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General educational information only, not financial advice.

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How we work

Our editorial policy

Every Mortgage Owl guide aims to be accurate, up to date and easy to understand. This page explains how we research, write and maintain our content.

Our standards at a glance

Written bySteve, founder of Mortgage Owl (about Steve)
CheckedAgainst official and authoritative UK sources
ReviewedAt least once every 12 months, and sooner when things change
FundingNo payments from lenders or advisers
NotPersonal advice. We don't recommend or arrange mortgages.
Our authors

Who writes our guides

Our guides are written by Steve, founder of Mortgage Owl, who is training to become a mortgage adviser and is currently studying CeMAP Module 1.

How we use AI: We use AI tools to help with research and first drafts. Every guide is checked, edited and approved by Steve, and every fact is checked against the sources below before it's published.
Our sources

How we research

We check facts, figures and rules against official and authoritative UK sources, for example:

Bank of England – Bank Rate and housing data
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) – mortgage rules and consumer protection
MoneyHelper – the government-backed money guidance service
HM Revenue & Customs and GOV.UK – Stamp Duty Land Tax, the Lifetime ISA and other schemes
UK Finance – lending data
HM Land Registry – house price data
Our style

How we write

Plain English, with any jargon explained the first time it appears.
Worked examples using realistic, illustrative UK numbers.
Balanced information on the pros and cons of each option.
No pressure to sign up for anything, and no promises about rates or approval.
Staying accurate

Keeping guides up to date

Guides

Mortgage rules, rates and schemes change. Each guide shows the date it was last updated.

We review our guides at least once every 12 months, and sooner when something important changes, such as a Bank Rate decision or a Budget announcement.

News bulletins

Mortgage News bulletins describe things as they stand on the date shown.

We update a bulletin when something important changes, and say so at the top.

Corrections

If you spot something wrong or out of date, please tell us through our Ask a Question page. We'll check it, correct it promptly and update the "Last updated" date.

Transparency

Independence and how we're funded

Our content is not paid for or written by lenders. Our guides, calculators and reminders are free, and Mortgage Owl doesn't currently receive any payment from lenders or advisers.

If that changes, for example if we introduce you to an FCA-authorised adviser with your permission, we'll tell you first, including any payment we'd receive. If a page ever includes affiliate links, we'll label them clearly. This never influences what we write or which options we explain.

Not personal advice

Our articles and guides are general educational information only. They are not regulated financial advice and do not take your personal circumstances into account. Mortgage Owl is not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority and doesn't recommend or arrange mortgages.

Always speak to a qualified mortgage adviser before making a decision. You can check an adviser is authorised on the FCA Register.

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

Steve Neville, founder of Mortgage Owl
Who's behind Mortgage Owl

Hi, I'm Steve. After 15 years in the police and 15 in the merchant navy, I'm training as a mortgage adviser. Every guide is written in plain English and checked against official sources.

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Important: Mortgage Owl provides general educational information only. It is not regulated financial advice and doesn't take your personal circumstances into account. Mortgage Owl is not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority and doesn't recommend or arrange mortgages. For a personal recommendation, speak to an FCA-authorised mortgage adviser. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

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