Mortgages

The 'will they won't they' (happen) saga revolving around home information packs continued unabated last week with a spat between the government and two trade associations asked to support them.

The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has published the final rules for the regulation of home reversion plans and Shariah compliant home purchase plans.

Home Buyer Systems has added new features to its integrated mortgage and general insurance advice and sales system to ensures end-to-end regulatory compliance.

Halifax has announced the launch of a new legal services arm.

The government has again been urged to consider the use of fiscal incentives to encourage homeowners to go green.

Government plans for home information packs came under attack from a previously neutral source last night after the director general of the Council of Mortgage Lenders called them a "costly indulgence".

Alliance & Leicester says brokers want to see the buy-to-let market regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA).

Gross mortgage lending in September stood at £17.9bn, some 14% lower than August's record figure, though very similar to the £17.8bn in September last year the latest figures from the British Banker's Association (BBA).

Home information packs look set to be mired in further controversy following the reaction of the Department for Communities and Local Government to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors' freedom of information request.

The Association of Mortgage Intermediaries (Ami) has launched a new factsheet for members dealing with retention business.