Rebecca Gamble

London

Freelance Journalist at Freelance

Freelance journo in consumer, money & travel. Views Own

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Articles

Will The Bank Of England Cut Interest Rates On 20 March?

1 month ago | hoa.org.uk | Rebecca Gamble

Against a backdrop of worsening inflation news, the Bank of England is widely predicted to hold interest rates at 4.5% when the Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee makes its next announcement on the base rate on Thursday 20 March. The odds of maintaining the bank rate at the same level is 95%, according to interest rates swaps data.
Solid Wall Insulation Problems: Government Warning - HomeOwners Alliance

Jan 27, 2025 | hoa.org.uk | Rebecca Gamble

Homeowners who’ve had external wall insulation or internal wall insulation installed in their homes under government schemes may be at risk of damp and mould. Here's the latest news on solid wall insulation problems and how to find out if you're affected.
Lifetime ISA Review Launched Asking If It’s ‘fit For Purpose’

Jan 8, 2025 | hoa.org.uk | Rebecca Gamble

A review into whether Lifetime ISAs are still ‘fit for purpose’ has been launched by the Treasury Committee. Lifetime ISAs launched in 2017 offering under 40s the opportunity to get a 25% government bonus of up to £1,000 a year on their savings towards a first home (which must cost under £450,000) or their retirement (read on for more details on how they work). Almost 230,000 people have used LISAs to help them buy a house according to HMRC data and 1.5m people are currently saving into a LISA.
10 Things To Do At Home To Boost Your Mood This Winter

Dec 9, 2024 | hoa.org.uk | Rebecca Gamble

With some dark months still ahead, many of us are looking for ways to boost our moods to beat the winter blues. These 10 easy tweaks to your home could be the answer... Being surrounded by clutter can make it more difficult to relax – so make use of these darker evenings to have a clear out.
How First Time Buyers Can Avoid £££ In Stamp Duty Changes

Nov 20, 2024 | hoa.org.uk | Rebecca Gamble

Stamp duty changes coming into force in April 2025 mean all buyers could face higher stamp duty bills, with first time buyers hardest hit. First time buyers are being urged to complete their purchase before the end of March 2025 or they could face paying thousands of pounds more due to stamp duty changes due to come into effect.
Be Festive Fabulous With These Tips

Nov 18, 2024 | hoa.org.uk | Rebecca Gamble

With the festive season around the corner, prepare your home with the hottest Christmas decor trends for 2024. From big bows to colourful tress here's what's selling fast. Forget minimalism: more is more with this season’s bold, colourful trees.
Is Getting A New 6x Salary Mortgage Best For You?

Oct 15, 2024 | hoa.org.uk | Rebecca Gamble

First time buyers can now borrow up to six times their salary with a 5% deposit, due to changes announced by Nationwide this month. The lender said it has extended the loan-to-income ratio on its Helping Hand mortgages to help first time buyers who are struggling to borrow enough to buy a home. So, a first-time buyer couple with a joint income of £50,000 can now borrow up to £300,000 with Helping Hand compared to £225,000 from a lender that lets you borrow 4.5x income.
What A New Labour Government Means For You

Jul 31, 2024 | hoa.org.uk | Rebecca Gamble

Plans to ‘get Britain building’, including through planning reform, were announced in the King’s Speech on 17 July as the new government seeks to ‘accelerate the delivery of high quality infrastructure and housing’. The new government has also said draft legislation will be published on leasehold and commonhold reform.
The Main Parties' 2024 General Election Promises

Jul 26, 2024 | hoa.org.uk | Rebecca Gamble

Let’s start with the two main political parties vying for your votes and a summary of Conservative and Labour housing manifestos. Read on for more details and for the manifestos of the Liberal Democrats, Greens and Reform UK. ConservativesLabourHouse-buildingDeliver 1.6 million well-designed homes ‘in the right places while protecting our countryside, permanently’Restore mandatory house-building targets immediately. Pledge to build 1.5 million new homes during term.
Freedom To Buy Mortgage Scheme For First Time Buyers In 2024

Jul 17, 2024 | hoa.org.uk | Rebecca Gamble

What is the Freedom to Buy mortgage scheme and will it help you buy your first home? The new government has pledged to launch the Freedom to Buy mortgage scheme, which will be a permanent mortgage guarantee scheme. There are few details of the Freedom to Buy scheme yet but it’s understood it will work along the lines of the existing mortgage guarantee scheme. We will be updating this page as more information is released. Stay up to date by signing up to our newsletter.