Homebuyers paid £899m in Stamp Duty Land Tax in January, according to the latest HMRC statistics – up 6% from the £848m paid in January last year. January is typically a quieter month for home purchases, as many buyers avoid completing over the festive period.… The post House buyers paid £899m in Stamp Duty in January appeared first on Mortgage Strategy.
Fixed-rate mortgage pricing was flat this week, according to the latest Moneyfacts rate watch analysis. Moneyfacts found that the typical two-year fix price was 4.85%, down 1bps from last week, while the average five-year fixed rate was unchanged at 4.97%. The bigger picture was for… The post Fixed rate mortgage pricing flat for a second week, says Moneyfacts appeared first on Mortgage Strategy.
Inheritance tax (IHT) receipts reached £7.1 billion from April 2025 to Jan 2026, according to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) data released this morning. That is £100m higher than the same period last year. The Office for Budget Responsibility forecast that IHT will raise £9.1billion… The post Inheritance tax receipts rise to £7.1bn in 10 months appeared first on Mortgage Strategy.
Whitehall Lending has re-joined the Bridging & Development Lenders Association (BDLA) as a lender member. Whitehall Lending provides bridging, short-term, auction and development finance with loans from £100,000 up to £20 million. The BDLA now has 55 lender members, with a collective loan book of… The post Whitehall Lending rejoins the BDLA appeared first on Mortgage Strategy.
The Santander ‘Fixing the Broken Chain’ report published in Q3 last year, laid bare the true cost of inefficiency across the UK housing market – and it’s bigger than anyone imagined. According to the research, a staggering 530,000 property transactions fail every year, costing consumers… The post Blog: Why lenders and conveyancers must collaborate to fix a £1.5bn market problem appeared first on Mortgage Strategy.
The average monthly mortgage payment dropped by £119 in January compared to the same month last year, Rightmove has found. Its estimates are an indication of how the market has changed rather than an average of what borrowers are actually paying, as many borrowers will… The post Average mortgage falls by £119 per month: Rightmove appeared first on Mortgage Strategy.
Atom bank has confirmed cuts to its Near Prime mortgages available to borrowers with small deposits. All products available at 90% loan-to-value (LTV), for both purchase and remortgage, have been reduced by 0.10%, with the cuts applying from 19th February). As a result of the… The post Atom bank and April announce rate reductions appeared first on Mortgage Strategy.
The Bridging & Development Lenders Association (BDLA) has appointed Vic Jannels as non-executive chair. Jannels was previously BDLA chief executive but stepped down after the appointment of Adam Tyler at the start of the year. The newly-created non-executive chair position will see Jannels give strategic… The post BDLA appoints Vic Jannels as non-executive chair appeared first on Mortgage Strategy.
The general vista for buy-to-let (BTL) was clouded with uncertainty and reticence throughout the latter half of 2025. Landlords were wary of investing as the Renters’ Rights Bill proceeded through parliament, and they felt general trepidation ahead of the Autumn Budget. A further tightening of… The post Buy-to-Let Watch: A brighter outlook than we thought appeared first on Mortgage Strategy.
FCA chief executive Nikhil Rathi has acknowledged that looser mortgage rules could lead to “additional distress” if interest rates rise significantly in a candid new interview. Speaking on the Fairer Finance podcast, released today, Rathi also hinted that the regulator had come under pressure from… The post FCA boss talks mortgage risk trade-offs in candid chat appeared first on Mortgage Strategy.
