Money news: page 10
- January 2026
Breathing Space registrations fall 39% year on year
Breathing Space registrations fell 39% year on year to 5,008 in January 2026, the Insolvency Service has said, after the largest money advisor group changed its eligibility and suitability criteria.
Debt charities report unprecedented demand after Christmas
Major debt charities reported unprecedented numbers of people seeking help with debts in early January 2026, as a survey found over 4 million UK households in serious financial difficulties.
Government publishes draft leasehold reform legislation
Draft legislation published in January 2026 would cap ground rents at £250 a year, ban leaseholds for most new flats and create a commonhold conversion route, with law possible from 2027.
PIP waiting times reach 20 weeks, highest in almost four years
Average waits for a new Personal Independence Payment decision have reached 20 weeks, the longest in almost four years, with more than 710,000 people waiting for an outcome as of January 2026.
- December 2025
Councils gain increased investigation powers under the Renters' Rights Act 2025
Councils in England have had increased investigation powers since 27 December 2025 to request documents, access third-party data and inspect properties in the private rented sector.
First changes under the Renters' Rights Act take effect
The Renters' Rights Act became law in October 2025 and some of its changes took effect from 27 December 2025, with the first phase of wider rules due from 1 May 2026.
Welsh Government publishes flood insurance consultation report
The Flood and Coastal Erosion Committee has published a consultation report and proposals on flood insurance in Wales, setting out a Welsh perspective on Insurance and Flood Re.
FCA launches firm checker tool to help consumers avoid scams
The Financial Conduct Authority has launched a new firm checker tool so consumers can confirm whether a financial services firm is authorised and holds permission to sell products and services.
FCA and PSR jointly respond to HM Treasury's payments regulation recommendations
The FCA and the Payment Systems Regulator have jointly answered HM Treasury's November 2024 recommendations on payments regulation, publishing their response on 17 December 2025.
November 2025 UK consumer price inflation time series published
The Office for National Statistics has published its November 2025 time series of UK consumer price inflation measures, covering CPIH, CPI and RPI, as accredited official statistics.
FCA publishes Mortgage Rule Review Feedback Statement and Roadmap with 2026 consultation areas
The FCA has published its Mortgage Rule Review Feedback Statement and Roadmap, setting out targeted reforms for first-time buyers and the self-employed and areas for consultation in 2026.
Consumer Scotland responds to FCA consultation on motor finance consumer redress scheme
Consumer Scotland has told the FCA's motor finance redress consultation that compensation should match court levels, that the scheme must be free to access and that lenders should chase customers.
Motor Insurance Taskforce final report published without action on low-income households
The Motor Insurance Taskforce has published its final report, and Fair By Design says it leaves low-income households facing the highest car insurance charges without action on targeted discounts.
FCA launches Firm Checker tool
The Financial Conduct Authority has launched Firm Checker, a tool for consumers to confirm whether a financial services firm is authorised and holds the permissions it needs, aimed at helping people avoid scams.
Government publishes Child Poverty Strategy
The government has published its Child Poverty Strategy, Our Children, Our Future, restating the removal of the two-child limit on Universal Credit and setting out measures on child maintenance, childcare and family incomes.
Resolution Foundation corrects Budget special welfare spending figure
The Resolution Foundation has corrected its Budget analysis, saying welfare policy over this Parliament cuts spending by £0.5 billion in 2029-30 rather than increasing it by £0.7 billion.
Announcement that the 2-child limit will end from April 2026
The Department for Work and Pensions has confirmed that the Universal Credit two-child limit will end from April 2026, with the extra child amount paid for every child from that point.
FCA confirms complaints pause will end on 31 May 2026
The Financial Conduct Authority has confirmed that the pause on firms handling motor finance commission complaints will end on 31 May 2026, with lenders then required to respond to complaints.
30 free hours childcare extended in England
From September 2025 eligible working parents in England can claim 30 hours of free childcare a week for children aged nine months to school age, extended from the previous 15 hours.
Administrators to stop all Premier Insurance policies
Administrators of the failed Gibraltar-based insurer Premier Insurance plan to stop all remaining policies on 1 December 2025, leaving thousands of mainly motor customers needing new cover.
Business and personal Standards of Lending Practice ended in 2025
The Lending Standards Board's business and personal Standards of Lending Practice both ended in 2025 as the body wound down, after the CRM Code closed in 2024 and the Access to Banking Standard in 2021.
Capita due to take over administration of the Civil Service Pension Scheme
Capita began administering the Civil Service Pension Scheme in December 2025 under a contract awarded in 2023, and a backlog of 120,000 cases has left some members waiting for payments.
Consumer credit borrowing slowed in December 2025
Bank of England figures show net consumer credit borrowing fell to £1.5 billion in December from £2.1 billion in November, with credit card borrowing down to £0.7 billion.
DWP to send all migration notices by end of December 2025
The Department for Work and Pensions has said all migration notices should be sent by the end of December 2025, with the managed migration process completed by Spring 2026.
ESA claimants to be invited to claim Universal Credit by end of 2025
People still receiving income-related Employment and Support Allowance will be invited to claim Universal Credit by the end of 2025, according to Age UK's record of benefits changes.
FCA aims to finalise new advice rules by end of 2025
The Financial Conduct Authority says it aims to finalise rules on targeted support and simplified advice by the end of 2025, with targeted support scheduled to launch in March 2026.
High-cost-to-heat threshold removed for Warm Home Discount in England and Wales for winter 2025/26
The high-cost-to-heat test for Warm Home Discount eligibility in England and Wales was removed for winter 2025/26, with around 6 million households estimated to receive the £150 rebate.
HSBC Life (UK) Limited acquired by Chesnara plc and renamed Chesnara Life (UK) Ltd
HSBC Life (UK) Limited has been bought by Chesnara plc and renamed Chesnara Life (UK) Ltd, with policyholders and advisers notified by letter or email during December 2025 and January 2026.
Mortgage approvals for house purchase fell in December 2025 while remortgaging approvals rose
Bank of England data show net mortgage approvals for house purchase fell by 3,100 to 61,000 in December 2025, while remortgaging approvals rose by 1,600 to 38,400.
Planned PIP eligibility changes postponed from November 2026
The government has dropped plans to tighten the daily living scoring rules for Personal Independence Payment from November 2026, replacing them with a wider review of the benefit.