Mortgages

If your mortgage lender's told you you "can't afford" to move to a cheaper deal because of new affordability checks, there's fresh hope after one MoneySaver agreed a £3,600 saving thanks to our campaign. Here's how they did it – and what to try if you're in the same situation.

Plans to give homeowners the option of switching their mortgage provider within just one week are being considered by the Government, as part of an effort to make switching easier for consumers across a range of sectors.

George Osborne has written to mortgage lenders following a meeting with MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis last week about the plight of so-called 'mortgage prisoners'. However, Martin believes the Chancellor's letter only addresses "a fraction of the problem".

The financial regulator has admitted mortgage lenders "could be more proactive" in making sure homeowners don't become so-called 'mortgage prisoners', who are told they can't afford a cheaper mortgage deal. But its report published today stops short of outlining any concrete proposals to fix the problem.

Millions of private tenants can boost their credit rating by opting in to a new scheme that records if you pay rent on time and sends the results to credit reference agency giant Experian.