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Borrowers’ indecision on mortgage rates could cost hundreds – Moneyfacts


By Dan McGrath

Borrowers waiting for lower mortgage rates to surface could be hundreds of pounds worse off if the Bank of England (BoE) increases the bank base rate (BBR), Moneyfactscompare.co.uk has stated.

The financial product price comparison firm’s latest research found that a 0.25% increase in the BBR would increase average mortgage payments by around £450 a year, while a 0.50% rise would mark a £906 increase


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UK rental growth slows as competition falls – Zoopla

Average UK rents for new lets increased by 2.1% in April, down from 2.6% in the previous year, as competition for rented homes is falling towards pre-COVID levels, Zoopla has revealed.

The property search research firm’s latest Rental Market Report stated that the national figure for rent growth "masks two very different rental markets", as renters in areas with lower average rents are facing the fastest increase in rents, while the more expensive areas are limited in how much rents can increase

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UK homeowners underestimate wealth and potential IHT bills, study finds

Many UK homeowners may be significantly underestimating both their wealth and their exposure to inheritance tax (IHT), according to new research from savings platform Flagstone

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GDP contracts by 0.1% in April – ONS

UK gross domestic product (GDP) fell by 0.1% month-on-month in April for the first time since August 2025, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has revealed

Dudley Building Society hits record mortgage lending

Dudley Building Society delivered record mortgage lending of £130.9m in the year to 31 March, supported by continued investment in its intermediary proposition and strong broker engagement despite challenging market conditions

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L&C Mortgages joins Afin Bank’s broker panel

Afin Bank has added L&C Mortgages to its broker panel
Bridging market demonstrates ‘measured’ phase in Q1 2026 – BDLA

The UK bridging and development finance market entered 2026 in a "more measured phase" due to continued economic and geopolitical uncertainty, following a period of sustained growth, the Bridging & Development Lenders Association (BDLA) has stated

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Workers lack pension confidence despite employers’ efforts to educate

Over a third of employees (39%) do not feel confident they are making the right decisions about their pensions, despite almost all employers believing their workers understand and value their workplace pensions, according to research from Cushon

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Borrowers’ indecision on mortgage rates could cost hundreds – Moneyfacts

Borrowers waiting for lower mortgage rates to surface could be hundreds of pounds worse off if the Bank of England (BoE) increases the bank base rate (BBR), Moneyfactscompare.co.uk has stated. The financial product price comparison firm’s latest research found that a 0.25% increase in the BBR would increase average mortgage payments by around £450 a year, while a 0.50% rise would mark a £906 increase

Bridging market demonstrates ‘measured’ phase in Q1 2026 – BDLA

The UK bridging and development finance market entered 2026 in a "more measured phase" due to continued economic and geopolitical uncertainty, following a period of sustained growth, the Bridging & Development Lenders Association (BDLA) has stated

Brokers face affordability ‘paradox’ as income protection importance increases

Brokers are facing a "protection affordability paradox", LSL Financial Services has stated, as rising household costs are making income protection more important for customers, while also making it harder to afford

UK rental growth slows as competition falls – Zoopla

Average UK rents for new lets increased by 2.1% in April, down from 2.6% in the previous year, as competition for rented homes is falling towards pre-COVID levels, Zoopla has revealed. The property search research firm’s latest Rental Market Report stated that the national figure for rent growth "masks two very different rental markets", as renters in areas with lower average rents are facing the fastest increase in rents, while the more expensive areas are limited in how much rents can increase

Chancellor launches consultation to reduce tax burden on wealthy US expats

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has launched a consultation into easing the tax burden faced by wealthy US investors looking to relocate to the UK

Number of savers hit with £5k+ tax bill almost triples in 2025/26

The number of individuals who have more than a £5,000 tax liability on savings income has almost tripled from 52,700 in the 2022/23 financial year to 137,000 in the 2025/26 financial year, Paragon Bank has found

Late estate planning could cost affluent families £12.3bn in ‘preventable’ IHT

Late estate planning could cost affluent families in the UK £12.3bn in ‘preventable’ inheritance tax (IHT) as pensions fall into scope of the tax, according to Octopus Investments

Three quarters of Brits unaware of IHT tax relief rules – Canada Life

Almost three quarters (72%) of UK adults are not aware that money regularly gifted from spare or excess income is immediately exempt from inheritance tax (IHT), Canada Life has revealed

FCA seeks injunction against Neil Woodford for ‘operating without authorisation’

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has started civil proceedings against Neil Woodford and his latest venture W4.0 for “operating without authorisation”

FCA considers loosening number of mortgage market restraints

The FCA is consulting on making it easier for first-time buyers (FTBs), older borrowers and the self-employed to get a mortgage. The regulator will explore how to help lenders offer flexible repayments for people with variable incomes such as the self-employed

Firms must do more to protect consumers and prevent sanctions breaches – FCA

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has called on regulated firms to raise consumer protection standards when approving financial promotions, and do more to prevent sanctions breaches

Adviser opinion split on FCA’s proposed advice changes

Financial advisers are divided on whether the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) proposed changes to pensions and investment advice rules will help them service new clients, a study from AJ Bell has shown

