It’s back to school and the end of summer for most.
It’s an easy time of year to let things lapse, so consider this email your friendly reminder to stay on top of the important things. From your mortgage to insurance to staying safe against fraud, we are here to help. All the advice here is a starting point, but the best thing you can do is book in a call with us. Nothing replaces a friendly chat with a human, no chatbots here!
Do you own a rental property? From 1 May, the new Renters’ Rights Act came into force, bringing major changes to how landlords manage tenancies and recover possession of their properties. One of the biggest changes is the removal of Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions, meaning landlords must rely on specific grounds when seeking possession. We are here to offer support for you if you are facing a tenant you can’t evict, even when they aren’t paying rent. Have you heard of rent guarantee insurance?
What does rent guarantee insurance do?
Rent guarantee insurance is designed to help protect landlords if a tenant stops paying their rent. Depending on the policy, it can also cover legal expenses to help with the costs of pursuing possession. This could become increasingly valuable if recovering possession takes longer. Average possession times have already reached 27 weeks, and landlords may face several months without rental income before Section 8 proceedings can begin. (Source: Mortgage Solutions)
Is it worth considering?
There isn't a one-size-fits-all answer. For some landlords, having enough savings to cover several months of lost rental income may provide a sufficient safety net. For others, particularly those relying on rental income to meet their mortgage commitments, rent guarantee insurance could provide valuable additional protection.
Of course, the cheapest policy isn't necessarily the most suitable. Before deciding, look carefully at the level of cover, excess, exclusions, and how claims are handled.
Don't wait until there's a problem
Landlords are already navigating a changing regulatory environment, and it's understandable if you're unsure what the latest changes mean for your property and finances. Now is the time to review your mortgage, rental income, and protection arrangements together. If you'd like to talk through your options, get in touch. We're happy to help you understand what's available and find a solution that works for your circumstances.
Your home or property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage or any other debts secured on it.
We will always want to promote the benefits of private medical insurance as your advisor, especially in a time when NHS waiting times are concerningly long. But the fact is, we have a cost-of-living crisis, and premiums can be expensive, rising claims and treatment costs are putting further pressure on the cost of cover.
However, we do have some helpful advice to help reduce your premium without giving up private healthcare altogether. The key is understanding the trade-offs. We are always here to help; let’s explore these together and work out a policy that is perfect for you and your budget.
- Ok, so one of the simplest ways to reduce your premium is to increase your policy excess. This is the amount you agree to contribute towards an eligible claim. A higher excess can mean a lower premium, but you’ll need to make sure you could comfortably afford the additional cost if you needed to claim.
- Review your hospital list. Some insurers offer different levels of hospital access. Choosing a more restricted or guided hospital list can reduce your premium compared with a wider network. Before making a change, check which hospitals are included. If you have a preferred hospital locally, make sure it remains available under the new option.
- Did you know that some policies allow you to consider a six-week NHS option, allowing you to opt for NHS treatment if available within six weeks? If not, your private cover steps in. It might suit you if you want the reassurance of private healthcare but are happy to use the NHS where treatment is available within a relatively short timeframe. However, six-week options are not always available, so we’ll double-check that for you.
- We always run through with our clients to make sure they understand what their policy covers. It’s generally designed around acute conditions that are likely to respond to treatment. Most policies exclude pre-existing conditions, while chronic conditions requiring ongoing management, such as diabetes or asthma, are also generally excluded. You might save money removing options.
- However! Don't focus solely on price! The cheapest policy isn't necessarily the best value. When reviewing your renewal, consider the balance between your premium, excess, hospital access and the level of cover you actually need.
If your premium has increased, reviewing your options could help you reduce the cost while keeping the private healthcare benefits that matter most to you. We’ll help you assess the compromises and find a policy suited to you.
If you couldn't work because of illness or injury, how long could you keep paying your mortgage and household bills?
It's a question that's easy to put off. But with the rules around Statutory Sick Pay changing this year, it's a good time to think about what financial support you would have if your income suddenly stopped.
What has changed?
Since 6 April 2026, Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) has been available to eligible employees regardless of how much they earn, and it is now payable from the first full day of sickness absence rather than after a waiting period. (Source: GOV.UK, Statutory Sick Pay guidance, updated April 2026.)
The weekly rate for 2026/27 is £123.25, or 80% of average weekly earnings, whichever is lower. SSP can be paid for up to 28 weeks.
The changes mean more people can qualify for support and receive it sooner. But for many households, there's still a substantial gap between statutory sick pay and their usual income.
Would £123.25 a week cover your essentials?
Think about your regular commitments: mortgage or rent, energy bills, food, childcare, transport, insurance and other household costs.
For someone earning a typical full-time salary, £123.25 a week represents a significant drop in income. Even if your employer offers enhanced sick pay, it's worth checking how long it lasts and what happens once it ends.
This is where income protection can play a role.
Income protection is designed to provide a regular income if you are unable to work because of illness or injury, subject to the policy terms and any waiting period. It can be particularly worth considering if you have a mortgage, limited savings, dependants or an income that your household relies heavily on.
Don't assume you'll be covered
One of the most useful things you can do is check your existing safety net.
Ask yourself:
- How much sick pay does my employer provide?
- How long would it last?
- How many months could my savings cover?
- Could I continue paying my mortgage and essential bills if my income fell significantly?
- Would my household cope if I couldn't work for several months?
- There isn't a single right answer. For some people, savings and generous employer benefits may provide sufficient protection. For others, income protection could provide an important additional layer of financial security.
If you're not sure how you would manage financially if illness or injury stopped you working, we're happy to help. Get in touch, and we can talk through your circumstances, what protection you already have and whether income protection could be worth considering.
