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Pensions Commission calls for system evolution amid widespread undersaving


By Jack Gray

The Pensions Commission has warned that the pension system needs to evolve to meet modern working lives, with 15 million people in the UK currently undersaving for retirement, according to its interim report.

The report highlighted that the issue was particularly evident among low and middle earners, the self-employed, and women, and the number undersaving could reach 19 million people without action


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Value of cancelled mortgages hits record high of £8.7bn

The value of mortgages not taken up by home buyers hit a record high of £8.7bn in Q1 after a rise in cancellations year-on-year, according to the latest Bank of England (BoE) data analysed by Novus Strategy

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FTBs £64k better off buying than renting over five years – Tembo

First-time buyers (FTBs) are "significantly" better off buying than renting over a five-year term, with an average saving of £64,000 over this period, Tembo has revealed

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Air launches later life lending training deal with Simplybiz Mortgages

Air has signed an exclusive deal with Simplybiz Mortgages to deliver extensive later life lending training and development to its members

CFIT launches roadmap as part of the Open Property Coalition

The Centre for Finance, Innovation and Technology (CFIT) has launched its Roadmap for Open Property, following the completion of the first phase of Open Property Coalition.

Backed by the mortgage industry and funded by the Department for Business and Trade, the coalition is aiming to transform the current "slow and fragmented" homebuying process, signalling the next phase of the UK’s Smart Data initiative

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Together hits record £8.4bn loan book

Together has seen its loan book reach a record £8.4bn in the three months to 31 March, marking a 7.6% year-on-year increase
House prices up 1.2% in May amid North-South divide

Asking prices for British homes rose by 1.2% in May to £378,304 despite uncertainty around the Iran war, Rightmove has revealed

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Demand for variable and tracker mortgages doubles

Variable and tracker mortgages are now more than twice as popular compared to just over six months ago

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Two in five people not confident in six-month deadline to pay pensions IHT bill

Over two in five (43%) of UK adults aren’t confident the six-month deadline for paying inheritance tax (IHT) on unused pension funds will be long enough, new research by Standard Life has shown

One in four savers taking steps to reduce IHT, study finds

More than a quarter (28%) of affluent savers have taken steps to reduce a future inheritance tax (IHT), Paragon Bank research has revealed

IHT receipts reach record £8.5bn in 2025/26

Inheritance tax (IHT) receipts totalled £8.5bn in the 2025/26 financial year, marking a fifth consecutive annual record, HMRC has revealed

Three in five Brits confused by IHT rules – Canada Life

Almost three in five (59%) UK adults admit that they find inheritance tax (IHT) rules confusing, Canada Life has revealed

CFIT launches roadmap as part of the Open Property Coalition

The Centre for Finance, Innovation and Technology (CFIT) has launched its Roadmap for Open Property, following the completion of the first phase of Open Property Coalition. Backed by the mortgage industry and funded by the Department for Business and Trade, the coalition is aiming to transform the current "slow and fragmented" homebuying process, signalling the next phase of the UK’s Smart Data initiative

Gatehouse Bank partners with Finvise

Gatehouse Bank has launched a new partnership with AI-powered surveyor expertise platform, Finvise

TISA calls for vulnerable consumer safeguards under redress reform

The Investing and Saving Alliance (TISA) has urged the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) and Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to ensure proposed reforms to the redress system include clear safeguards for vulnerable consumers

News in brief - 11 May 2026

Today's round up of developments coming out of the consumer finance space, featuring Together, Zephyr Homeloans and Hope Capital Property Finance

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

Pensions Commission calls for system evolution amid widespread undersaving

The Pensions Commission has warned that the pension system needs to evolve to meet modern working lives, with 15 million people in the UK currently undersaving for retirement, according to its interim report. The report highlighted that the issue was particularly evident among low and middle earners, the self-employed, and women, and the number undersaving could reach 19 million people without action

Leeds Building Society pension scheme completes £66m buy-in with Royal London

The Leeds Building Society Staff Pension Scheme has completed a £66m buy-in with Royal London, securing the benefits of 590 members

Residential property transactions down 39% in March – HMRC

The number of residential property transactions in the UK in March dipped by 39% compared to the same month last year, new HMRC figures have shown

