Bank of England votes to hold the base rate at 3.75 per cent in February 2026
The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has voted to hold interest rates at 3.75% at today’s meeting – a move which was widely expected. However, the vote was much closer than many anticipated after inflation rose to 3.4% in the year to December. Following the cut in base rate at the MPC meeting in December, this […]
Bank of England votes to cut the base rate to 3.75 per cent in December 2025
The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has voted to cut interest rates from 4% to 3.75% at today’s meeting – a move which was widely expected. After holding rates last month, members voted by a majority of five to four in favour of a cut this time around. Those four members who did not vote for […]
Bank of England votes to hold the base rate at 4 per cent in November 2025
Whilte the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted to hold interest rates at 4% at today’s meeting, the cost of borrowing continues to ease with several big lenders recently reducing their mortgage pricing. The Bank voted to hold rates for a second consecutive meeting, with members voting by a majority of five to four in favour […]
Bank of England votes to hold the base rate at 4 per cent in September 2025
The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has voted to hold interest rates at 4% at today’s meeting. Members voted by a majority of seven to two in favour of a hold, with two members voting for a quarter-point reduction to 3.75%. The Committee said it “remains focused on squeezing out any existing or emerging persistent inflationary […]
Boost for Borrowers as Lenders Ease Affordability Criteria
Hardly a day goes by without another lender reducing its mortgage rates for new purchases and remortgages. Falling Swap rates, which underpin the pricing of fixed-rate mortgages, mean sub-4% mortgage rates have become more readily available in the past couple of weeks, with a number of lenders offering borrowers several choices at this level. This […]
Lifetime mortgages: Modern financial solutions for later life
In the world of later life finance, things have changed dramatically over recent years. Gone are the days of restrictive equity release products that once dominated the market and were of dubious quality. “Today, lifetime mortgages offer flexibility, security and peace of mind for homeowners aged 55 and over.” says Andy Shaw, Director of Later […]
Making Inheritance Tax work for you: How Life Insurance can help
“For high-net-worth individuals, inheritance tax planning is a crucial aspect of wealth management,” says Rob May, director of life and inheritance tax at SPF. “If you are dealing with clients that have multi-million-pound estates, and are facing a substantial 40% tax bill, it’s understandable why this tax triggers strong emotions. These people have spent their […]
The reality behind Grand Designs: Financing a self-build project
If you have the ambition to build your dream home, there’s a lot to consider. While popular TV shows like Grand Designs showcase impressive self-build projects, they often gloss over the complex financial planning, and practical challenges behind the scenes. Self-build projects are defined as those where someone directly organises the design and construction of […]
First-time buyers: Act fast or wait?
Taking your first step on the property ladder is a big deal, and it’s most likely the largest expense you’ve faced so far. But while the end goal of home ownership is exciting, the journey to secure the finances for a mortgage can be overwhelming if you don’t have the right support in place. “There […]
Insurance coverage for flood damage in London: What you need to know
“Across December 2024 and January 2025 there has been a number of headlines relating to storms. The damage this can cause to property is a serious consideration for our home insurance clients. However there is also the serious impact that heavy rainfall can have, and in some instances this can pose a greater threat of […]