Our Insights

According to the Office for National Statistics, there were more than 5 million self-employed people in the UK by the end of 2019. This represented 15.3% of total UK employment – a notable increase from 3.2 million in 2000. Then came the coronavirus. While it is likely the rates of self-employment would have continued to […]

Mortgage technology expert Mortgage Brain has extended its partnership with Harpenden Building Society, taking on the provision of our criteria pages on our intermediary-facing website. The pages break down our lending criteria for both our residential and buy-to-let product ranges, and includes dozens of different criteria, ranging from the age of the borrower at application […]

Many lenders and brokers are missing out on opportunities for those who want to borrow money into the later years of their life. Research from the Office of National Statistics states that the average median age of residents within UK local authorities is projected to increase between 2018 and 2043. The effects of Covid-19 have […]

by Jean Errington, Business Development Manager, Harpenden Building Society So have you booked your summer holiday yet? With a sense of relief, UK holiday restrictions are beginning to lift (from April 12) and that much needed break looks increasingly likely for many, boosting the domestic holiday let market. What will the options be? As widely […]

A quick glance at history reveals that High-Net-Worth (HNW) individuals have, over the centuries, resided in rural property during periods of public health crisis, helping them avoid highly populated areas and the risk of infection. In many ways today’s pandemic situation is no different with a surge in more affluent homeowners moving from our big […]

by Craig Middleton – Mortgage Sales and Distribution Manager, Harpenden Building Society Working from home every day may now seem normal to many. The early days of using the kitchen or spare bedroom as a make shift work area are now a distant memory as many have created a dedicated office space, or looking to […]

by Jean Errington, Business Development Manager, Harpenden Building Society As we look ahead to the summer with the hope of reduced pandemic restrictions, Holiday Lets continue to provide a profitable income stream for owners as ‘staycation’ business booms. UK holiday rentals – demand outstripping availability Such news has understandably seen a surge in UK holiday […]

Despite widespread concern about a crash in the property market, research suggests house prices around the world have risen throughout the pandemic. According to research from Knight Frank’s Wealth Report, Auckland took the lead with an 18% upswing in property prices, while in the UK, Oxford and the home counties experienced strong sales as buyers […]

by Jean Errington, Business Development Manager, Harpenden Building Society It seems like yesterday we were discussing last year’s burgeoning holiday lets market and now we’re experiencing the same trends for 2021. Deterred by the thought of quarantine hotels, country restrictions and the likelihood of catching the coronavirus itself, Brits are once again preparing for a […]

by Graeme Aitken, Business Development Manager, Harpenden Building Society Multigenerational living increasingly becomes the norm Whatever your experiences have been during Covid-19, one aspect that has remained constant throughout is ‘change’. The way we live and how we finance our accommodation hasn’t escaped this constant evolution and remains an ongoing point of debate for those […]