 2010

The recovery in property prices has run out of steam and will remain static or fall for some time to come, says Datamonitor.

House prices drop in July, says RICS

10 Aug 2010

House prices have fallen in July for the first time in a year, says the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors UK Housing Market Survey.

FSA reveals PPI reforms

10 Aug 2010

The Financial Services Authority is making a range of reforms to payment protection insurance with the aim of protecting customers.

Brokers will play key role in recovery, says Lloyds

9 August 2010

PETER CURRAN: FUTURE SECURE FOR ADVISERS

Paaleads tries to limit harm done by parent group

9 August 2010

DEV MALLE, SHOCKED BY MISJUDGEMENT

1% increase in broker products in July

6 Aug 2010

The number of mortgage products available to intermediaries has increased by just 1% in July, says data from Mortgage Brain’s Monthly Product Analysis.

RBS makes £1.1bn first half profit

6 Aug 2010

The Royal Bank of Scotland made pre-tax profits of £1.1bn in the first half of 2010, compared to £15m in 2009.

Interest rates held at 0.5%

5 Aug 2010

The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee has voted to hold interest rates at 0.5% for the 17th consecutive month.

Nationwide cuts rates by up to 0.3%

5 Aug 2010

Nationwide will reduce its rates by up to 0.3% on remortgages and house purchase products from tomorrow.

Brokers should look to rental sector to sell insurance

5 Aug 2010

Specialist general insurance provider, Assurant Intermediary, is urging intermediaries not to ignore the residential rental market as a potential source of business.  

No 'knee-jerk' reaction to Paaleads, says Tenet

4 Aug 2010

The Tenet Group is making no knee-jerk reaction to Moneysupermarket.com’s withering attack on the mortgage broker community.

L&G profits soar to £537m

4 Aug 2010

Legal and General’s profits have jumped from a loss of £143m in H1 2009 to £537m in H1 2010.

Kent Reliance confirms JC Flowers boost

3 Aug 2010

Kent Reliance Building Society has confirmed it is to become a bank to support capital investment from JC Flowers.

Valuations are 10% higher than last year

3 Aug 2010

The total number of residential property valuations in July was 10% higher than a year ago, reports Connells Survey and Valuation.

Brokers offer less choice, claims comparison site

2 August 2010

Comparison website Moneysupermarket.com has launched a blistering attack on the mortgage broker community by claiming advisers offer limited choice because 90% of deals are available only direct.

Metro Bank opens for business with direct deals

2 August 2010

Metro Bank launched a range of direct mortgage deals last week as it opened its first branch in Holborn, London.

Media spotlight: The Third Man

2 August 2010

Regulator in search for new director of mortgage policy

2 August 2010

The Financial Services Authority is on the lookout for a new director of mortgage policy following Ed Harley’s move to its asset management department.

Bradford and Bingley arrears drop by 18%

30 Jul 2010

The number of arrears at Bradford and Bingley has dropped by 18% in the six months up to June 2010.

Santander slashes direct-only fees

30 Jul 2010

Santander is cutting fees on its direct-only two and three-year fixed mortgages by £500.

Gross lending increases by 71% at Yorkshire BS

30 Jul 2010

Gross mortgage lending is up 71% at Yorkshire Building Society compared to same period last year.

Net lending to individuals sees slight rise in June

29 Jul 2010

Net lending to individuals rose by £0.6bn in June but the 12 month growth rate is unchanged after being revised to a 0.8% increase in May, reports the Bank of England.

Gross mortgage lending by mutuals up 19%

29 Jul 2010

Gross mortgage lending by mutuals was up 19% in June at £1.798bn, reports the Building Societies Association.

Spending cuts are hitting house sales

29 Jul 2010

The number of house sales in the UK has been hit by the prospect of government spending cuts, reports the Agency Express Property Activity Index.

House prices rise by 0.1% in June

28 Jul 2010

House prices increased by 0.1% in June with an 8.4% annual rise, says data from the Land Registry.

Boom in tied products this year

28 Jul 2010

The proportion of tied products on mortgages and regular savings accounts has increased dramatically since the start of the year, says Which? Money.

Link Loans joins Brunel lender panel

28 Jul 2010

Mortgage and loans packager, Brunel Mortgages & Loans, has announced that secured loan provider, Link Loans, has joined its lender panel.

