Banks fail to pass on interest rate cuts

Further cuts to UK interest rates will not guarantee cheaper mortgages, brokers have warned. Last month a number of lenders cut their standard variable rates (SVRs), including Abbey, Coventry Building Society and Standard Life. But only one of them Standard Life mirrored the most recent half per cent base rate reduction.

Since UK interest rates were cut to 4.5 per cent in late September, half of all mortgage lenders have resisted passing on any of the reduction in their variable rates. Read more

Landlords being prompted to run credit checks on tenants

As the economy falters and job losses increase, worried landlords are being advised to carry out credit checks on prospective tenants. Nearly three quarters of landlords say they expect rental arrears to be issues in 2009.

Evicting recalcitrant tenants can take up to six months and end up costing the property owner nearly £1,000. The easier option, say advisers, is to tighten up credit on prospective tenants before they move in. Read more