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Independent UK money news from the Money Guide editorial team — rate changes, threshold updates, benefits, energy, scams and consumer rights. Information only — not personal advice.
DVLA: car and motorcycle drivers can report medical conditions online
From 17 August 2026, Great Britain car and motorcycle licence holders can check around 1,600 conditions on GOV.UK and notify DVLA online — often up to 10 days faster than paper. Bus and lorry licences stay on forms. Not telling DVLA can mean a £1,000 fine and void insurance.
Read the story →Equity release rates in July 2026: roll-up maths and alternatives
Scottish water charges 2026/27: council tax band linkage explained
Business energy contracts: micro-business protections in 2026
Over-50s life insurance: guaranteed acceptance and inflation erosion
More from the desk
- Pensions
Junior pension transfers: child trust funds and CTF-to-JISA rules
Millions of Child Trust Funds matured from age 18 — unclaimed pots can transfer to ISAs or adult pensions. Check for safeguarded benefits before moving junior workplace pensions inherited from parents' schemes.
Read → - Tax
Landlord Making Tax Digital: April 2026 quarterly reporting checklist
Landlords with property income above £50,000 must file quarterly through MTD-compatible software from April 2026. Keep digital records of rent, allowable expenses and mortgage interest — the 20% tax credit replaces full interest deduction.
Read → - Insurance
Electric vehicle insurance: repair costs and battery cover in 2026
EV premiums often exceed petrol equivalents because of higher list prices, specialist parts and battery repair costs. Check whether policies cover the traction battery, charging cables and home charger damage.
Read → - Insurance
Motorbike insurance in 2026: licence categories and security discounts
Premiums depend on engine size, licence category, storage and annual mileage. Compulsory basic training alone does not cover bikes above 125cc — check your licence matches the machine you insure.
Read → - Insurance
Van insurance for tradespeople: business use and tools cover
Social, domestic and pleasure cover is not enough if you carry tools to job sites. Class of use, goods-in-transit limits and employer liability may all be needed — declare business use honestly or claims can be refused.
Read → - Insurance
Home insurance renewal in July 2026: rebuild sums and loyalty penalties
Buildings sums insured should match rebuild cost — not market value — via the ABI calculator. The FCA banned loyalty penalties in 2022, but comparing at renewal still saves money on combined buildings and contents policies.
Read → - Banking
Personal loans in July 2026: compare total cost, not monthly payment
With Bank Rate held at 4.25%, unsecured loan APRs remain elevated. Soft-search eligibility checks show odds without hard footprints — but compare total interest over the full term and check for early repayment charges.
Read → - Insurance
Summer 2026 travel insurance: how to compare cover before you fly
Peak holiday season pushes travel insurance prices up. Compare medical limits, cancellation cover and pre-existing condition rules — not premium alone — and buy when you book to protect non-refundable costs.
Read → - Mortgages & housing
Equity release alternatives: why downsizing and RIO mortgages still matter in 2026
Lifetime mortgage rates remain costly and interest roll-up can double debt in little over a decade. Regulated advisers must discuss downsizing, retirement interest-only mortgages and smaller loans before recommending equity release.
Read → - Pensions
Pension consolidation in July 2026: tracing lost pots before you merge
Around £30 billion sits in unclaimed UK pension savings. Before consolidating old workplace pots, use the free Pension Tracing Service and check every statement for safeguarded benefits — guaranteed annuity rates and defined-benefit promises should not move without advice.
Read → - Insurance
Landlord insurance in July 2026: what buy-to-let owners must cover
Standard home insurance usually excludes rented property. Buy-to-let lenders require buildings cover; liability, rent guarantee and contents for fittings remain the landlord's responsibility to arrange.
Read → - Energy & bills
July 2026 energy price cap is now live: what households should do
Default tariff unit rates rose about 13% from 1 July. If you are on a standard variable tariff, your bill changes automatically — but fixing, social tariffs and supplier help still matter.
Read → - Tax
Cash ISA allowance cut to £12,000 from April 2027: what savers should know
The government plans to reduce the cash ISA subscription limit for under-65s from £20,000 to £12,000 from 6 April 2027, while keeping the overall ISA wrapper at £20,000. Stocks & Shares ISA cash holdings may also face a new tax charge.
