Roger Baird

1 day ago | mortgagestrategy.co.uk | Becky Bellamy |Roger Baird

New rules that require letting agents to check whether prospective landlords and tenants appear on the UK’s national financial sanctions list will kick into action tomorrow (14 May). As part of the changes, letting agents will have to report any matches on the list, or concerns, to the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation. Sanction checks are mandatory for all prospective landlords and tenants.

1 day ago | mortgagestrategy.co.uk | Roger Baird |Kimberley Dondo

Bank of England policymaker Alan Taylor said he voted for a larger half-point base rate cut last week because the UK faces a “perilous” threat from US President Donald Trump’s trade war. Taylor said global trade uncertainty and the possibility that cheap Chinese goods flood European markets after being redirected from the US may impact UK inflation. “The international dimension for me is quite perilous,” said the economist at a conference hosted by King’s College London yesterday evening.

2 days ago | mortgagestrategy.co.uk | Roger Baird

Mortgage Advice Bureau has hired Sanjay Gadhia as its later life regional sales director. The network says Gadhia will promote the range of later life lending options available to MAB’s advisers, helping them to boost lead generation, build opportunities and aim to ensure good outcomes for customers. It adds that Gadhia’s role, across the entire equity release division, “will be instrumental in creating new growth and increasing sales opportunities across the later life lending market”.

2 days ago | mortgagestrategy.co.uk | Roger Baird |Becky Bellamy

Habito has partnered with Mastercard to make home loan support “faster, simpler, and free for small business owners across the UK”. The digital mortgage broker says business owners will be able to access Habito’s team of mortgage advisers at no cost, whether they’re buying a home, refinancing, or investing in a rental property.

2 days ago | mortgagefinancegazette.com | Roger Baird

in Market news Hodge has eased affordability stress rate calculations, which will allow it to grant loans that are almost 20% larger for average customers.   The lender points out that the move applies to its residential, residential retirement and retirement interest-only products. It gives an example of joint applicants with a household income of £45,000, which can now borrow just over £38,000 more, a 17% increase.