Borrowing in later life is becoming increasingly relevant as people live and work for longer, retirement plans change, and more homeowners look to the wealth tied up in their property.
Now, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is taking a closer look at the later-life mortgage market. (Source: FCA)
In March, the FCA launched a market study into lifetime mortgages and retirement interest-only (RIO) mortgages, asking whether the market is meeting consumers' changing needs and providing enough choice and competition. The study was updated in June following feedback from lenders, advisers and consumer groups.
The study is looking at more than just the products themselves. It will consider how consumers understand and compare their options, the role of advice, competition between providers and whether new or innovative products could better meet people's needs.
There isn't a one-size-fits-all solution
One of the most important points is that later-life lending doesn't automatically mean equity release. Depending on your circumstances, alternatives could include a standard mortgage, a RIO mortgage, a lifetime mortgage or downsizing. The FCA has specifically said it will consider how consumers compare these different ways of accessing housing wealth.
That's why good advice matters. What works for one homeowner may be completely unsuitable for another.
What does this mean for you?
The FCA's review is ongoing throughout 2026, so it is too early to say what changes may eventually result. But its focus reflects an important shift: borrowing in later life is becoming a more significant part of the mortgage market.
If you're approaching retirement with a mortgage, thinking about accessing property wealth or simply wondering whether your current borrowing still suits your plans, it could be worth reviewing your options.
You don't have to work out the answer on your own. Get in touch, and we can talk through your circumstances, explain the options available and help you understand what might – or might not – be right for you.
This is a lifetime mortgage. To understand the features and risks, please ask for a personalised illustration. Check that this mortgage will meet your needs if you want to move or sell your home or you want your family to inherit it. If you are in any doubt, seek independent advice.
Flooding is something you should think about when taking out home insurance. And we are seeing major changes to home insurance. If you live in an area at risk of flooding or are thinking about buying a property with flood history, have you heard of Flood Re? (Source: Flood Re)
It’s a government-backed scheme that helps households at higher risk of flooding access affordable insurance. It’s announced a new package of big reforms as it reaches its tenth anniversary. It’ll aim to help you become more flood-resilient and prepare for the scheme's planned end in 2039.
What is changing? One of the most immediate changes will benefit some lower-income households. From April 2027, Flood Re will reduce the premium it charges insurers for contents-only policies in Council Tax Bands A and B. Flood Re expects insurers to pass these savings on to customers. (Source: UK Parliament)
But the changes go beyond premiums. Flood Re is also developing Flood Performance Certificates, designed to work somewhat like Energy Performance Certificates. They could help homeowners understand how vulnerable their property is and make it more resilient. The aim is for improvements to a property's flood resilience to be recognised through insurance pricing. (Source: Flood Re)
Why should homeowners care? Flood insurance can be particularly important when you're buying or remortgaging a property. If a property has a history of flooding or is considered at significant risk, finding suitable and affordable insurance can be more complicated. Flood Re has helped improve access to cover over the past decade.
Buying a home in a flood-risk area? Don't automatically assume that a flood-risk property is uninsurable – but don't ignore the issue either.
Before buying, investigate the property's flood history, understand what insurance is available, and find out whether measures could reduce the potential impact of future flooding. And if you're already a homeowner, reviewing your buildings and contents insurance regularly is worthwhile. Check your sums insured, excesses and exclusions, and make sure you understand exactly what you're covered for.
If you're buying, remortgaging or simply unsure whether your home and insurance are still right for you, we're here to help. Get in touch, and we can talk through your circumstances and point you towards the right questions to ask.
Fraud is now the most commonly experienced crime in England and Wales, according to the Crown Prosecution Service, with millions of incidents reported each year. And as scammers turn to AI and increasingly convincing impersonation techniques, spotting a scam isn't always as easy as looking for a suspicious spelling mistake.
The good news is that a few simple habits can make a big difference. Stop, Challenge, Protect is a useful approach to remember whenever you're contacted unexpectedly. (Source: TakeFive)
What scams should you look out for?
- AI voice cloning is an emerging tactic where criminals use a short recording of someone's voice to create a convincing imitation. You might receive a call that appears to be from a family member, friend or colleague asking for urgent financial help.
- Fake text messages, sometimes known as smishing, can look remarkably genuine. Messages may claim you've missed a parking payment, have a parcel waiting or are entitled to an energy refund, often directing you to a link designed to steal personal or financial information.
- Impersonation scams can also involve callers pretending to represent your bank, HMRC or another official organisation. Don't trust the number on your screen alone. Fraudsters can manipulate caller ID to make a call appear to come from a bank or another organisation you recognise.
- There are also subscription scams and traps, where apparently free trials or services can result in unexpected recurring payments.
Remember: Stop, Challenge, Protect
Stop: If someone is pushing you to make a payment or reveal information immediately, take a breath. A genuine organisation won't mind you taking time to check.
Challenge: Ask yourself whether the request makes sense. Be particularly cautious if someone creates a sense of urgency or asks for information you wouldn't normally provide.
Protect: If you're unsure, end the conversation and contact the organisation using a trusted number, for example, the number on the back of your bank card or an official statement. Don't use a number or link provided in a suspicious message.
What should you do if you think you've been scammed?
If you receive a suspicious text, you can forward it to 7726 free of charge. Suspicious emails can be forwarded to report@phishing.gov.uk.
If you've lost money or been the victim of fraud, report it through the UK's official fraud reporting service. If you've shared your banking details, contact your bank immediately using a trusted number.
Most importantly, don't be embarrassed about falling for a scam. Fraudsters deliberately make their messages convincing and create pressure to stop you thinking clearly.
If you're ever unsure about a financial request or message relating to your mortgage or finances, we're always happy to help you sense-check it. Get in touch, it's better to ask than to risk getting caught out.
