Mortgages

The UK's average house price fell by 1.3% in 2011 after a monthly decline of 0.9% between November and December, lender Halifax said today.

It could be tougher to get a mortgage over the next three months, a Bank of England survey of lenders has found.

Nine out of 13 regions in the UK recorded a house price rise over 2011, in a year of contrasting fortunes ranging from a 5.4% increase in London to an 8.9% drop in Northern Ireland, mortgage lender Nationwide revealed today.

The number of people in rented accommodation who are in severe arrears has reached its highest level in three years.

A wide-ranging shake-up of the mortgage market was unveiled by the financial services regulator today, aiming to prevent a return of irresponsible lending and stop borrowers taking out unaffordable deals.

As MPs today debate making financial education a compulsory part of the school curriculum, on the back of a government e-petition tabled by Martin Lewis as part of a campaign by this website, Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls (pictured, right) says young people must be taught about money matters...

Consumers can now get permanently free access to their credit report, which can tell them if they're likely to be accepted for a credit card, loan or mortgage.

The Bank of England put more emergency medicine for the UK economy on hold today, despite more evidence that the recovery is grinding to a halt.

Borrowers who need cheap credit have been urged to consider snapping it up now in case costs soar and the chances of getting a credit card, loan or mortgage diminish.

Average house prices were only marginally lower last month than at the start of the year as the market remained stable throughout 2011, mortgage lender Halifax said today.