Mortgages

Brokers need to think about new ways of bringing in income or they will struggle to survive in the current climate, according to the manager of Financial Network's Mortgage Club Paul Platten.

The current Special Liquidity Scheme (SLS), which allows lenders to swap mortgage assets for capital, does not give a level playing field for all firms in the market, according to the Intermediary Lenders Association (IMLA).

GE Money has hiked mortgage rates across its Igroup and First National brands after another mortgage business, part-owned by the firm, was put into administration.

Checkmate Mortgages has announced the appointment of Jeremy Sillem and Gerald Gregory as non-executive directors.

Just Retirement and 1st The Exchange have launched a new business tracking facility for the provider's equity release and annuities products.

Hodge Equity Release has changed its impaired life application process, allowing brokers and IFAs to access quotes for customers with poor health within 24 hours.

The merger between Lloyds TSB and HBOS may prove detrimental to mortgage borrowers who have benefited in the past from differing ranges from the lenders, according to market analysts.

Gross mortgage lending continued to fall in August and has reached its lowest figure in more than three years.

Lloyds TSB has revealed the details of its £12.2bn takeover of Britain's largest mortgage and savings bank HBOS.

The number of mortgages available to intermediaries has increased by over 15% in August, according to research from Trigold.