Select & Protect gets exclusive GI provision for Peter Alan

27 Jul 2010

Select & Protect, general insurance provider for intermediaries, has entered into an exclusive partnership with Peter Alan Financial Services as the sole provider of GI to its members.  

Conveyancing Alliance re-launches online quotation system

26 Jul 2010

Conveyancing Alliance is re-launching its online quotation system with a fresh design to be used as a launchpad for new products.

Calling on lenders to join fight for survival

26 July 2010

Brokers who issue combined IDD may breach FSA rules

23 Jul 2010

Brokers who have issued Combined Initial Disclosure Documents to cover mortgage and insurance advice may be in breach of Financial Services Authority requirements.

Economy grows by 1.1%

23 Jul 2010

The UK economy grew by 1.1% in Q2 2010 jumping by 0.8% from Q1, reports the Office of National Statistics.

Four out of five don't seek financial advice

22 Jul 2010

Almost four out of five people do not seek financial advice reports the Fair Investment Company.

Aldermore appoints Ebbage as brokers' manager

22 Jul 2010

Aldermore Commercial Mortgages has appointed Kelly Ebbage to the role of sales support analyst, responsible for managing their panel of commercial mortgage brokers.

One in five landlords experience arrears in Q2

22 Jul 2010

One in five landlords have experienced rent arrears in the last three months according to new research published today by the National Landlords Association.

Short term lender joins AMI

22 Jul 2010

The first short term finance lender, Tiuta, has joined the Association of Mortgage Intermediaries as an associate member.

Yorkshire and Clydesdale banks miscalculate 18,000 mortgages

21 Jul 2010

Yorkshire and Clydesdale banks have nearly finished apologising to 18,000 variable rate customers after an error meant they were underpaying on their mortgage.

81% of equity release is through intermediaries

21 Jul 2010

Intermediary sales now account for 81% of the equity release market as the industry fell by 8% in Q2 2010.

Mortgage Rescue Scheme to be cut

20 Jul 2010

The government is cutting the amount home owners can sell to the council under the Mortgage Rescue Scheme.

Equity releases jump by nearly a third

20 Jul 2010

Equity release completions have risen by 30% rise in equity release completions during the first half of 2010, reports Goldsmith Williams.

Second half of the year to wipe out house price gains

19 Jul 2010

House price drops in the second half of the year are set to wipe out any gains made so far in 2010, claims Rightmove.

Housing minister hasn't had any official meetings with Cameron

19 July 2010

GRANT SHAPPS: NO OFFICIAL CONTACT WITH PM

Media spotlight: The Economic Naturalist

19 July 2010

By Robert H Frank

Repossessions may increase in housing recovery

16 Jul 2010

Repossessions may increase as the housing market recovers as lenders enforce suspended possession orders after previous leniency, according to the Consumer Credit Counselling Service.

Coventry launches Flexx Capped deal

16 Jul 2010

Coventry Building Society is launching two Flexx Capped deals which allow unlimited over payments and no early repayment charges.

Lack of private rental property, says ARLA

16 Jul 2010

The amount of available rental properties is decreasing, according to the Association of Residential Lettings Agents.

Housing demand increases but sales dip

15 Jul 2010

Property demand rose in June as housing stock levels decreased for the first time in four months.

Lenders could cut broker business by 60%

14 Jul 2010

The number of intermediaries used by lenders could drop by up to 60% after the Mortgage Market Review.

DMGI acquires Calnea Analytics

14 Jul 2010

DMG Information Group has announced the acquisition of Calnea Analytics today.

Treasury committee to remove barriers to entry for new banks  

13 Jul 2010

Andrew Tyrie, the new chairman of the Treasury Select Committee says it wants to “remove barriers to entry” for new banks.

Mayfair launches low credit rating product

12 Jul 2010

Mayfair Bridging is launching a product aimed at clients with an adverse credit rating.

Q2 sees AR sector shrink as 72 fly the network nest

12 July 2010

More than 70 appointed representatives abandoned their networks in Q2 2010, with Personal Touch Financial Services losing 44.

Property prices fell in June as sales rose sharply

12 July 2010

House prices fell last month, with Halifax’s house price index showing a 0.6% drop and the LSL/Acadametrics index showing prices decreasing by 0.5%.

Skipton launches two-year fix at less than 3%

9 Jul 2010

Skipton Building Society is launching a two-year fixed rate deal at 2.99%.