Read → - Energy & bills
Cutting water bills this summer: meters, leaks and WaterSure
Garden hose use spikes summer meter readings. Fix leaks, trial a free meter, and check WaterSure or social tariffs if you are on benefits with high essential water needs.
Read → - Benefits
Child Benefit: why claiming matters for National Insurance credits
Parents who opt out of Child Benefit payments because of the High Income Child Benefit Charge may still lose State Pension credits unless they register. New guide explains rates, HICBC and who should claim.
Read → - Energy & bills
Heat pumps and the Boiler Upgrade Scheme: summer 2026 checklist
Air source heat pump installs typically cost £8,000–£15,000 before grants. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme in England and Wales can reduce upfront cost — but insulation and radiator sizing decide whether running costs beat gas.
Read → - Banking
How to compare credit cards fairly under FCA rules in 2026
0% purchase, balance transfer, rewards and credit-builder cards serve different goals. Representative APR applies to only 51% of approved applicants — use soft eligibility checks before applying.
Read → - Energy & bills
Compare broadband fairly: One Touch Switch and July 2026 price-rise rules
Ofcom's One Touch Switch means your new provider handles most moves. Compare total contract cost including disclosed annual price rises — not just the first-month headline.
Read → - Insurance
Income protection: how to compare policies beyond the monthly premium
Own-occupation cover, waiting periods and benefit length matter more than headline price. Income protection pays monthly income when illness or injury stops you working — unlike critical illness lump sums.
Read → - Tax
Reminder: 31 July Self Assessment payment on account deadline
Second payments on account for 2025/26 are due 31 July 2026. Missing the date triggers interest from 1 August — use HMRC online services or request Time to Pay if you cannot pay in full.
Read → - Scams & fraud
Replacing your bank card may not stop fraudsters, regulators warn
Replacing a compromised card does not always end unauthorised use if criminals still have your online banking or wallet details. Change passwords, review payees and enable fraud alerts after any scam.
Read → - Mortgages & housing
First-Time Buyer ISA consultation: what it means for Lifetime ISAs
The government opened consultation on a new First-Time Buyer ISA that could eventually replace the Lifetime ISA for new savers. Existing LISAs continue unchanged.
Read → - Consumer rights
Energy Ombudsman gains stronger enforcement powers
Energy suppliers may soon face binding enforcement when they ignore Ombudsman rulings — closing a long-standing gap in consumer protection.
Read → - Rates & inflation
Bank of England holds Bank Rate at 4.25% in June 2026 meeting
The Monetary Policy Committee voted 7–2 to keep Bank Rate at 4.25% for a third consecutive meeting. Savings and mortgage markets are unchanged for now, with one further cut still priced in for late 2026.
Read → - Energy & bills
Ofgem confirms July 2026 energy price cap for typical households
Ofgem confirmed a 13% rise in unit rates from 1 July 2026 — about £18 a month for a typical dual-fuel home on a standard variable tariff. Fixed deals may still beat the cap if you want price certainty.
Read → - Tax
31 July deadline: second Self Assessment payment on account
If you file Self Assessment and had a tax bill over £1,000 last year, HMRC expects a second payment on account by 31 July 2026. Missing it triggers interest from the next day — not an immediate penalty, but costs add up.
Read → - Tax
HMRC digital platform reporting: what side-hustle sellers need to know
Platforms such as eBay, Vinted, Etsy and Airbnb must now report seller income data to HMRC. Earning under £1,000 from trading may still fall within the trading allowance — but record-keeping matters.
Read → - Mortgages & housing
Renters' Rights Act: deposit protection and rent-increase rules now in force
Private tenants in England now have periodic tenancies by default, limits on rent increases, and stronger deposit protection. Landlords must use a government-approved scheme and return deposits within set time limits.
Read → - Energy & bills
Ofcom pushes mobile social tariffs as mid-contract rises bite
Regulated pounds-and-pence limits on broadband rises also apply to many mobile contracts. Low-income customers may qualify for social tariffs from £10–£15 a month — but take-up remains low.
