Should you write your life insurance in trust when you take out a mortgage?
When you take out a mortgage, you may also think about life insurance. If you die during the policy term and a valid claim is accepted, the payment could help your family repay the mortgage or manage other costs. Another decision is whether the policy should be...
Mortgage approvals rose in June, but borrowing costs increased: what buyers should check before applying
Mortgage activity picked up in June 2026, but borrowing costs also moved higher. Bank of England Money and Credit figures show house purchase mortgage approvals, net of cancellations, rose to 58,200 in June, from 56,600 in May. They were still below the previous...
Specialist lenders cut buy-to-let rates and lower minimum property values this July
Some specialist buy-to-let lenders announced rate and criteria changes in July 2026, including reductions across parts of their buy-to-let ranges and lower minimum property values on selected products. For landlords, this may create more choice in some cases. It does...
What the proposed new First Time Buyer ISA means for your property deposit
The government has opened a consultation on a proposed new First Time Buyer ISA. It is not yet a live product, and the final rules have not been confirmed. The consultation was updated on 29 June 2026 and is open until 11:59pm on 18 August 2026. For anyone saving for...
Rising tenant demand in July: what Essex buy-to-let landlords should check before refinancing
Tenant demand picked up in the latest RICS UK Residential Market Survey published in July 2026. The June survey reported a +18% net balance for tenant demand, the strongest reading since May 2025, while new landlord instructions remained negative at -18%. RICS also...
Redbridge rents are still rising: what local landlords should review before refinancing or renewing cover
Average private rents in Redbridge reached £1,725 a month in May 2026, up from £1,677 a year earlier, according to Office for National Statistics local housing data. That is a 2.9% annual rise, but higher rent does not automatically mean a stronger investment...
Remortgage approvals fell in May: what fixed-rate borrowers should check before their deal ends
Remortgage activity slowed in May 2026. Bank of England Money and Credit figures show approvals for remortgaging with a different lender fell to 33,300 in May, from 51,200 in April. That does not mean every borrower will struggle to remortgage. It is a reminder to...
New FCA mortgage proposals: what could change for self-employed and older borrowers?
The FCA opened its CP26/18 mortgage rule consultation on 9 June 2026, with feedback due by 28 July 2026. These are proposals, not final rules. Final rules are expected in a Policy Statement in the second half of 2026. For self-employed people, contractors and older...
Buy-to-let in June 2026: what Essex landlords should review after the Renters’ Rights Act deadline
The tenancy reforms under the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 took effect on 1 May 2026. The deadline for providing required information to existing tenants was 31 May 2026. For Essex landlords, June is a time to review tenancy records, costs, insurance and buy-to-let...
Should Ilford First-Time Buyers Act While House Prices Are Softer But Mortgage Rates Remain Uncertain?
If you are a first-time buyer in Ilford, you are probably watching the property market and mortgage rate headlines at the same time. Prices are no longer racing ahead in the way they did during earlier growth periods, but borrowing costs are still high enough to make...