Latest data from UK Finance has shown that the overall proportion of mortgages in arrears remains low, at 0.91 per cent of homeowner mortgages and 0.47 per cent of BTL mortgages. In the first quarter of 2026, there were 79,110 homeowner mortgages in arrears of 2.5 per cent or more of the outstanding balance. This…
Read moreLatest figures released by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that second charge mortgage new business volumes grew by 20% in March 2026. Commenting on the latest new business figures for the second charge mortgage market, Fiona Hoyle, Director of Consumer Finance & Mortgages and Inclusion the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA), said “The…
Read moreWhile the use of AI in payments management continues to grow, the UK is proving slower to adopt AI solutions than its European peers, with skills gaps and regulatory uncertainty slowing progress according to new research by Intrum. Intrum’s European Payment Report, based on a survey of over 8,000 businesses in 20 markets, is produced…
Read moreNew figures released by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that second charge mortgage new business volumes grew by 27% in February 2026. Commenting on the latest new business figures for the second charge mortgage market, Geraldine Kilkelly, Director of Research and Chief Economist at the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA), said “The second…
Read moreLatest data from the Bank of England has found that loan defaults have risen to 6.2% in early 2026, the highest since late 2024 (7.8 per cent), when the UK had seen several hikes in interest rates. Unsecured lending defaults hit 18.6% in Q1 this year, the highest figure since the last quarter of 2023.…
Read moreCredit Connect has announced the shortlist of companies and partnerships for this year’s third annual Credit & Collections Industry Awards. The finalists for this year’s awards consist of 108 entrants (whittled down from nearly 115 entries) from nearly 80 companies within the shortlist. There are over 20 partnership entries in the running to win across…
Read moreRenters are now handing over 39% of their monthly take-home pay to their landlords, on average. That’s the equivalent of two days a week worth of work being spent purely on rent according to new research by Confused.com home insurance, which found that the average monthly rent cost is now £839. Although for some, this…
Read moreNew figures released by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that second charge mortgage new business volumes grew by 19% in January 2026. Commenting on the latest new business figures for the second charge mortgage market, Fiona Hoyle, Director of Consumer & Mortgage Finance and Inclusion at the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA), said…
Read moreA new report by Barclays has highlighted how student loans significantly impact graduates’ ability to save for home deposits. The study reveals that individuals with student debt save £310 monthly, while those without save £473.70 creating a £1,963.70 gap annually. Additionally, 44% of loan holders feel repayments hinder their financial stability, and 41% believe it prevents…
Read moreThe Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has published a review into the second charge mortgage market, finding that weaknesses in some firms’ practices could put borrowers, particularly those consolidating debt, at increased risk of financial harm. Second charge mortgages are often used by customers with high existing levels of debt and low financial resilience. The FCA’s…
Read moreConsumer sentiment has dropped sharply since the conflict in the Middle East escalated, according to a survey by Barclays. The survey found that around 80% of consumers are concerned that the conflict will increase inflation and energy costs. Nearly half of the respondents said they had already started adjusting their spending behaviour. The data showed…
Read moreNew figures released by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that second charge mortgage new business volumes grew by 17% in 2025. Commenting on the latest new business figures for the second charge mortgage market, Fiona Hoyle, Director of Consumer & Mortgage Finance and Inclusion at the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA), said “The…
Read moreThe UK is set for a decent but one-off increase in living standards this year, and a bumper rise for lower-income families. But a fresh energy price shock risks ruining this good news, while the medium-term picture for living standards remains bleak, according to the Resolution Foundation’s overnight analysis of the Spring Forecast 2026. With…
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