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Mortgage searches decline 20% in April – Twenty7tec


By Michael Griffiths

Twenty7tec has reported a 20% month-on-month fall in mortgage searches during April, which fell to 1.71 million from 2.15 million in March.

The mortgage tech provider noted the slowdown followed heightened levels seen earlier this year, highlighting the continued sensitivity of the market to wider economic pressures and borrower affordability concerns


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Tracker mortgage popularity trebles year-on-year – Stonebridge

The proportion of mortgage borrowers selecting tracker products has trebled year-on-year in April from 4.1% to 12%, Stonebridge has revealed

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Four IFA firms join Absolute Financial Group

Absolute Financial Group has added four new independent financial adviser (IFA) firms to the group

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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

House prices remain stable in April – Halifax

House prices remained broadly stable in April as the average price fell by 0.1% month-on-month to £299,313, Halifax has revealed

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Lending slows in Q1 as uncertainty grows – Equity Release Council

The equity release market recorded a slowdown in Q1, as global uncertainty led to delayed completions and further consumer decision-making, the Equity Release Council has revealed
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

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One Mortgage System announces new integration with Twenty7tec

One Mortgage System (OMS) has announced that Twenty7tec’s ADAPT solution is now fully integrated into its platform

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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

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

FCA announces review into APRs

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has launched a review into annual percentage rates (APRs) to determine if they help consumers understand borrowing costs. The regulator is seeking views on whether it should change how these rates are communicated in credit advertising

FCA leads action to stop illegal finfluencers

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has led international action to stop illegal finfluencers putting consumers’ money at risk

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

Bank of England holds base rate at 3.75%

The Bank of England (BoE) has chosen to hold interest rates at 3.75% as uncertainty continues surrounding the economic impact of the conflict in the Middle East

OSB originations jump 11% in Q1

OSB Group has recorded an 11% quarter-on-quarter increase in its originations to £1.2bn in Q1, with good growth in its buy-to-let and residential sectors

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

Immediate pension withdrawals hit five-year high amid IHT concerns

The number of people accessing their pension savings as soon as they are able to has reached a five-year high, amid growing concerns about upcoming inheritance tax (IHT) changes, research from Lubbock Fine has shown

One in seven parents financially support adult children tempering retirement plans

One in seven (15%) parents with children aged over 18 are planning to delay or have a more modest retirement to provide them with financial support, research from Standard Life has found

Four IFA firms join Absolute Financial Group

Absolute Financial Group has added four new independent financial adviser (IFA) firms to the group

Pivotal acquires Purely Financial Planning and KMC Financial

Pivotal has announced the acquisitions of Purely Financial Planning and KMC Financial, in a move to extend the group’s regional financial advice footprint

Advies acquires St Andrews Financial

London-based financial advisory firm, Advies, has announced the acquisition of St Andrews Financial for an undisclosed amount

Lending slows in Q1 as uncertainty grows – Equity Release Council

The equity release market recorded a slowdown in Q1, as global uncertainty led to delayed completions and further consumer decision-making, the Equity Release Council has revealed

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

Christine Newell appointed head of FIBA

Fintel Services has announced the appointment of Christine Newell as head of the Financial Intermediary Broker Association (FIBA) and mortgage training officer

News in brief - 12 May 2026

Today's round up of developments coming out of the consumer finance space, featuring Dudley Building Society, Fleet Mortgages and Nationwide

Norton Broker Services added to Atom bank’s commercial panel

Atom bank has added Norton Broker Services to its commercial broker panel, allowing brokers to submit commercial mortgage cases to the lender

GB Bank joins the BDLA

GB Bank has become the latest firm to join the Bridging & Development Lenders Association (BDLA) as a lender member

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

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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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