This week’s top headlines: Skipton BS cuts rates and expands range and HMRC tax receipts hit £391.6bn

Explore these and other major industry updates below:Skipton BS cuts rates and expands range

Skipton Building Society will cut rates across its entire fixed mortgage range by an average of 0.15% from 25 September, alongside new three-year fixes at 90% LTV under its LTI Booster range.

It has also expanded its Delayed Start Mortgage to home movers, allowing eligible borrowers to defer their first mortgage payment by up to three months, while selected 95% LTV rates have also been reduced.

Barclays, Halifax and BM raise rates by up to 30bps

Barclays, Halifax and BM Solutions are raising mortgage rates, with Barclays increasing selected deals by up to 30bps, including a 10-year fix at 60% LTV rising from 5.12% to 5.42%, while BM Solutions will raise BTL rates by up to 25bps.

Halifax is increasing selected purchase rates by up to 11bps and remortgage, product transfer and further advance rates by up to 10bps, as lenders continue to reprice amid higher mortgage funding costs.

UK Finance warns chancellor a Budget bank tax could hike mortgage rates

UK Finance has warned that further increases in bank-specific taxes could raise mortgage costs and reduce banks’ capacity to lend and invest, while making the UK less attractive to international banks.

Ahead of the October Budget, it called for stable tax arrangements and a long-term plan to boost financial-sector competitiveness, alongside measures to support first-time buyers, housebuilding, faster property transactions and home energy efficiency.

Just Mortgages hires McLaren as Midlands area director

Just Mortgages has appointed Gina McLaren as area director for its self-employed division in the Midlands, bringing nearly 20 years’ industry experience to the role.

Based in Leicestershire, McLaren will support adviser development and business growth while helping with training, marketing, recruitment and the expansion of the self-employed adviser network.

TSB to raise more rates by up to 25bps

TSB is raising selected product transfer and additional borrowing rates by up to 25bps for residential customers and 20bps for BTL from tomorrow, while Kensington is also increasing its BTL rates.

The moves follow a week of widespread lender repricing, with the average five-year fixed rate reaching its highest level since October 2023 and the average two-year fix rising 17bps over the week.

Second Charge Watch: FCA’s lens is nothing to be afraid of

The FCA’s increased scrutiny of the second charge mortgage market highlights the need for advisers to properly assess affordability, understand why debt has accumulated and consider alternatives before recommending consolidation.

However, the article argues that second charge debt consolidation can still be appropriate for some customers, particularly where it reduces monthly outgoings without disrupting a favourable first charge mortgage, provided advisers clearly explain the longer-term costs and risks.

HSBC and Clydesdale to hike prices

HSBC and Clydesdale are raising mortgage rates, following increases from major lenders including Barclays, Halifax and TSB.

Clydesdale will increase residential product transfer rates by up to 19bps and BTL rates by up to 38bps, while HSBC’s changes are expected to affect a wide range of residential, BTL, purchase and remortgage products, with brokers anticipating the withdrawal of some of its sub-5% fixes.

HMRC tax receipts hit £391.6bn

HMRC collected £391.6bn in tax and NICs between April and August 2026, £24.9bn more than the same period last year, with PAYE income tax and NIC receipts accounting for £214bn.

CGT receipts rose slightly to £198m in August but remain below last year’s total for the financial year so far, while IHT receipts increased by £0.1bn to £3.8bn, prompting warnings that changes to tax rates can influence taxpayer behaviour and that rising property values are increasing IHT exposure.

FCA to work with AMI and others to tackle protection gap

The FCA is working with the Association of Mortgage Intermediaries and other industry groups to address the protection gap, with around 58% of adults currently holding none of the main life, critical illness or income protection policies.

The initiative will focus on improving advisers’ conversations with customers, raising consumer awareness and addressing barriers for groups including renters, the self-employed, lower-income households and people with pre-existing medical conditions.

Acre platform rebrands as Score

Acre has rebranded as Score following its acquisition by ClearScore, marking the next stage of the mortgage CRM’s development and ClearScore’s expansion into mortgages.

Score plans to accelerate its technology roadmap, including AI-powered features and integration with ClearScore Home Lending, while reporting record monthly mortgage submissions and more than 2.5-fold revenue growth.