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Trafalgar Square Financial Planning Consultants

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Trafalgar Square Financial Planning Consultants

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Your independent Mortgage Broker. Buy to Let, HMO, Portfolio Landlords, Bridging Finance, Residentia

Trafalgar Square FPC is a truly independent advice-based mortgage brokerage, meaning we have access to every lender in the UK.

29/10/2026

“Yesterday’s Autumn Budget brought several announcements affecting homeowners, buyers & property investors. Here are the key points:

Mortgages & first time buyers
• A new Your First Home scheme will offer eligible first time buyers a 20% government equity loan, with deposits from 2.5%. Applications open February 2027.
• Despite speculation, Stamp Duty remains unchanged.
• Mortgage pricing remains unsettled, with lenders continuing to reprice products. Reviewing your options 6–9 months before renewal remains sensible.

Landlords & property investors
From April 2027, tax on personally held rental profits will rise to 24%, 44% and 49%, depending on your tax band.
This makes reviewing portfolio profitability & ownership structures increasingly important.

Inheritance & estate planning
From April 2027, unused pension funds will generally become subject to inheritance tax considerations.
With inheritance tax thresholds remaining frozen, reviewing how your assets & protection policies are structured is increasingly worthwhile.

If you or someone else could benefit from this message, feel free to forward it on.”
- Keely Clarke

28/10/2026

Today’s Budget has brought some significant announcements for the UK property sector, with landlords facing further financial pressures.

Here’s a breakdown of the key changes -
Higher taxes for landlords:
From April 2027, income tax rates on rental profits will rise to:
🔹 Basic rate: 24% (up from 20%)
🔹 Higher rate: 44% (up from 40%)
🔹 Additional rate: 49% (up from 45%)
These changes will affect landlords who own rental properties personally, potentially reducing their returns.

What about the rental market?
With increased taxation & ongoing costs, some landlords may reconsider their investments. This could put further pressure on rental property availability & potentially push rents higher.

Good news for first time buyers?
A new First Time Buyer ISA has been announced, alongside further investment in affordable housing, aimed at helping more people onto the property ladder.

What about house prices & stamp duty?
No major changes to residential stamp duty rates were announced, while the property market continues to face affordability challenges.

What does this mean for you?
Whether you’re a landlord reviewing your portfolio, an investor considering your next purchase, or a homeowner thinking about selling, understanding these changes is more important than ever.

Have questions about how the Budget could affect your property plans or mortgage? Get in touch with our team, we’re here to help you navigate the changing property market 🏠

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage

26/10/2026

As always, the run up to a Budget has generated plenty of speculation.

Several media reports have suggested that the Government is unlikely to increase Capital Gains Tax (CGT) in this Budget. If correct, this would mean residential property gains continue to be taxed at:
18% for basic rate taxpayers
24% for higher rate taxpayers

However, until the Chancellor delivers the Budget, these reports remain unconfirmed.
There has also been speculation about wider property tax reform, including suggestions that Stamp Duty & Council Tax could eventually be replaced by a single annual property tax.

For now, those reports appear to have been ruled out, with the Prime Minister publicly dismissing immediate changes to Stamp Duty.

The key takeaway is simple: despite the headlines, there are currently no confirmed announcements suggesting significant new tax burdens for landlords beyond previously announced measures....

*Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage
*Information from Mortgage Finance Brokers

20/10/2026

"From the outset, Rory Shackleton was outstanding. His professionalism, responsiveness, attention to detail & ability to explain everything clearly made what can often be a complicated & stressful process feel remarkably straightforward. Communication was excellent throughout, we always knew exactly where things stood, & we felt genuinely supported from beginning to end.

What particularly impressed us was that Rory didn’t simply facilitate a mortgage transaction. He took the time to understand our circumstances, provided sound advice & made us feel that our interests were genuinely his priority. That level of personal service is increasingly rare & deserves recognition.

Perhaps the strongest endorsement we can offer is that we’ve already approached Rory again, this time to assist with securing a commercial mortgage for a separate property acquisition. Unfortunately, our previous commercial lending offer expired due to circumstances entirely beyond our control, following what has been an exceptionally frustrating & unnecessarily complicated process with another lender.

The contrast between that experience & our dealings with Rory could not be more pronounced. Having experienced first hand how efficiently & professionally he managed our residential re-mortgage, he was naturally the first person we wanted to approach for assistance with our commercial financing.

That, to me, speaks volumes. When you find someone you trust to handle important financial decisions, you don’t hesitate to return."

-Julie

18/10/2026

The mortgage market continues to make headlines & whether you're a first time buyer, homeowner, landlord or property investor, there are some important developments worth knowing about!

Here's what's happening:
*Bank of England Base Rate: Currently holding at 3.75%, but economists are increasingly predicting a potential rise in November.
*Mortgage Rates: Fixed mortgage rates have been under pressure, with average two year & five year deals reaching around 6% earlier this month. However, some lenders have recently reduced selected rates.
*First Time Buyers: Changes to mortgage lending rules could give lenders greater flexibility to offer higher loan to income mortgages, potentially opening more doors for buyers.
*Re-mortgaging: If your current mortgage deal is coming to an end, now is a good time to review your options rather than waiting until the last minute.