Savings product choice hits new record

The number of savings products available on the market has risen to 2,540 deals, according to data from Moneyfacts

Bridging lending remains consistent in Q1

Purchasing an investment asset remained the most popular use of bridging finance in Q1, accounting for 22% of all transactions, according to the latest Bridging Trends data. The latest figure was unchanged from Q4 2025, although the impact from the conflict in the Middle East won’t be fully clear until Q2

Quilter Financial Planning adds eight AR firms to adviser network

Quilter Financial Planning has added eight new appointed representative (AR) firms to its advice network

Santander completes £2.65bn TSB acquisition

Santander UK has completed the acquisition of TSB for an all-cash consideration of £2.65bn

Workers lack pension confidence despite employers’ efforts to educate

Over a third of employees (39%) do not feel confident they are making the right decisions about their pensions, despite almost all employers believing their workers understand and value their workplace pensions, according to research from Cushon

Over four in five consumers turn to unregulated sources for pension guidance

Over four in five (83%) consumers are turning to unregulated sources such as AI tools, social media platforms and online influencers for financial guidance, raising concerns about the quality of information being used to inform long-term retirement decisions, research from Zable has revealed

M&G to add PruFund range to Scottish Widows Platform

M&G has agreed to make its PruFund range available on the Scottish Widows Platform, marking its first third-party platform launch

Self-employed pension saving rates a ‘catastrophe’ - Bell

Pensions Minister, Torsten Bell, has described pension saving rates among the self-employed as a "catastrophe", warning that further reform is needed to build on the success of automatic enrolment

GDP contracts by 0.1% in April – ONS

UK gross domestic product (GDP) fell by 0.1% month-on-month in April for the first time since August 2025, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has revealed

Fixed bonds lead market surge in savings rates – Investec Save

Savers are witnessing increased competition for their savings as rates increase the market, with fixed rates bonds leading the way, Investec Save has found

Estate agents remain most influential conveyancing instructor

Estate agents are the most influential source of instruction when appointing a conveyancer, as 32% of homebuyers in the last two years found their conveyancer through an estate agent’s recommendation, Lyons Bowe Solicitors has found

One third of investors hit ISA limits as savers rush to maximise tax breaks

A significant proportion of investors maximised their tax-efficient savings allowances during the 2025/26 tax year, with new figures from AJ Bell showing that 28% of its DIY investors paid the full £20,000 into their stocks and shares ISA

Rosemount Financial Solutions (IFA) launches new AI-powered tool

Rosemount Financial Solutions (IFA) has announced the launch of ProCeding, its new AI-powered tool designed to simplify dealing with ceding scheme providers

Firms collaborate to drive modernisation in homebuying process

Proptech firms and software developers across the homebuying sector have collaborated in a series of hackathons designed to test how property data can be shared across the home-moving process

AI to ‘reshape’ advice firms without replacing advisers

Artificial intelligence (AI) will reshape financial advice but will not replace advisers, according to a report from Hoxton Wealth

Brokers seek more connected sourcing technology, survey finds

Mortgage brokers are increasingly reassessing their sourcing technology as they look for more integrated systems that streamline the advice process and improve efficiency, according to a poll by One Mortgage System (OMS) and Twenty7tec

L&C Mortgages joins Afin Bank’s broker panel

Afin Bank has added L&C Mortgages to its broker panel

News in brief - 15 June 2026

Today's round up of developments coming out of the consumer finance space, featuring London Credit, Black & White Bridging, Fleet Mortgages and Castle Trust Bank

News in brief - 12 June 2026

Today's round up of developments coming out of the consumer finance space, featuring TAB, Gatehouse Bank, LendInvest and Precise

News in brief - 11 June 2026

Today's round up of developments coming out of the consumer finance space, featuring Atom bank, Investec Save, Quilter and Buckinghamshire Building Society

BLOG: Royal London Equity Release: How high-net-worth individuals could benefit from releasing equity with the exclusive Premier product offering

In February 2026, we were recognised at the MoneyAge Mortgage Awards, taking home the title of ‘Later Life Lender of the Year’, with judges highlighting our rapid distribution growth, extensive adviser engagement and meaningful product enhancements. As an equity release provider, our approach is rooted in a holistic view of retirement, aiming to provide good customer outcomes with backing from the UK’s largest mutual life, pensions and investment company* – but what can we offer you and your clients?

BLOG: Are added-value services the key to engaging clients in protection?

Scottish Widows Protection Director, Rose St Louis, discusses how reframing protection conversations can help to engage clients

BLOG: Award-winning lending, built brick by brick

Saffron for Intermediaries discusses its latest lending offering on the MoneyAge blog

BLOG: Doing Good is Good Business

MoneyAge Awards winner Bespoke Advice discusses the key fundamentals of good financial planning in our latest blog piece

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Funding home adaptations: The changing needs in later life planning

The Bank of Family

Delivering A Consumer-Focused Later Life Lending Sector for 2026 and Beyond

Later Life Lending: It’s more than just equity release or retirement interest only (RIO)

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