Heavyweights to set up new retail bank

9 Jul 2010

A new retail banking venture is being launched by four heavyweights from business and politics, according to reports.

Mortgage Angels re-brands brokerage as MAAN

8 Jul 2010

Mortgage Angels is re-branding its brokerage arm as MAAN and will remain only as a lead generator.

Boost to million-pound properties

8 Jul 2010

The number of property millionaires has risen by 29,000 in the last year and is close to its 2008 peak, according to Santander Mortgages.

Northern Rock lowers broker rates

7 Jul 2010

Northern Rock’s intermediary rates are being cut by 0.6% with the everyday 85% LTV rate at 4.89%.

19 mortgages approved every 10 minutes

7 Jul 2010

A total of 19 mortgages, valued at £2m, are approved every 10 minutes, according to the British Bankers Association.

Job done for banks' capital requirements, says leading Tory

6 Jul 2010

A former Conservative cabinet minister says it is “job done” for rebuilding bank capital.

FSA grants RPS sale and rent back authorisation

6 Jul 2010

Residential Property Solutions Limited has received full authorisation from the Financial Services Authority for sale and rent back activities.

Leeds BS launches flexible five-year fix

6 Jul 2010

Leeds Building Society is launching a five-year fixed rate mortgage range that allows 10% of the capital to be repaid every year, without penalty.

Savers are paying for low mortgage rates

5 Jul 2010

The focus on reducing mortgage rates is forcing providers to cut their savings rates to balance the books, says Moneyfacts.co.uk.

IMF calls for bigger bank levy

5 Jul 2010

The International Monetary Fund is calling for a financial activities tax which could see the UK bank levy tripled from £2bn to £6bn.

Cumbria police seek broker after clients complain

5 July 2010

The reputation of mortgage brokers was tarnished again last week after it emerged that police in Cumbria are searching for an intermediary following allegations of financial irregularities.

Regulate with care, FLA tells government

2 Jul 2010

The government should act cautiously when regulating or risk punishing consumers, says the Financial and Leasing Association.

Yorkshire launches direct-only 90% LTV

2 Jul 2010

Yorkshire Building Society has launched a direct-only 90% LTV mortgage deal for first-time buyers.

Mortgage Brain gives brokers access to overseas deals

2 Jul 2010

Mortgage brokers will now have access to overseas mortgage products through Mortgage Brain through a partnership with Connect Overseas.

Leeds BS launches 3.75% three-year fix

1 Jul 2010

Leeds Building Society is launching a new three-year fixed at 3.75% and 75% LTV.

Unexpected drop in mortgage defaults

1 Jul 2010

Mortgage defaults have fallen unexpectedly in the last quarter, says the Bank of England.

Police hunt for mortgage broker

30 Jun 2010

A mortgage broker is the subject of a police manhunt after allegations of financial irregularities and a string of complaints, according to reports.

House prices rise by 3% in first half of 2010

30 Jun 2010

House prices have increased by 3% in the first half of 2010, according to Nationwide.

Two- thirds of brokers not confident for next quarter, says L&G

29 Jun 2010

Around two-thirds of mortgage brokers are not expecting business to improve in the next three months, says Legal & General.

Mutuals lend 8% more in May

29 Jun 2010

Mutuals were lending 8% more in May than the previous month, according to the Building Societies Association.

House prices drop by 0.2% in May

28 Jun 2010

House prices dropped by 0.2% from April to May this year despite an annual rise of 8.2%, according to the Land Registry’s House Price Index.

Low mortgages drive down housing costs

28 Jun 2010

Low-cost mortgage payments have driven down the cost of housing by 6% in the past two years.

Mortgageforce gets exclusive access to five-year fix

25 Jun 2010

Mortgageforce has been given exclusive intermediary access to a new five-year fixed rate mortgage  from  Market Harborough Building Society.

Leeds BS launch shared ownership deal

25 Jun 2010

Leeds Building Society is launching a shared ownership mortgage product designed to help first-time buyers.

CML criticises FSA's approved persons register

25 Jun 2010

The Council of Mortgage Lenders has criticised the extension of the Financial Services Authority approved persons register as unnecessarily costly for lenders.

CML wants building society help

24 Jun 2010

The Council of Mortgage Lenders is urging the government to consider capital issues for building societies.