Adviser study reveals clients uncertain about IHT pension change

More than half of advisers (57%) have said their clients are uncertain about pensions being subject to inheritance tax (IHT) from April 2027, according to a new study by Scottish Widows

One in 10 parents are investing in children’s future – Alliance Witan

Just over one in 10 (11%) parents are currently investing on behalf of their children, Alliance Witan has found

ERG reports 'strong growth' in Q1

The Equity Release Group (ERG) has reported "strong growth" in Q1, as case volumes jumped by 11.1% year-on-year

GDP falls in line with expectations in March

Gross domestic product (GDP) increased by 0.6% in the three months to March, in line with expectations, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has revealed

Air supports Linear in launch into equity release market

Air has announced that it is supporting Linear Financial Solutions, part of Primis Mortgage Network, as it launches into the equity release market

Söderberg, Seccl, and Plannr launch new adviser tech integration

Söderberg & Partners Platform, Seccl, and Plannr Technologies have successfully launched a new integration which will deliver a fully unified, API-first ecosystem for financial advisers and their clients

Downing launches IHT calculator ahead of anticipated receipts surge

Downing has announced the launch of a new inheritance tax (IHT) calculator ahead of a forecasted surge in receipts over the next five years

Majority of financial planning firms say AI will not impact headcount

Seventy per cent of financial planning firms have reported that AI will not impact their headcount this year, with just 3% planning to reduce current staffing levels as a result of this technology, The Saltus Partnership Programme has found

LandTech integrates Brickflow into LandInsight platform

LandTech has integrated Brickflow’s software into its LandInsight platform to provide developers and property investors with instant funding comparisons during site appraisal

News in brief - 19 May 2026

Today's round up of developments coming out of the consumer finance space, featuring Monmouthshire Building Society, LendInvest Mortgages, Pure Retirement, Standard Life, LHV Bank and Buckinghamshire Building Society

News in brief - 18 May 2026

Today's round up of developments coming out of the consumer finance space, featuring Afin Bank, LendInvest Mortgages, One Mortgage System (OMS) and Standard Life

News in brief - 15 May 2026

Today's round up of developments coming out of the consumer finance space, featuring Glenhawk, Word On The Street and District & County Investments

TRM adds TAB to lender panel

The Right Mortgage & Protection Network (TRM) has appointed specialist property finance lender, TAB, to its lender panel

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

Lending with a difference: A conversation with Family Building Society’s Nathan Waller

With demand growing for more flexible mortgage solutions, Family Building Society is carving out a strong reputation in later life, family-assisted, and buy to let lending. We speak to Nathan Waller, Business Development Manager at Family Building Society, to discuss how they’re supporting brokers, addressing complex borrower needs, and adapting to an evolving market.

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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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Mortgage Advice Bureau and AI in the mortgage sector
Chief executive officer at Mortgage Advice Bureau, Peter Brodnicki, and founder and managing director at Heron Financial, Matt Coulson, joined content editor Dan McGrath to discuss how Mortgage Advice Bureau is using artificial intelligence to make advancements in the mortgage industry, the limitations of this technology and what 2026 will hold for the market

Perenna and the long-term fixed mortgage market
Content editor, Dan McGrath, spoke to head of product, proposition and distribution at Perenna, John Davison, to explore the long-term fixed mortgage market, the role that Perenna plays in this sector and the impact of the recent Autumn Budget

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NEW BUILD IN FOCUS - NEW EPISODE OF THE MORTGAGE INSIDER PODCAST, OUT NOW
Figures from the National House-Building Council saw Q1 2025 register a 36% increase in new homes built across the UK compared with the same period last year, representing a striking development for the first-time buyer market. But with the higher cost of building, ongoing planning challenges and new and changing regulations, how sustainable is this growth? And what does it mean for brokers?

Does the North-South divide still exist in the UK housing market?
What do the most expensive parts of the country reveal about shifting demand? And why is the Manchester housing market now outperforming many southern counterparts?



In this episode of the Barclays Mortgage Insider Podcast, host Phil Spencer is joined by Lucian Cook, Head of Research at Savills, and Ross Jones, founder of Home Financial and Evolve Commercial Finance, to explore how regional trends are redefining the UK housing, mortgage and buy-to-let markets.

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