Women miss out on £100k

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Gender pensions gap

Women in their 20s will retire with £100,000 less in their pension pot on average than their male peers, according to new research by pension firm Scottish Widows. It says women would have to work an extra 40 years if they wanted to make up the lost retirement income.A lifetime of lower earnings, breaks to raise children, and bigger childcare responsibilities mean women save less into their pensions than men do.

Half a million mortgages queued

Mortgage brokers have warned that buyers who make an offer now may risk not completing their purchase before the end of June. From 1st July, the 0% stamp duty threshold will drop from £500,000 to £250,000. Why the wait? Almost half a million mortgages are already in the queue to be processed, with many lenders dealing with big delays.

New cladding guidance

Some homeowners will find it easier to sell or remortgage, under new guidance about what surveys are required. From January 2020, thousands of flats in low-rise buildings started being asked for EWS1 external wall safety forms, which took ages because they could only be done by a specialist. Now, the Royal Institute for Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has released new advice that clarifies who needs the extra survey - and who doesn’t.