Insights

On 3 August 2023 the Bank of England raised the base rate from 5% to 5.25% – its highest level in 15 years. The increase is intended to reduce the UK's annual inflation rate, which sits at 7.9% – well above the target rate of 2%.

Retrofitting your home is a transformative process that involves making targeted upgrades and improvements to enhance energy efficiency, comfort, and sustainability. As the world becomes increasingly conscious of environmental impact and rising energy costs, retrofitting has gained popularity as a cost-effective and responsible way to improve living standards while reducing our carbon footprint.

Nathan Blissett, Founder and Director of Dwello Mortgages, talks to LIBF Insights about his move from professional football into mortgage broking, what motivates him in business, and what he expects to see in the mortgage market.

Anyone who attended the LIBF Mortgage Conference this year will have had the opportunity to hear David Geale, Director of Retail Banking for the FCA, give a speech on the regulator’s view of green mortgages. This included where such products will fit in relation to Consumer Duty.

In April we held our first Mortgage Conference, bringing together leading figures from across the financial services sector. The delegates addressed a range of topics, focusing on key themes that are significantly impacting the sector today.

Christmas is a time to reconnect with friends and family you may not have seen for a while. It’s a time for celebration and joy, but also when many of us may evaluate what’s important to us, what changes we may want to make in our lives and how to protect what we have.

Mortgage advisers – and others who work in financial services – may understand what’s happening in the economy and how it relates to mortgages, equity release, pensions and investments. But many customers are anxious and vulnerability is spreading.