Released today, the latest BSA Property Tracker survey results reveal that:

• The Chancellor’s move to abolish Stamp Duty for first-time buyers has been well received, although Stamp Duty remains a relatively low-level concern for home buyers
   
• A greater proportion of consumers feel now is not a good time to buy property than feel it is a good time – for the third quarter in a row.
   
• People are more concerned about potential risks to the housing market, including an increase in the cost of living and Brexit

• Date: 13 December 2017

Commenting on the Chancellor’s housing proposals, Andrew Gall, Chief Economist at the Building Societies Association said:

“Much of what the Chancellor said moved the housing debate in the right direction...

• Date: 22 November 2017

Released today, lending and savings figures from the BSA show that building societies approved 29% of all new mortgages in Q3 2017, and savers deposited £1.3 billion in building society accounts.

• Date: 20 November 2017

Speaking at the BSA Annual Lunch, BSA Chairman, Jonathan Westhoff, gave an update on sector action for older borrowers on the second anniversary of the first BSA report

Almost 60,000¹ mortgages were written in the first 6 months of 2017 which will mature when the borrower is 65 or older, a 45% increase on the same time in 2015...

• Date: 15 November 2017

The Building Societies Association is proud to have signed up to the Women in Finance Charter.

• Date: 10 November 2017

The Building Societies Association (BSA); the Tax Incentivised Savings Association (TISA) and UK Finance committed that for 2017, a minimum of 80% of cash ISA transfers would be completed within seven working days...

• Date: 10 November 2017

Facts, figures and comment relating to the 0.25% Bank Rate increase today, 2 November 2017.

Building societies have over 23 million members (customers) and in the first half of 2017 they approved around 225,000 new mortgages, gross lending was just over £31 billion.  Over the same 6 months, savers were better off by £380m in total iwith a building society, compared to the big banks.   

• Date: 02 November 2017

Released today, the latest BSA Property Tracker survey results reveal that:

- Households continue to worry about the rising cost of living and their ability to save

- Consumer confidence in home purchasing remains subdued

• Date: 27 September 2017

The BSA welcomes the publication of the FCA’s Ageing Population and Financial Services paper today.  It represents an important first step by the regulator in encouraging the lending community to respond to the changing demographics by broadening the range of products available to those in or nearing retirement.

• Date: 21 September 2017

Commenting Paul Broadhead, Head of Mortgage Policy at the BSA said:

“The increase in newly built homes being sold on a leasehold basis is rarely to the benefit of homebuyers, so the Government’s focus on protecting consumers in this area is encouraging...

• Date: 19 September 2017

Developments in the wider economy are making it more challenging for homebuyers and savers. Building societies continue to support both groups, and maintained a high market share of new mortgage lending and savings in the second quarter of 2017.

• Date: 14 August 2017

The Building Societies Association (BSA); the Tax Incentivised Savings Association (TISA) and UK Finance (UKF) committed that for 2017, a minimum of 80% of cash ISA transfers would be completed within seven working days.

• Date: 04 August 2017