This week’s top five stories:
1) TMW axes buy-to-let maturity age limits
The Mortgage Works (TMW) has removed all upper age limits from its buy-to-let range to enable more customers to borrow into their retirement.
2) Over 400 mortgage cases sign up for West Brom legal action
More than 400 mortgage cases have joined the legal action against West Bromwich Building Society, with almost £500,000 raised to help fight the case.
3) Santander for Intermediaries reveals self-employed BTL criteria
Santander for Intermediaries will open up its buy-to-let criteria to self-employed landlords exclusively through its broker channel from 7 April.
4) Lenders over-using technology could breach MMR rules, warns FCA
The Financial Conduct Authority has raised concerns that lenders’ growing reliance on technology to improve efficiency post-MMR implementation will put consumers at risk.
5) Carney: Rates could rise before general election
Mark Carney said UK interest rates could rise before the general election in May 2015 if there are continued sustainable improvements in the economy.
Here are some stories you may have missed:
Repossessed often architects of own destruction not economic victims – FCA
Financial Conduct Authority repossessions analysis has revealed that many borrowers who lose their homes are “credit hungry” and “low income” rather than victims of wider economic factors.
Chester broker banned and fined for mis-handling client premiums
The director of a Chester-based insurance broker has been banned from undertaking any regulated activity and fined £70,000 by the Financial Conduct Authority.
Ask the Experts: How can I lure clients away from comparison sites?
Our Ask the Experts column is your chance to put industry figures on the spot. In this edition Mark Hutchings, sales and marketing director at Berkeley Alexander, answers your question.
FCA promises tough action as it takes control of consumer credit
The Financial Conduct Authority has taken control of the consumer credit industry from today promising tough rules for short-term high-cost credit firms and debt management companies.
Adviser fees down 19% after fee block realignment
Financial advisory businesses will contribute £68m to the Financial Conduct Authority’s funding requirement for 2014-2015, a near-19% reduction on last year following a re-working of the regulator’s fee blocks.
