What is Support for Mortgage Interest?
SMI loans can help pay mortgage interest for those on benefits, but repayment is due when the home is sold.
Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI) is a government-backed loan provided by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) designed to assist homeowners receiving certain benefits in covering the
Rules to protect effects of debanking
Banks must now give 90 days’ notice before closing accounts, giving customers more time to respond.
Since April 2026, new government rules strengthen protections for individuals and small businesses at risk of unfair bank account closures. Under the legislation, banks and payment service providers
Pre-Budget tax planning – act now
With the next UK Budget approaching, there is speculation about changes to tax rates, allowances, and reliefs. Acting now can help secure current benefits before any new rules take effect.
Key areas to review:
Personal allowances - make sure you are using your Personal Allowance, savings
Challenging your Council Tax band
If your property has changed or seems mis-banded, you may have the right to request a Council Tax review.
Properties in England and Wales are assigned Council Tax bands based on their value as of 1 April 1991 (England) or 1 April 2003 (Wales). If you believe your property is incorrectly banded, you
Bank Rate trimmed to 4%
The Bank of England has knocked the main interest rate down to 4% today, cutting it by a quarter‑point from 4.25%. It’s the fifth cut in a year and brings the rate to its lowest since March 2023.
The decision was a close call: the nine‑member Monetary Policy Committee split 5‑4, requiring an
Shared home ownership
Shared home ownership offers a more accessible route to owning a home for those who cannot afford the full deposit or mortgage on a property that suits their needs. Under this scheme, buyers purchase a share of a property, typically between 10% and 75% of its market value and pay rent on the
The impact of frozen personal allowances
The impact of frozen personal allowances often leads to fiscal drag, a situation where individuals pay more tax as their earnings rise without a corresponding increase in allowances.
This occurs because tax thresholds remain fixed while wages increase, thus pushing more people into higher tax
Autumn Budget 2025: What Changes Might Be on the Horizon?
As we look ahead to the Autumn Budget 2025, it is clear that the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, will be under pressure to balance public expectations with fiscal reality. A combination of reduced growth forecasts, increased borrowing costs, and the reversal of planned welfare savings has narrowed the
Tax gap estimated at 5.3% for 2023-24
HMRC missed out on £46.8bn in tax last year. Small businesses and Corporation Tax make up the biggest share of the shortfall.
The tax gap for the 2023-24 tax year has been published and is estimated to be 5.3% of total theoretical tax liabilities.
The tax gap is basically the difference between
Winter Fuel Payments reinstated
The government has announced the reinstatement of Winter Fuel Payments for pensioners in England and Wales for winter 2025-26, reversing the previous year's cuts. Around nine million pensioners are expected to benefit from this decision, with payments of £200 per household or £300 for households
