Getting a mortgage on your own after divorce or separation
How lenders look at a mortgage in your sole name after divorce or separation: income, maintenance, debts, keeping the home or buying out.
Read more →Insights
Insights
Short educational notes from Craig Shilling at Octo Financial Planning. General information for UK consumers, not personal advice.
Autumn Budget 2026: the key points in plain English
What the 28 October 2026 Budget announced on savings, ISAs, pensions, property income and first homes, from the official documents.
Read more →Tax-free cash isn’t always 25% with no cap: the Lump Sum Allowance in plain English
The Lifetime Allowance has gone, but tax-free pension lump sums are not unlimited. Plain English on the 2026/27 Lump Sum Allowance and where the 25% idea fits.
Read more →What actually drives a UK mortgage rate if Bank Rate is only part of it
Bank Rate is only one layer of a UK mortgage rate. Plain English on SONIA, the swap curve, lender margin, trackers and revert-to rates.
Read more →Bank Rate held at 3.75%: what that number is (and isn’t)
On 17 September 2026 the Bank of England published the MPC outcome. Bank Rate was maintained at 3.75%. Here is what that policy rate is (and isn’t), plus inflation context and two diary dates.
Read more →Questions about your own situation? Get in touch