Landlords must ensure they manage the risks associated with empty properties

The dangers and risks of unoccupied properties

It is vital to make sure that you are managing the risks of leaving a home empty in the rental market.

Around a third of UK mortgages are interest-only. Image:Thinkstock

Warning over interest-only mortgage danger

Over a million people with interest-only mortgages may be left in serious financial trouble, a watchdog is warning.

CML: Mortgage lending down in January

Gross mortgage lending dipped year-on-year during January, in a surprising blow after last year's recovery.

It is actually good news on repossessions. Image:Thinkstock

Repossessions down at five-year low

Repossessions were at their lowest level since 2007 last year, evidence that the difficult financial picture for families may be easing.

Savvy landlords can make significant savings

5 money-saving tips for novice landlords

Becoming a buy-to-let investor can be a costly affair, although there are ways and means of reducing your expenditure to make your property portfolio as profitable as possible. Here are our top five tips for slashing landlord costs.

The process of paying stamp duty: what you need to know

No matter if you're a first-time buyer or are moving further up the property ladder, all those who are purchasing a home should ensure they are fully aware of the various costs attached to the process. While this includes fairly obvious things such as monthly mortgage payments and valuation fees, it's also worth bearing in mind what, if any, stamp duty you have to pay.

Total gross mortgage lending hit £12.9bn in October, four per cent higher than the same month last year. Image:Thinkstock

CML: Mortgage lending at peak

Mortgage lending is enjoying a resurgence, peaking to an 11-month high in October according to Council of Mortgage Lenders' statistics.

Affordable housing schemes up in popularity

Half of first-time buyers are turning to affordable housing schemes in a bid to get themselves onto the property ladder.

Rules toughened up on borrower salary checks

Mortgage lenders must check borrowers' income and make sure a credible repayment plan exists for any interest-only loans, say new Financial Service Authority (FSA) rules.

Mortgage activity gets rate fall boost

Average mortgage rates continue to fall, giving a much needed boost to mortgage activity.

Funding for Lending off to solid start

Options in the mortgage market have increased substantially since the Funding for Lending scheme was announced, MoneySupermarket says.

Bank of mum and dad shifts up a generation

The bank of mum and dad is becoming the bank of nan and grandad as youngsters turn to older generations for financial help.

Can you still reduce your stamp duty bill through mitigation?

The Chancellor George Osborne introduced new measures in the March Budget that rendered many stamp duty mitigation schemes obsolete. However, there are companies that have devised new plans, so it may still be something worth exploring.

Property repossessions in decline

The number of property repossessions has declined in the second quarter of 2012 as more people come to terms with their financial position. There were only 8,500 mortgage possessions in the three months to June.

Tesco enters mortgage market

Tesco has joined many of the better-known lenders to offer fixed-rate and tracker mortgages. It is one of many companies to break into the mortgage market this year in the hope of offering alternatives to bank mortgages.

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Two-tier housing market for Wales

Wales' house prices are held up by the high-end market.

The Welsh housing market has split into two groups creating a high-end market where prices are going well and a poor performing bottom end of the market. According to LSL/Acadametrics’ Wales house price index overall prices are up by 2.4 per cent on last year.

Interest Rates sit tight again

The Bank of England has again given homeowners a reason to celebrate choosing to leave interest rates at 0.5 per cent. The respite for home owners was no surprise with the bank of England holding rates for the past three years.