What does this mean for you?
The mortgage market is constantly changing, but with the right planning & professional guidance, opportunities can still be found.

At Trafalgar Square, we believe understanding your options is the first step towards making confident property and financial decisions.

Thinking about buying, re-mortgaging or investing in property?
Get in touch with our team to discuss your mortgage options & how we can help you plan your next move!

www.trafalgarsq.co.uk

Your property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage

14/10/2026

Many landlords have been hoping to see fixed rates move lower during 2026. Unfortunately, recent market conditions have made this difficult.

The primary issue remains SWAP rates, which underpin the pricing of many fixed rate mortgages. While SWAP rates have stabilised recently, they remain significantly higher than they were both a month ago & a year ago. This continues to feed through into the mortgage market & limits lenders' ability to reduce pricing.

Several factors are contributing to this situation.
First, ongoing tensions in the Middle East have pushed oil prices higher, raising concerns about future inflation. Markets remain nervous that sustained energy price increases could force interest rates to remain higher for longer than previously expected.

Second, gilt yields have risen as investors assess the potential impact of higher energy costs on inflation & future Bank of England policy. Rising gilt yields often place upward pressure on SWAP rates & by extension, mortgage pricing.

Finally, political developments have added another layer of uncertainty. Comments regarding fiscal flexibility & government spending have led some market participants to anticipate increased borrowing, resulting in further movement in gilt markets.

The combined effect of these factors is that fixed rate mortgages continue to feel relatively expensive compared to market expectations earlier in the year.

Make sure your mortgage is working for you. Get in touch to see how we could help you find the right deal for your needs....

06/10/2026

Getting a mortgage can feel complicated, but you don’t have to navigate it alone.

A mortgage broker can help you:
*Explore mortgage options from a range of lenders
*Find a deal that suits your circumstances
*Save time searching & comparing options
*Handle the paperwork & guide you through the application
*Have someone on your side from your first enquiry through to completion

Whether you’re a first time buyer, moving home, re-mortgaging or investing in property, getting the right advice can make the whole process feel much simpler.

Thinking about your mortgage options? We're always happy to help, contact us for a friendly, no obligation chat....

04/10/2026

Whether you’re looking to purchase a new property, re-mortgage an existing one, or need support with your property portfolio, we’re here to help....

Every situation is different & finding the right mortgage solution can make all the difference. We can talk through your circumstances, explore the options available & help you decide on the right way forward.

Get in touch with us this week for a chat about your mortgage & property plans....

30/09/2026

Many landlords were surprised to see some lenders increasing mortgage rates despite the Bank of England holding the base rate. The explanation lies in the wholesale funding markets.

Fixed rate mortgage pricing is largely driven by swap rates rather than the Bank of England base rate itself. Recently, geopolitical tensions in the Middle East contributed to higher oil prices, increasing inflation expectations & pushing swap rates upwards.

This translated into higher funding costs for lenders &, ultimately, higher mortgage rates.

Over the past few days, some of these pressures have eased. Oil prices have softened & swap rates have moved lower, which could provide some welcome relief if the trend continues.

However, landlords should avoid assuming this guarantees cheaper mortgage products ahead. Markets remain sensitive to geopolitical developments & funding costs can change quickly.

For investors looking to refinance or secure a new buy to let mortgage, it remains sensible to review options sooner rather than later rather than attempting to time the market perfectly….

Contact us to speak with one of our expert brokers about all your mortgage needs 😌

28/09/2026

If you're a UK landlord, the last few weeks have delivered plenty of headlines that could affect your investment strategy. From changes in mortgage pricing & swap rates to rental growth, house price movements & fresh data on buy to let performance, there is a lot to unpack.

The good news? Despite a tougher tax environment & elevated borrowing costs, many of the fundamentals supporting the UK buy to let sector remain firmly in place. Recent data suggests rental yields are improving, tenant demand remains strong & long term property investment continues to compare favourably against many alternative asset classes.

Let's take a closer look at the key developments landlords should be paying attention to.
30 Years of Buy to Let: A Market That Has Transformed -
Fresh research released this week marks 30 years since the launch of the UK's first buy to let mortgage in 1996. The findings provide a fascinating insight into how the market has evolved.

According to the research, every £1 invested in UK buy to let property in 1996 would have grown to approximately £22.30 by 2026, representing a return of more than 2,100%. Around 62% of this return came from rental income, with the remaining 38% generated through capital growth.

However, today's landlord operates in a very different environment.
Back in the late 1990s, landlords were typically purchasing properties for around £55,000 & most borrowers opted for repayment mortgages. Today, the average buy to let purchase price is closer to £360,000 & interest only borrowing has become the dominant strategy, reflecting a much stronger focus on cash flow & portfolio management.

This shift highlights an important point for investors. While capital growth remains important, successful landlords are increasingly focusing on sustainable rental income, yield performance & financing efficiency.

Need some guidance with your property, contact us & we will be happy to help....

Address

Office 01/10, The Gatehouse, 1 Armoury Way
London
SW181TH

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Website

https://www.trafalgarsq.co.uk/contact-us/

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