Mortgages

The Bank of England has increased the base rate to 1.75% from 1.25% - the biggest single rise in 27 years. This rate is used by the central bank to charge other banks and lenders when they borrow money – and influences what borrowers pay and savers earn.

Hundreds of thousands of homeowners are overpaying on their mortgage because they're languishing on their lender's standard variable rate, new data from the financial regulator has revealed. Yet savings of £1,000s a year may be available if homeowners remortgage to more competitive deals – something they may want to consider sooner rather than later with further interest rate rises expected.

With the energy price cap now predicted to rise another 65% in October, taking typical bills to a frightening £3,240 a year, MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis has warned Conservative Party leadership candidates that they must act as quickly as possible to prevent a "national financial cataclysm".

More and more 10-year fixed mortgage deals are coming to the market, with First Direct becoming the latest to launch a product. Fixing for a decade can be done for as little as 3.33% right now and is becoming more appealing as the Bank of England base rate continues to rise. But there are pros and cons to doing so – here's what to watch out for.

Homebuyers who purchase a new leasehold property will no longer have to pay ground rent from today, as long-awaited legislation kicks in. The move could result in savings of £100s a year for homeowners – though new and existing leaseholders still need to beware the dangers of a short lease, as we explain below.  

Sweeping proposals designed to get more people on to the property ladder have been announced by the Prime Minister today (Thursday 9 June). It comes as homes now cost nine times people's incomes, according to the Government. 

Mortgage broker Tembo has taken down misleading online adverts encouraging people to remortgage to repay their student loans after pressure from MoneySavingExpert.com (MSE). Two pages on the firm's website have also been removed after we told Tembo we'd report it to the financial regulator as the advice could have left many worse off. 

Homeowners and first-time buyers can no longer get a fixed rate mortgage below 2%. Fixed rates have increased rapidly since the start of the year and are expected to continue to rise. 

Ground rent is to be scrapped on new leases in England and Wales from 30 June when the Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Act takes force, the Government announced today (22 April). From this point, ground rent on new leases will never be more than a 'peppercorn' amount – in other words zero –  resulting in a potential saving of £100s a year for future homeowners and some existing leaseholders. 

Two major house builders have been ordered to remove 'unfair' leasehold clauses that allow them to double ground rents every 10 or 15 years. It comes after the competition watchdog found these terms can make it 'impossible' for people to sell or get a mortgage.