Read → - Pensions
Pension dashboards: more providers connect as 2026 deadlines approach
The Pensions Dashboards Programme is connecting workplace and personal pension schemes in stages through 2026. The official MoneyHelper dashboard will let you view pots in one place — but not move money.
Read → - Scams & fraud
APP fraud reimbursement: banks begin applying the 50/50 split rule
Payment Systems Regulator rules require sending and receiving banks to share reimbursement for authorised push payment fraud — up to £85,000 per claim, with a consumer standard of caution test.
Read → - Tax
Student loan repayment thresholds confirmed for 2026/27
Plan 2 loans start repaying at £29,385 a year from April 2026; Plan 5 at £25,000. Repayments are 9% of income above the threshold — they do not appear on credit files and do not affect mortgage affordability like commercial debt.
Read → - Consumer rights
Financial Ombudsman sees rise in Section 75 and chargeback disputes
Travel firm failures and online shopping disputes continue to drive credit card protection claims. Section 75 covers £100.01–£30,000 purchases on credit; chargeback is a separate scheme rule with different limits.
Read → - Benefits
Warm Home Discount: £150 credit for eligible households this winter
Eligible pensioners and households on qualifying means-tested benefits in England and Wales receive the £150 electricity bill credit automatically. Scotland's broader group still requires applying through your supplier.
Read → - Benefits
Household Support Fund extended: councils accept summer applications
The government extended the Household Support Fund through 2026/27. Each council runs its own scheme for food, energy and essential costs — check your local authority website.
Read → - Tax
Tax year 2026/27: the key changes to know
Most headline allowances are frozen again for 2026/27, so more people are pulled into higher tax bands as wages rise. Here's what that means for your pay, savings and investments.
Read → - Energy & bills
Energy price cap rises 13% from 1 July 2026
Default tariff unit rates jump about 13% for the July–September quarter. Typical direct-debit bills rise by roughly £18 a month — fixing may beat the cap if you want certainty.
Read → - Regulation
Property (Digital Assets etc) Act 2025 — what it means for UK wills and estates
The narrowly drafted Act, which received Royal Assent in December 2025, confirms that cryptoassets, NFTs and other digital property can be the object of personal-property rights in England and Wales — putting the Law Commission's 'third category' on a statutory footing.
Read → - Regulation
Car finance compensation: where things stand in 2026
Hidden commissions on car finance could mean compensation for millions of drivers. Here's a plain-English update — and why you don't need a claims firm.
Read → - Rates & inflation
Bank of England holds Bank Rate at 4.25% in May meeting
The Monetary Policy Committee voted to keep the base rate unchanged for a second meeting running, with two members favouring a cut.
Read → - Rates & inflation
UK CPI inflation falls to 2.1% in April
Headline inflation edged closer to the Bank of England's 2% target, with goods prices broadly flat and services inflation easing.
Read → - Mortgages & housing
Right to Buy: where it stands two years on from the discount cut
The maximum Right to Buy discount was sharply reduced in late 2024. Take-up has fallen as a result, with policy debate continuing.
Read → - Benefits
DWP launches new Pension Credit take-up campaign
Around 760,000 pensioners are estimated to be missing out on Pension Credit worth, on average, over £3,900 a year.
Read → - Tax
ISA allowance frozen at £20,000 for 2026/27
The Treasury confirmed the annual ISA subscription limit will remain at £20,000 for the new tax year, with no change to Junior ISAs or LISAs either.
Read → - Consumer rights
FCA warns consumers against relying on AI chatbots for financial advice
The Financial Conduct Authority urged consumers to treat AI-generated financial guidance with caution and to verify with regulated sources.
Read → - Mortgages & housing
Section 21 'no-fault' evictions formally abolished
The Renters' Rights Act provisions ending Section 21 evictions and converting all assured shorthold tenancies into periodic tenancies are now in force.
Read → - Mortgages & housing
Sub-4% two-year fixed mortgages return for high-deposit borrowers
Falling swap rates have pushed the cheapest two-year fixes for 60% LTV remortgages back below 4% for the first time since 2022.
