The hoped-for spring bounce in the housing market failed to occur during May, as fears over the economy and lack of mortgage finance continued to depress activity levels, according to RICS.

A policeman's wife took part in a £10m mortgage scam in exchange for lavish gifts worth £1m, the Old Bailey heard.

Nine people have been charged with fraud after providing false information about their earnings and occupations to try and obtain mortgages.

Lenders should restrict mortgages to 3.5 times income and loans should be capped at 90% LTV, according to a report by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR).

UK house prices are expected to jump 16% over the next four years to take prices above 2007's high, experts have predicted.

A former legal executive has been jailed for five years for her role in a £1.25m fraud involving fake mortgage applications.

Halifax Intermediaries will now require all residential interest-only mortgage applicants to provide evidence of their repayment vehicles prior to the offer stage.

A couple have been ordered to pay up to £540,000 between them after spending 13 years committing mortgage fraud.

A bogus investment firm, run by an alleged mortgage expert, has ripped off almost £1m from debt-ridden Scots.

The number of mortgage products on the market is at its highest since September 2008, after rising 13% in April, according to Mortgage Brain.