This week’s top headlines: Nationwide allows mortgage deeds to be signed digitally and NatWest and Rightmove announce three-year partnership
Explore these and other major industry updates below:
Nationwide allows mortgage deeds to be signed digitally
Nationwide will allow mortgage deeds to be signed electronically using qualified electronic signatures, removing the need for paper forms and witnesses.
The move, developed with HM Land Registry, Your Conveyancer and Veyco, aims to speed up transactions, reduce delays and improve security, with the digital signature carrying the same legal standing as a handwritten one.
NatWest and Rightmove announce three-year partnership
NatWest and Rightmove have agreed a three-year partnership from April that will see NatWest become the portal’s exclusive mortgage lender, powering its Mortgage in Principle service to help buyers understand borrowing potential during their property search.
The tool will sit alongside Rightmove’s affordability and property calculators, with both firms saying the collaboration aims to simplify the homebuying journey and help buyers and agents make more informed decisions earlier in the process.
Halifax to hike rates by up to 25 basis points
Halifax will increase mortgage rates by up to 25 basis points tomorrow, with higher pricing across home mover and first-time buyer deals, while remortgage and product transfer rates will fall.
Its buy-to-let arm, BM Solutions, is introducing a mix of rate rises and cuts, including reductions for limited company buy-to-let and product transfer deals. Meanwhile, Aldermore is withdrawing selected limited-edition buy-to-let products later today, giving brokers limited time to secure the deals.
Imla calls for more relaxed lending due to falling arrears
Intermediary Mortgage Lenders Association says mortgage lending rules could ease as arrears are expected to keep falling through 2026 and 2027, reflecting the housing market’s resilience despite higher interest rates.
The group predicts arrears will drop from 0.85% in 2025 to 0.74% by 2027 and argues that strong affordability checks and regulation, including measures clarified by the Financial Conduct Authority, have made borrowing safer, suggesting there may now be scope to carefully widen access to homeownership.
A third of home sales take longer than 17 weeks: Propertymark
Propertymark reports that nearly a third of house sales are still taking over 17 weeks to complete, despite slight improvements in transaction times and rising buyer demand.
While sales volumes are higher than last year, limited housing supply, economic uncertainty and affordability pressures continue to slow the market, with rental demand also outstripping supply and contributing to rising rents and increasing arrears.
Fruitful year ahead for aspiring FTBs: Moneyfacts
Moneyfacts data suggests 2026 could be a strong year for first-time buyers, with record levels of 90% LTV mortgage deals, the highest number of 95% LTV options since 2008 and overall product choice rising to more than 7,500 deals.
While fixed mortgage rates have edged up slightly, rates remain lower year-on-year and tracker rates have fallen following base rate cuts, improving affordability.
Lenders, including Nationwide, have also relaxed lending criteria, boosting borrowing power, though experts warn that limited housing supply and affordability challenges remain key barriers.
Countrywide Surveying Services launches SurveySphere
Countrywide Surveying Services has launched a virtual inspection tool called SurveySphere, allowing surveyors to carry out real-time video property inspections via a mobile device.
The technology enables surveyors to verify property details, gather visual data and identify risks, often providing more information than a desktop valuation.
Each case is risk-assessed to ensure virtual inspections are suitable, aiming to improve efficiency, reduce costs and strengthen risk management for lenders and borrowers.
Too many living in ‘appalling’ social housing conditions, MPs warn
A cross-party report by the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee warns that hundreds of thousands of social homes still fail to meet minimum standards, which have not been updated in 20 years, leaving many residents in poor and unsafe conditions.
MPs are urging the government to modernise housing standards, review them regularly and improve the definition of fuel poverty, while balancing the need to upgrade existing homes and build new social housing.
Committee chair Florence Eshalomi said reforms must deliver meaningful improvements, though concerns remain about whether housing providers have sufficient resources to meet targets.
Together appoints two to its intermediary team
Together has strengthened its intermediary team by appointing Lewis Wheeler and Michael Kelsey.
Wheeler joins from Pepper Money and previously worked at Saffron Building Society, while Kelsey returns after roles at Blemain Finance, First Choice Finance, Sterling Green and Yellowstone Finance.
Managing director Tanya Elmaz said the hires reflect the lender’s ongoing investment in broker support and partnership growth.
West Brom cuts rates by up to 25bps as Kensington and others reprice
West Brom Building Society, Kensington, Precise and Foundation Home Loans have all announced pricing changes.
West Brom has cut rates by up to 25bps, including reducing its two-year 90% LTV fix to 4.19% and launching a 3.99% option with a fee, while Kensington has lowered residential and buy-to-let rates and replaced cashback on selected deals with rate cuts. Precise has reduced bridging rates from 0.57%, and Foundation is withdrawing most buy-to-let products ahead of repricing.
West Brom’s John Phillips said the move aims to boost affordability and choice, while Kensington’s Andy Bickers said broker feedback supported the shift toward lower rates.
