Aspect Mortgages Blog 6: December 2025

Top Tips to Start 2026 In-Pocket and Ahead of the Pack

Is it too early to mention Christmas? Whichever traditions you celebrate, or don’t, the turning of the year makes “Smarter, not Harder” even more key when you’re juggling. So this blog collects our top winter tips together to start your 2026 ahead of the pack and better in pocket. On top of the budget? Looking at everything homes, moving, mortgages and more, we’ll be all over it for you, and make sure you read down to make a note of our festive period office hours and support.

Your Top Three Winter Money-Saving Mortgage and Moving Hacks

Winter’s dropping temperatures and dark nights make it a time of higher utility bills for most of us. Coupled with our body’s seasonal urge to hibernate, it’s easy to emerge in spring to big bills or increased direct debits. But putting a few at-home evenings to good use, just a little canny reviewing of finances, mortgage terms and options can pay dividends- literally. The sofa is still your friend- just open your laptop and have a look at our three top-tip winter savings with long-term benefits:

· Is your fixed mortgage rate ending in 2026? Up to half of customers on a fixed rate deal fail to switch when it ends, resulting in a typical £1,240 minimum overpayment per year. We reckon that money’s better off in your account than your lender’s, so don’t miss that deadline- or give us a call and let us do the work for you. As independent mortgage advisors, we have access to the very latest deals, and no obligation other than finding the best or you.

· Dreaming of a sunny spring homemove? You’re not the only one, and it’s the early bird who’ll secure the best nest at the best rate! Most mortgage Agreements In Principle are valid for between 2 – 6 months, so securing yours now means you know exactly what finances you have available, and once you’ve found your dream property, in a much more attractively secure position for sellers to say yes.

· Making the most of your mortgage overpayment deadline? Even small overpayments can add up to big savings. With the deadline for many lenders December 31st, make sure you’re getting the benefit of your full annual overpayment allowance without penalty. Dig out that paperwork, contact your lender, or if you’ve an Aspect-arranged mortgage, let us do all that while you enjoy a cuppa instead!

Heads-Up on the Autumn Budget

The new 2025 Autumn Budget delivered by Rachel Reeves brings material headwinds for high-value homeowners. The headline move: a confirmed “mansion tax” — a new recurring surcharge on homes valued above £2 million, set to start from April 2028, on top of existing council tax bills. For those in the top tiers of the housing market, this increases the ongoing cost of ownership significantly and may factor into decisions around holding or selling such properties.

“Buy-to-let” landlords and property investors also face tougher burdens. From April 2027, income tax on rental income will rise by two percentage points — a change announced with the Budget. That’s likely to squeeze landlord profit margins, which could in turn push up rents or dampen appetite for rental investment. For would-be buyers looking at investment properties, this alters the return calculus — and might shift strategies toward owner-occupation, rather than buy-to-let.

Aspect Christmas Hours

We’re all about work-life balance at Aspect, so our advisors are enjoying a well-earned break over the festive season. Our last office day is Friday 19th December, and we reopen on Monday January 5th. However, we will be available by email and mobile across the office closure, so if you have any queries about your services with us over this time, please do get in touch and we’ll get back to you.

Now we’re really feeling the festive spirit, so it’s off to Chorley’s fantastic town centre Winter Wonderland- give us a wave if you see us on the ice rink! You’ll always find a warm welcome for all your homemoving, mortgage and insurance advice and more, so don’t hesitate to call us for friendly chat on 01257 812345, drop us an email [email protected] or call in. Christmas, Hanukkah, Winter Solstice, the beginning of the Three Holy Months, full moon, Yule; whatever your celebrations or turn of the year reflections, we wish you a peaceful end to 2025 and bright beginnings for 2026.

Best wishes, Rachel, Richard and all at Aspect Mortgage