Latest news with #Uswitch
Metro
30-05-2025
- Business
- Metro
Credit doesn't have to be risky – here's how to use it smartly
Many of us are frightened of borrowing money, whether on a credit card or through a loan or mortgage, with a recent survey from comparison site Uswitch showing that a third of young people view credit cards as 'potential debt traps'. But used correctly, credit can help you to build your credit score, manage your cashflow and even end up with more money at the end of the month. Here's how to make credit a friend, not a foe. All of us need to know how we're doing financially, so if you're making a big purchase or need to borrow money, ask yourself first why you're doing it and if you can afford it. Remember, it's normal to consider finance for big purchases such as houses or cars, with 9 in 10 cars requiring financing and only a third of homeowners not having a mortgage. Many people also use credit for smaller purchases, for many reasons. Just make sure you go through your budget, understand what you can afford and what the payments will be. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Understanding the benefits and rates of different types of credit will help you to be less scared of using it, and to set it up to your advantage. Potential benefits include: Extra time: Credit cards and buy now pay later (BNPL) schemes don't cost you anything in interest as long as you pay on time. Credit cards and buy now pay later (BNPL) schemes don't cost you anything in interest as long as you pay on time. Reward points and cashback: There can be perks such as frequent flyer miles, Nectar points and cash. There can be perks such as frequent flyer miles, Nectar points and cash. Credit score building: All credit card providers, and some BNPL options such as Zilch, report your regular payments of debt to credit rating agencies. This means that if you pay back debt regularly to them, your credit score will increase, not decrease, because lenders can see you are responsible with money. Having a good credit score makes it easier to get mortgages and other deals. All credit card providers, and some BNPL options such as Zilch, report your regular payments of debt to credit rating agencies. This means that if you pay back debt regularly to them, your credit score will increase, not decrease, because lenders can see you are responsible with money. Having a good credit score makes it easier to get mortgages and other deals. Consumer protection: Credit cards and Zilch offer Section 75 protection, which means if you buy something over £100, the provider is also liable if a firm goes bust or goods are faulty. Knowing you have a plan to pay back any credit you've taken out means there should be no fear factor in using it. That means keeping a diary record of when payments need to be made, putting aside money in a separate account or savings pot to make payments on BNPL schemes and setting up direct debits to pay off cards in full every month unless they have an interest-free period. More Trending Always make the minimum payment on any debt, as not doing so will ruin your credit rating and remove any interest-free period you have on a card. If you can get credit for a longer period and use that to spend, then your savings can stay in your account earning money for longer. This is a process known as 'stoozing' and it isn't for everyone, but if you're clever you can make money on your own cash while using credit for free. If you're doing this, make sure your own money is earning the highest interest possible (use Moneyfacts Compare to check the highest rates on cash savings) and always pay back your debt before any interest-free period ends. View More » Credit can be a powerful friend but if you get into trouble with it, debt can cost you dearly. Charities such as StepChange and Citizens Advice can help if you are struggling with debt. MORE: This skincare product completely transformed my skin – I get everyone to use it! MORE: Readers say spitting men can jog on along with racists and dogs on trains MORE: Live jazz, dinner and drinks in Mayfair: 10 unmissable Time Out deals
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Half a million UK households face £510 monthly mortgage increase
Mortgage deals under 4% are quickly vanishing as lenders adjust to higher inflation and lower expectations that the Bank of England (BoE) will cut rates aggressively this year, while almost half a million homeowners face a £510 monthly rise as five-year fixed mortgage deals end. The average rate for a two-year fixed mortgage stands at 4.90%, while five-year fixed deals average 5.24%, according to data from Uswitch. The Bank of England has cut interest rates from 4.5% to 4.25%, meaning the average homeowner on a tracker mortgage will see their monthly repayments fall by nearly £29, after the quarter-point snip to the base rate. However, nearly half a million UK homeowners who secured mortgages at the height of the pandemic are now bracing for a steep rise in monthly payments, as their five-year fixed-rate deals end amid