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A survey has found that many homeowners don’t review their protection cover when remortgaging. Only 18.6% of respondents said they properly reviewed their protection when they remortgaged, while 64% did a cursory check and 17% did not review their cover at all. This suggests that many UK homeowners may have policies that no longer meet their needs due to changes in income, lifestyle and family circumstances. As a result, some households could find themselves in a vulnerable f

If you’re self-employed, it’s essential to ensure you have the right protection in place – otherwise, you risk leaving yourself financially vulnerable if you’re unable to work. Many people enjoy the freedom that comes with being self-employed – you can be your own boss and work on your own terms. However, it does mean that you’re not eligible to receive Statutory Sick Pay if you’re unwell. No sick pay, no safety net Research has found that self-employed people take 35% fewer

The mortgage market is facing uncertainty due to ongoing developments in the Middle East. Affordability challenges had been easing slightly in recent months - mortgage rates were slowly coming down due to cuts to Bank Rate. In January 2026, the average monthly mortgage payment was 7% lower than the previous year. However, the recent outbreak of war in Iran has made the short-term outlook much more uncertain. At the start of March, 472 residential mortgage products were taken

If you have recently bought your first home, this may be your first time navigating home insurance. Here are some tips to get you started. Buildings and contents insurance - explained Buildings insurance covers the structure of your property, plus any permanent fixtures that you wouldn’t take with you if you moved (e.g. walls, toilets and fitted kitchen cupboards). Most mortgage lenders require you to have buildings insurance. Contents insurance is not mandatory, but it is st

Recent research has found that half of UK homes increased in value last year. According to Zoopla, 15.2 million properties gained value by an average of £9,900 in 2025. Within this group, 3.1 million homes saw particularly strong growth, rising by more than £20,000. In contrast, 9.1 million households saw a decrease in value by an average of £10,800. In England, the North West recorded the highest proportion of homes rising in value (72%), followed by the North East (67%). Th

Research from Rightmove has identified the UK towns that recorded the strongest house price growth last year. The list was largely dominated by towns in Scotland and the north of England. Hawick in the Scottish Borders saw the biggest annual rise, with prices increasing by 18% in 2025. Durham followed with a 15% increase, while Stannington in Sheffield saw prices grow by 12%. Across the 50 locations with the fastest-growing house prices, the average property value was £270,71

Moving home or renovating in 2026? Make sure you’re adequately covered. Before you move, it’s important to check the details of your home contents policy, as exclusions may apply to the removals process. For example, some insurers only cover belongings packed and moved by professionals. Additionally, your home insurance won’t automatically be applicable at your new address, so you will likely need to transfer the policy over (if allowed). Similarly, if you’re renovating your

Don’t accidentally invalidate your home insurance - here are the biggest mistakes that homeowners make and how to avoid them… Outdated valuations When taking out buildings insurance, you will need to calculate how much it would cost to rebuild your home if something happened. If you’ve recently undergone renovations, building work or other alterations, the rebuild cost may have changed. If you haven’t notified your insurer about this, you risk leaving your home underinsured.

A survey has revealed that homeowners are more likely to plan a new kitchen than seek out protection. Research found that respondents were more likely to spend money on new furniture (36%), redecorating (26%) or installing a new bathroom or kitchen (25%) than on taking out protection insurance, with only 15% saying it was a priority. However, many mortgage holders expressed concern about their financial security, with 62% saying they are worried they could lose their home if

Recent tax changes have prompted some to reevaluate their reliance on pensions for wealth planning. Amidst this uncertainty, life insurance could provide some peace of mind for those looking to protect their family’s future. Salary sacrifice changes In the Autumn Budget 2025, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced changes to salary sacrifice for pensions from April 2029. Currently, an employee can agree with their employer to give up part of their salary and, in return, their emp

Last year saw significant housing reforms for renters and homebuyers – here’s a recap of what you need to know. Change to renters’ rights The Renters’ Rights Act received Royal Assent in October 2025 and will come into force in three phrases this year. The initial phase of the rollout in May will include the much-awaited end to Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions in England. Plus, all fixed term tenancies will automatically convert to periodic tenancies. Scotland rent controls Sc

With a new year upon us, now is the perfect time to take stock and review your protection policies. A lot can happen in a year and, as circumstances change, it’s essential to make sure your cover still meets your needs. Here are some examples of when you should review your insurance: Marriage or civil partnership We know that there are already lots of things to think about when planning a wedding, but don’t let your protection slip through the net. Getting married can signifi

There are many misconceptions about home insurance, so 2026 is the year to get informed. Here are some key statistics to help you stay updated: Insurers pay out more According to data from USwitch, in Q2 of 2025, UK insurers paid out £1.6bn in property-related claims. This is 7% higher than the value of payouts in Q1, indicating that an increasing number of households are falling back on their home insurance policy. Extreme weather takes its toll In 2024, weather-related dama

Hoping to move or remortgage this year? Here’s how to get mortgage-ready in 2026. Review your finances Now that the busy festive period is over, why not take this opportunity to organise your finances. Go through your bank statements and identify where you can reduce your spending – not only will this help you save for a deposit, but it will make your mortgage application stronger in the eyes of a lender. Set savings goals There are many hidden costs associated with moving, i

Research suggests that landlords may be forced to raise rents to account for tax hikes announced in the Autumn Budget. From April 2027, landlords will face a 2% tax increase on their rental income - the basic rate of property income tax will rise from 20% to 22%, while the higher rate will increase from 40% to 42%. Those paying the additional rate will pay 47%. In a survey of landlords, 86% said they expected the measures to push rents higher. But the first phase of the Rente

The start of a new year often prompts people to review their plans and for many, that might include a resolution to move home. As market conditions continue to evolve, prospective buyers and sellers might be wondering what will happen with property prices in 2026 and beyond. The latest five-year outlook from Savills provides a useful insight into what’s to come, including some forecasts for house prices between now and 2030. The report predicts that house price growth will be

Savills has published its latest five-year outlook for the UK housing market, including predictions for house price growth between now and 2030. The report predicts that house price growth will be subdued in the short term, with the average home expected to rise in value by just 1.0% in 2025 and 2.0% in 2026. This slow pace is due to ongoing uncertainty about the economy and weak demand from buyers. However, the landscape is expected to gradually improve as interest and mortg

A survey from LRG has revealed the three most influential factors when buying a property, excluding price and location. Updated kitchens and bathrooms were the important features, with 77% of respondents citing these as key influencers. Meanwhile, an attractive garden (55%) was more favourable than exterior presentation (23%), suggesting that kerb appeal is currently less of a priority among buyers. But presentation inside the home does seem to matter, with 49% of respondents

A report has revealed that only a quarter of working adults in the UK have an income protection (IP) policy. According to research from LV, only 27% of the working population have a financial safety net to protect their income if they are unable to work due to illness or injury. Despite this, half of those surveyed said they would feel more financially resilient if they had appropriate IP cover. The most financially vulnerable group Interestingly, the survey found that couple

Data from the Bank of England shows that UK borrowers are currently favouring two-year fixed-rate deals. In Q2 of this year, half of new mortgages were two-year deals, with only 35% opting for five-year terms. Borrowers are probably hoping to remortgage to a cheaper deal if Bank Rate keeps falling over the next two years. This marks a change in attitude since 2022 - interest rates were beginning to rise, so buyers were hoping to keep mortgage costs low by choosing a five-year