Read → - Benefits
Winter Fuel Payment rules confirmed for winter 2026/27
Eligibility remains tied to receipt of Pension Credit or other qualifying benefits, with the £200/£300 payment paid automatically in November and December.
Read → - Banking
Bank switch bonuses return as competition heats up
Several major banks are again offering £150–£200 to switch through the Current Account Switch Service, with conditions on direct debits and deposits.
Read → - Scams & fraud
FCA warns of surge in bank impersonation scams
The regulator and UK Finance warned of an increase in highly convincing scams in which fraudsters pose as a customer's bank using spoofed numbers and stolen personal data.
Read → - Energy & bills
Warm Home Discount eligibility broadened for winter 2026/27
More low-income households will qualify automatically for the £150 winter rebate, with the high-property-cost screen narrowed.
Read → - Tax
EV road tax has been in force for over a year — what changed
Electric vehicles registered after April 2025 now pay standard VED, with the £40,000 'expensive car supplement' adding £410 a year.
Read → - Pensions
Pensions in scope of Inheritance Tax from April 2027
Most unused pension funds will fall within the Inheritance Tax net from April 2027, ending the long-standing 'death benefit' planning advantage.
Read → - Benefits
Universal Credit 'managed migration' enters final phase
Most legacy benefit claimants have now been moved to Universal Credit. Around 600,000 households on Employment Support Allowance remain in the final wave.
Read → - Regulation
PRA consults on raising FSCS deposit protection above £85,000
The Bank of England's Prudential Regulation Authority opened a consultation on increasing the £85,000 per-bank deposit protection limit, unchanged since 2017.
Read → - Benefits
30 funded childcare hours from 9 months: where the scheme stands
The September 2025 expansion is fully bedded in. Providers report continued pressure on places, with codes needing to be renewed every three months.
Read → - Energy & bills
Energy suppliers launch debt relief scheme for arrears
A new industry-funded debt relief mechanism will help households written off energy debts accumulated during the 2022–24 price crisis.
Read → - Banking
NS&I trims Premium Bonds prize fund rate to 3.6%
NS&I cut the Premium Bonds prize fund rate by 0.2 percentage points, reflecting falling rates across the savings market.
Read → - Regulation
Buy-now-pay-later regulation comes into force
BNPL providers are now FCA-authorised, with affordability checks, Section 75 protection on larger purchases, and Ombudsman complaints rights.
Read → - Benefits
Government to review the two-child benefit limit
Ministers confirmed a formal review of the two-child limit on Universal Credit and Child Tax Credit. Any change would not take effect until at least 2027.
Read → - Banking
Over £1.7bn in Child Trust Funds still unclaimed
HMRC estimates around 670,000 young adults aged 18 to 23 still haven't claimed their matured Child Trust Fund, holding an average of £2,200.
Read → - Banking
Variable Recurring Payments roll out beyond pilot in 2026
Open Banking's 'VRP' technology is moving beyond sweeping into commercial use, opening the door to a direct-debit alternative for subscriptions.
Read → - Rates & inflation
Easy-access savings rates drift below 4% as base rate cuts bite
Average easy-access savings rates fell to 3.8% as banks passed on this year's Bank Rate cuts, although the best buys still pay over 4.5%.
Read → - Consumer rights
FCA confirms motor finance redress scheme after Supreme Court ruling
The Financial Conduct Authority will run an industry-wide compensation scheme for undisclosed commission on car finance agreements taken out between 2007 and 2024.
Read → - Scams & fraud
FCA action against unauthorised investment promotions on social media
The regulator brought further enforcement action against unauthorised individuals promoting investments to followers on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube.
Read → - Pensions
Pension Dashboards staged launch begins for large schemes
Larger occupational and personal pension schemes have started connecting to the new dashboards platform, with public launch planned for 2027.
Read → - Tax
Reminder: Marriage Allowance can be backdated four tax years
Couples claiming Marriage Allowance can backdate to 2022/23, worth up to £1,260 in total tax savings.
Read → - Benefits
Scotland's Winter Heating Payment continues in place of Cold Weather Payment
Eligible Scottish households receive a fixed £58.75 payment regardless of temperature, replacing the trigger-based system used elsewhere.
