Another year has passed us by with the UK interest rates still being held  at 0.5% for another month by the Bank of England. As we head towards Easter, property investors will have more on their minds this year than gathering up their Easter Eggs.

With the changes announced last year associated with charging income tax for rental properties along with the proposed 3% Stamp Duty and Land Tax (SDLT) changes to BTL/second homes, the mortgage market is bracing itself for a busy and challenging couple of months.

If you are looking to submit a mortgage application during February on a property purchase subject to the new SDLT charges, there is a likelihood that you may be unable to complete before 1st April. If the deal and avoiding the SDLT is that important then perhaps you should consider a cash/bridging purchase.