Mortgage questions, answered.
Clear, current answers to the questions buyers, movers and homeowners in London and across the UK ask most, from what you can borrow to what the latest rate rise means for you.
Will mortgage rates go down?
The Bank of England raised the base rate to 4% on 5 November 2026. What it means for fixed, tracker and variable rates, and what borrowers should do now.
6 min readRead →First-time buyersYour First Home scheme: can I buy with a 2.5% deposit?
The Your First Home scheme announced in the October 2026 Budget: a 20% government equity loan on new builds with a deposit from 2.5%, London price caps and launch dates.
6 min readRead →AffordabilityHow much can I borrow for a mortgage?
How UK lenders work out how much you can borrow in 2026: income multiples, affordability, the deposit you need, and what it takes to buy at London prices.
7 min readRead →Buying in LondonHow much stamp duty will I pay in London?
Stamp duty rates in England for 2026, first-time buyer relief, the 5% second home surcharge and worked examples at London prices. Unchanged in the October 2026 Budget.
6 min readRead →Buying in LondonHow much deposit do I need to buy a house in London?
The minimum deposit for a UK mortgage, what 5%, 10% and 15% look like at London prices, how a bigger deposit lowers your rate, and the schemes that can help.
6 min readRead →Mortgage ratesShould I fix my mortgage for two or five years?
Two-year versus five-year fixed mortgages in 2026: rates, flexibility, early repayment charges and how to decide which suits your plans.
5 min readRead →RemortgagingWhen should I start looking to remortgage?
When to start your remortgage, product transfer or full remortgage, the six-month window and how to avoid your lender's standard variable rate.
5 min readRead →The processHow long does a mortgage application take?
How long a UK mortgage application takes in 2026, from agreement in principle to offer and completion, how long a mortgage offer lasts, and how to avoid delays.
5 min readRead →AdviceIs it worth using a mortgage broker?
What a mortgage broker does, how brokers are paid, what it costs, and when using one makes the biggest difference to your rate and your chances of approval.
5 min readRead →Free guidesWant the full picture?
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These articles are general information, not personal advice, and figures were correct on 6 November 2026. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.