The latest from Tim
What is a SIPP, and How Does a Self-invested Personal Pension Work?
A self-invested personal pension (SIPP) gives you more control over your retirement savings, enabling you to make your own investment decisions. Contributions into a SIPP are eligible for tax relief…
Personal Pensions: What are They and How do They Work?
A personal pension is a private pension that you can set up for yourself, outside any workplace scheme. Open a personal pension plan and your contributions could be boosted by…
What is Pension Tax Relief? How Tax Relief on Pension Contributions Works
Pension tax relief is a government top-up to your pension contributions that aims to encourage people to save for their retirement. The amount of tax relief you can claim will…
Compare Private Pension Providers
Taking the time to compare private pension providers and the different personal pensions they offer can be an important cornerstone of retirement planning.
Discount Mortgages: Is a Lower Rate Worth the Risks?
A discount rate mortgage tracks a lender's standard variable rate, but at a discount. There are pros and cons to this sort of loan.
Fixed-Rate Mortgages: Peace of Mind Over Your Repayments
With a fixed-rate mortgage your interest rate, and therefore your monthly repayments, will stay the same for the duration of the period you’ve chosen to fix. Most fixed-rate mortgages are…
Mortgage Advice: Do I Need a Mortgage Broker?
The job of a mortgage adviser or broker is to help you find the best mortgage for your circumstances and needs. They may also apply for the mortgage and take…
What Does Loan-to-Value (LTV) Mean for a Mortgage?
The loan-to-value (LTV) ratio is your mortgage amount expressed as a percentage of the current value of the property being bought or remortgaged. The bigger your deposit or the equity…
Buy-to-Let Mortgage Calculator
Our easy-to-use buy-to-let mortgage calculators give you an idea how much you may be allowed to borrow and the rental income needed to cover your mortgage repayments.
Mortgage Calculators for UK Borrowers
Use our simple UK mortgage calculators to get an estimate of monthly mortgage repayments, work out how much you could borrow, and see how interest rate changes and overpaying may…
What Were the Pros and Cons of the Help to Buy Scheme?
The Help to Buy equity loan scheme helped over 375,000 home buyers on to the property ladder before it ended in March 2023. The scheme was designed to help first-time…
How Long Does a Mortgage Offer Last?
The home buying process can take a long time so it’s important to know how long your mortgage offer will last and your options if it’s about to expire.
Mortgage Declined: What Should My Next Move Be?
Having your mortgage application declined shouldn’t spell the end of your dream to own your own home. There are many reasons why your application could have been turned down, but…
Buy-to-Let Mortgages
A buy-to-let mortgage allows you to borrow the funds needed to buy a property to rent out. Buy-to-let mortgages tend to have higher interest rates than residential mortgages and require…
What is a Joint Mortgage?
Joint mortgages are often taken out with a partner, but can also be taken out with friends and family. A parent may take out a joint mortgage with their child…