EMERGENCY BUDGET: Housing benefits capped and cut

22 Jun 2010

The chancellor of the exchequer has announced a cap on housing benefits and plans to reduce their cost by almost £2bn in today’s Budget.

Seven-year low for fixed rates

21 Jun 2010

The average two-year fixed rate mortgage has fallen its lowest level in seven years.

Broker in court for England dressing room outburst

21 Jun 2010

A mortgage broker who stumbled into the England team’s dressing room and confronted David Beckham over their poor performance has appeared in court today.

Quicker sales for possessed property, says Spicerhaart

21 Jun 2010

Possessed properties are selling quicker than last year, according to Spicerhaart Corporate Sales.

Threat of ban still hangs over some types of loans

21 June 2010

Banks should boost savings to pay back government loans, says BSA

21 June 2010

AMI welcomes approved persons register for all

18 Jun 2010

The Association of Mortgage Intermediaries welcomed the announcement that the approved persons regime will be applied to the whole industry.

NAEA calls for tax breaks for first-time buyers

18 Jun 2010

The National Association of Estate Agents is calling for tax incentives for first-time buyers to be introduced in next week’s Budget.

Gross mortgage lending up 7% in May

18 Jun 2010

Gross mortgage lending increased by 7% in May to an estimated total of £11.3 billion, according to the Council of Mortgage Intermediaries.

Boost to £500,000 mortgages

17 Jun 2010

The number of mortgages over half a million pounds increased 162% in May compared to the same month last year, according to Knight Frank Finance.

Chair of banking commission announced

16 Jun 2010

The chancellor of the exchequer today announced that Sir John Vickers will chair the Independent Commission on Banking.

Unemployment rises but claimants down

16 Jun 2010

The number of people unemployed rose by 23,000 between February and April, increasing the total number of jobless to 2.47m.

Buying is cheaper than renting for first time buyers

15 Jun 2010

Mortgage repayments for first time buyers work out cheaper than if they were to rent in every area of the country except London, according to Santander Mortgages.

Confidence in housing market drops in June, says BSA

15 Jun 2010

Fewer people believe that now is a good time to buy a property than in March, according to a Building Societies Association survey.

RBS launches Customer Charter

14 Jun 2010

The Royal Bank of Scotland is launching a Customer Charter pledging to fulfil customers’ key demands of the bank.

FSA appoints senior home insurance adviser

14 Jun 2010

The Financial Services Authority has appointed a new life insurance senior adviser.

OBR's first report slammed as implausible

14 Jun 2010

The first report of the Office of Budget Responsibility has been criticised for being “implausible” by the Centre of Economic and Business Research.

Asset 1st to outsource operations online

14 Jun 2010

An asset management company has become the first to use a new online system to manage its transactions.

New Budget office downgrades forecasts

14 Jun 2010

The newly created Office for Budget Responsibility has downgraded growth forecasts for next year from 3.25% to 2.6%.

Lenders urged to come clean on internal fraud

14 June 2010

Lenders are being called upon to be upfront about internal mortgage fraud despite worries they might have over reputational damage.

Rates must rise to free up funding, says IMLA

14 June 2010

PETER WILLIAMS: PRESSURE WILL BECOME INTENSE

Halifax sweeps up at L&G awards

11 Jun 2010

Halifax Intermediaries has won the best overall lender prize at the Legal & General Mortgage Club Awards.

Property prices drop in May

11 Jun 2010

Property prices fell by 0.2% in May after a sluggish month stalled a market recovery, according to Academetrics’ researchers.

Landlords hit out at proposed Capital Gains hike

11 Jun 2010

Private landlords are calling on the government to scrap any plans to raise Capital Gains tax.

ARLA "extremely disappointed" with government

10 Jun 2010

The Association of Residential Letting Agents are “extremely disappointed” that the government has abandoned plans to regulate the private rented sector.

Interest rates held at 0.5%

10 Jun 2010

Interest rates have been held at the historic low of 0.5% for the 15th consecutive month, the Bank of England has announced.

Joint mortgage launched by Platform

10 Jun 2010

A new couples mortgage is being launched by Platform today with more favourable rates than for single applicants.

FSA slams broker misuse of client money

9 Jun 2010

Two insurance brokers are facing the wrath of the FSA after being accused of failing to adequately protect clients’ money and assets.