Came into effect 9 July 2025
The Bank of England has relaxed rules on high loan-to-income (LTI) mortgages, meaning individual lenders can now issue more loans over 4.5x a borrower’s income. This could help around 36,000 extra first-time buyers qualify each year by increasing access to…
View article →
Came into effect 31 January 2025
If you’re buying a leasehold property, you no longer have to wait 2 years to extend the lease or buy the freehold. This helps protect your flat’s long-term value and resale appeal.
View article →
Effective from 1 April 2025
If you’re buying a home under £500,000, you’ll now pay more in Stamp Duty than you would have earlier this year. The tax-free portion for first-time buyers has dropped from £425,000 to £300,000. You now pay 5% on the portion…
View article →
Changes began in early April 2025
Banks like Santander are relaxing how strictly they test your finances, which means you might qualify for £10K–£35K more than before. Great if you were just missing out on the home you wanted.
View article →
June 2025 market data
Property prices in England fell 0.8% in June, and the number of buyers is down 64% compared to last year. If you’re making an offer soon, you may have more room to negotiate than you think.
View article →
Ended on 30 June 2025
The Mortgage Guarantee Scheme, which backed 5% deposit mortgages, has officially ended. A new version is in the works, but for now, check with lenders directly to see what low-deposit options still exist.
View article →
Came into effect 7 August 2025
The Bank of England has narrowly backed an interest rate cut in a knife-edge move after it had to vote twice to reach a decision. The cost of borrowing has been reduced from 4.25% to 4%.
View article →