Read → - Tax
VAT registration threshold stays at £90,000
The VAT threshold remains at £90,000, with the deregistration threshold at £88,000, as the government chose not to raise it further in the Spring Statement.
Read → - Tax
Making Tax Digital launches for self-employed earning over £50,000
From this tax year, sole traders and landlords with combined income above £50,000 must keep digital records and submit quarterly updates to HMRC.
Read → - Benefits
Carer's Allowance earnings limit rises to £196 a week
The weekly earnings threshold above which Carer's Allowance is withdrawn rose for the new tax year, with the DWP continuing to review overpayment recovery.
Read → - Tax
High Income Child Benefit Charge threshold stays at £60,000
The April 2024 reform that lifted the HICBC threshold from £50,000 to £60,000 is now baked in, with no change for 2026/27.
Read → - Tax
Income tax thresholds remain frozen until April 2028
The Personal Allowance stays at £12,570 and the higher-rate threshold at £50,270, dragging more workers into higher tax bands through fiscal drift.
Read → - Pensions
State Pension rises 4.1% under triple lock from April
The new full State Pension reached £241.30 a week — an extra £494 a year — under the triple lock formula based on average earnings growth.
Read → - Tax
Council tax bills rise by around 5% across most of England
The vast majority of upper-tier councils raised council tax by the maximum allowed without a referendum, with several given permission to go higher.
Read → - Tax
One year on: Stamp Duty thresholds back to pre-2022 levels
The temporary nil-rate band uplift introduced in 2022 ended a year ago, returning the first-time buyer threshold to £300,000.
Read → - Benefits
National Living Wage rises to £12.21 for over-21s
The 21-and-over hourly minimum increased by 6.7%, with even sharper rises for 18–20-year-olds as the government moves towards a single adult rate.
Read → - Mortgages & housing
Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act provisions take effect
Long-awaited reforms removing ground rents on most new long leases and cutting lease extension costs began to come into force this spring.
Read → - Benefits
Household Support Fund extended through to March 2027
Councils receive a further year of funding to provide crisis grants and energy support to low-income residents, with rules set locally.
Read → - Consumer rights
Reminder: Section 75 still protects credit card spending of £100–£30,000
Despite the rise of debit cards and account-to-account payment, paying any part of a £100–£30,000 purchase on credit card still triggers full Section 75 protection.
Read → - Regulation
FCA publishes first major review of the Consumer Duty
The regulator's first comprehensive look at how firms are applying the Consumer Duty highlighted progress on price and value but ongoing weaknesses in vulnerable customer support.
Read → - Pensions
Auto-enrolment extension to 18-year-olds confirmed for 2027
The age at which employees must be automatically enrolled into a workplace pension is set to drop from 22 to 18, with contributions calculated from the first pound earned.
Read → - Regulation
Lifetime ISA: pressure grows to reform the early withdrawal penalty
Consumer groups and the Treasury Committee continue to call for reform of the 25% LISA withdrawal charge, which can leave savers worse off than they put in.
Read → - Pensions
Lifetime Allowance replacement: lump sum allowance rules clarified
Two years after the Lifetime Allowance was abolished, HMRC published further guidance on the lump sum allowance and lump sum and death benefit allowance.
Read → - Mortgages & housing
First-time buyer numbers rebound in 2025, says UK Finance
Around 354,000 first-time buyer mortgages were completed in 2025, up around 15% on 2024, as rates fell and the post-Stamp Duty rush boosted Q1.
Read → - Regulation
FCA crypto promotion rules: two years on
The financial promotion regime for crypto assets has been in force for over two years. Many firms have left the UK market; others have complied.
Read → - Tax
Self Assessment: 96% filed on time, HMRC reports
HMRC said 11.5 million tax returns were filed by the 31 January deadline, with around 600,000 missing it and facing an automatic £100 penalty.
Read → - Consumer rights
Broadband mid-contract price rises now in pounds and pence
Ofcom's new rules require providers to state any in-contract price rises as a single £-per-month figure at the point of sale, rather than as a CPI-linked formula.
Read →