Kit Sproson
Senior Money Writer
Latest from Kit Sproson
Need a new mortgage? Staying with your existing lender may now be cheaper than switching to a different one
We look at the difference between 'sticking or twisting', and why the balance between the two has shifted.
15 November 2022
'I got a £15,000 council tax refund for my mum's dementia and had future bills axed' – here's how to do the same if you're in a similar position
Family members of a 98-year-old – who was refunded £15,000 in council tax overpayments and had future bills axed due to her having vascular dementia – have urged others in a similar position to check if they can do the same.
15 November 2022
Cheapest fixed mortgage deals dip below 5% – the lowest rate in a month
Homebuyers and remortgagers can now take out a five-year fixed deal that charges less than 5% interest.
14 November 2022
Latest on mortgage rates – fixed rates start to fall, despite another Bank of England base rate rise
The cost of fixed-rate mortgage deals has started to fall, despite the Bank of England's base rate rise last week.
8 November 2022
Bank of England increases base rate to 3% – what the rise means for your mortgage and savings
This rate is used by the central bank to charge other banks and lenders when they borrow money – and so it influences what borrowers pay and what savers earn.
3 November 2022
The Help to Buy equity loan
Help to Buy equity loans are an increasingly popular means of getting onto the housing ladder, with more than 236,000 properties purchased using the scheme since 2013 - MoneySavingExpert.
1 November 2022
Law firm April King introduces surprise fee to store thousands of wills - we explain your rights, plus free or cheap alternatives
Thousands of people whose wills were written and held by law firm April King Legal have been told they'll now have to pay for the privilege. How much you'll be charged depends on the option you pick, but it could be as much as £72 a year or a one-off £125 upon death.
27 October 2022
Help to Buy equity loan scheme to close to applicants on Monday – here's what you need to know
Almost 10 years since its original launch, the Government's equity loan scheme will close for good in March 2023, but anyone who wants to take part needs to apply by Monday (31 October).
26 October 2022
Right To Buy Mortgage Scheme
Right to Buy currently exists to help council tenants buy their property at a big discount - MoneySavingExpert.
26 October 2022
What's happening to mortgage rates following the mini-budget reversal – MSE's analysis
Interest rates on mortgages could start falling in the next few weeks, following the Government's reversal of its mini-budget which has helped calm the financial markets.
18 October 2022
Mortgage lenders now letting existing borrowers lock in today's rates SIX MONTHS early – does yours?
Several major lenders have increased how far in advance existing borrowers can lock in a new mortgage deal as interest rates rise. It comes as many homeowners look to start the process of lining up a new mortgage earlier than usual, hoping to get a cheaper deal and stay ahead of future rate hikes after the base rate hit 2.25% in September.
14 October 2022
Rates on 10-year mortgage fixes are cheap right now – should I be locking in for longer?
Homeowners have increasing reason to consider longer term mortgages over shorter deals, as the cost of borrowing grows.
10 October 2022
PPI: Can I still reclaim?
Martin Lewis' guide on reclaiming PPI yourself. The reclaim deadline has now passed, but there may be some exceptions - MoneySavingExpert.
3 October 2022
Bank of England increases base rate to 2.25% – what the rise means for your mortgage and savings
The Bank of England has increased the base rate to 2.25% from 1.75%. 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.
27 September 2022
Mini-budget 2022: Stamp duty thresholds raised and relief for first-time buyers hiked in England and Northern Ireland
Homebuyers in England and Northern Ireland, including those purchasing a property for the first time, will pay £1,000s less in stamp duty after the Government announced it was increasing the thresholds at which the tax begins to be charged.
23 September 2022
Bank of England increases base rate to 1.75% – what the rise means for your mortgage and savings
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.
9 August 2022