significantly higher interest rates. Research from price comparison site Compare the Market shows that 469,192 borrowers who took out mortgages in 2020, when the average fixed interest rate stood at 2.11%, could see their monthly repayments surge by hundreds of pounds if they revert to their lender's standard variable rate (SVR). Based on current market conditions, borrowers transitioning to an SVR, now averaging 7.13% according to the latest Bank of England data, would face average monthly payments of £1,227. That marks a £510 increase from the £717 they paid under their original fixed-rate terms, assuming an average mortgage debt of £178,523. Annually, this equates to a jump from £9,195 to £15,319 — an increase of nearly 67%. For many, the transition to higher monthly payments is expected to strain household budgets grappling with rising living costs. Financial advisers are urging borrowers nearing the end of fixed-rate periods to explore remortgaging options and avoid automatically slipping into more expensive SVRs, which are often significantly higher than alternative deals available on the market. L&C Mortgages associate director David Hollingworth said: 'There could be temptation to wait in the hope of lower rates to come but that carries the risk of falling onto a sky high standard variable rate. With uncertainty in the market, rates are constantly moving and some have edged back up, so it can be a confusing time for borrowers.' 'Seeking advice in good time will allow homeowners to secure a deal, protecting against any turnaround in pricing but still having the chance to review before the switch and take advantage of lower rates, if there is further improvement.' Read more: The pros and cons of getting a mortgage in your 70s The primary inflation measure, the Consumer Price Index (CPI), stood at 3.5% in the 12 months to April, a higher-than-expected increase from the previous month. That means price increases are moving away from the BoE's 2% target. This week, no major lender cut rates, with the majority hiking mortgages for first-time buyers as the market moves away from the mini price war that pushed deals deep into under-4% territory. A new mortgage has been launched offering the chance to borrow 100% of a property's value. Gable Mortgages provides home loans that don't require the borrower to deposit. It follows April Mortgages' launch of a similar 100% product. HSBC (HSBA.L) has a 3.93% rate for a five-year deal, unchanged from the previous week. For those with a Premier Standard account with the lender, this rate is 3.90%. Looking at the two-year options, the lowest rate is 3.86% with a £999 fee, also unchanged from the previous week. Both cases assume a 60% loan-to-value (LTV) mortgage, meaning buyers need to have at least 40% for a deposit. HSBC offers 95% LTV deals, meaning you only need to save for a 5% deposit. However, the rates are much higher, with a two-year fix at 4.97% or 4.81% for a five-year fix. This is because their financial situation and deposit size determine the rate someone can get. The larger the deposit, the lower the LTV, allowing buyers to access better deals because lenders consider them less risky. NatWest's (NWG.L) five-year deal is 3.99% with a £1,495 fee, higher than last week's 3.88%. The cheapest two-year fix deal is 3.94%, again higher than last week's 3.88% deal. You'll need at least a 40% deposit to qualify for the rates in both cases. At Santander (BNC.L), a five-year fix is 3.93% for first-time buyers, higher than the previous 3.91%. It has a £999 fee, assuming a 40% deposit. Read more: Average first-time buyers in London need almost £140,000 for a deposit. For a two-year deal, customers can also secure a 3.90% offer, with the same £999 fee, higher than the previous 3.87%. Barclays (BARC.L) was the first among major lenders to bring back under-4% deals and currently has a five-year fix at 3.89%, unchanged from last week. For "premier" clients, this rate drops to 3.88%. The lowest for two-year mortgage deals is 3.87%, also unchanged. Barclays has launched a mortgage proposition to help new and existing customers access larger loans when purchasing a home. The initiative, known as Mortgage Boost, enables family members or friends to effectively "boost" the amount that can be borrowed toward a property without needing to lend or gift money directly or provide a larger deposit. Under the scheme, a borrower's eligibility for a mortgage can increase significantly by including a family member or friend on the application. For example, an individual with a £37,500 annual income and a £30,000 deposit might traditionally be able to borrow up to £168,375, enabling them to purchase a home priced at around £198,375. However, with Mortgage Boost, the total borrowing potential can rise substantially if a second person, such as a parent, joins the application. In this case, if the second applicant also earns £37,500 a year, the combined income could push the borrowing limit to £270,000, enabling the buyer to afford a home worth up to £300,000. Nationwide's (NBS.L) lowest mortgage rate for first-time buyers is 4.19% for a five-year fix, higher than last week's 4.09%. First-time buyers are currently looking at 3.99% for a two-year fix, again higher than the previous 3.94%. Read more: UK sellers offer £16,000 discount on average to secure house sale The lender has announced adjusting its mortgage affordability calculation by reducing stress rates by 0.75 and 1.25 percentage points, helping applicants borrow more, whether buying a first home, moving, or remortgaging. Applicants can borrow, on average, £28,000 more; however, in some remortgage cases, customers could borrow up to £42,600 more. Nationwide is reducing its standard stress rate and the rate applied to eligible first-time buyers and home movers fixing their deal for at least five years. Halifax, the UK's biggest mortgage lender, offers a five-year rate of 4.03% (also 60% LTV), higher than last week's 3.93%. The lender, owned by Lloyds (LLOY.L), offers a two-year fixed rate deal at 3.97%, with a £999 fee for first-time buyers, more than the previous 3.87%. It also offers a 10-year deal with a mortgage rate of 4.78%. Read more: How to choose where to live as you get older Halifax has enhanced its five-year fixed mortgage products by increasing borrowing capacity. This improvement allows borrowers to access up to £38,000 more, enabling them to secure larger mortgages based on individual incomes. Rachel Springall, finance expert at Moneyfacts, said: "The flourishing choice of low-deposit mortgages will no doubt be welcomed by borrowers looking to remortgage or are a first-time buyer. "The government has been clear that it wants lenders to do more to boost UK growth, and so a rise in product availability for aspiring homeowners is a healthy step in the right direction." As providers start hiking rates, prospective homeowners are quickly running out of good options. Barclays' (BARC.L) 3.89% is currently the cheapest deal for five-year fixes, while HSBC (HSBA.L) offers the most affordable deal for two-year fixes at 3.86%, though access requires a hefty 40% deposit. The average UK house price is £297,781, so a 40% deposit equals about £120,000. A growing number of homeowners in the UK are opting for 35-year or longer mortgage terms, with a significant rise in older borrowers stretching their repayment periods well into their 70s. Read more: Odds of more Bank of England interest rate cuts fall as food inflation rises Lender April Mortgages offers buyers the chance to borrow up to six times their income on loans fixed for five to 15 years, from a deposit of 5%. Both those buying alone and those buying with others can apply for the mortgage. As part of the independent Dutch asset manager DMFCO, the company offers interest rates starting at 5.20% and an application fee of £195. Skipton Building Society has also said it would allow first-time buyers to borrow up to 5.5 times their income to help more borrowers get on the housing ladder. Leeds Building Society is increasing the maximum amount that first-time buyers can potentially borrow as a multiple of their earnings with the launch of a new mortgage range. Aspiring homeowners with a minimum household income of £40,000 may now be able to borrow up to 5.5 times their earnings. Mortgage holders and borrowers have faced record-high repayments in recent years, as the Bank of England's base rate has been passed on by banks and building societies. According to UK Finance, 1.3 million fixed mortgage deals are set to end in 2025. Many homeowners will hope the Bank of England acts quickly to cut rates more aggressively. At the same time, savers will likely root for rates to remain at or near their current levels. Read more: 9 coastal homes a stone's throw from the beach How to get your children to move out Home renovation mistakes and how to avoid them
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Half a million UK households face £510 monthly mortgage increase
Mortgage deals under 4% are quickly vanishing as lenders adjust to higher inflation and lower expectations that the Bank of England (BoE) will cut rates aggressively this year, while almost half a million homeowners face a £510 monthly rise as five-year fixed mortgage deals end. The average rate for a two-year fixed mortgage stands at 4.90%, while five-year fixed deals average 5.24%, according to data from Uswitch. The Bank of England has cut interest rates from 4.5% to 4.25%, meaning the average homeowner on a tracker mortgage will see their monthly repayments fall by nearly £29, after the quarter-point snip to the base rate. However, nearly half a million UK homeowners who secured mortgages at the height of the pandemic are now bracing for a steep rise in monthly payments, as their five-year fixed-rate deals end amid significantly higher interest rates. Research from price comparison site Compare the Market shows that 469,192 borrowers who took out mortgages in 2020, when the average fixed interest rate stood at 2.11%, could see their monthly repayments surge by hundreds of pounds if they revert to their lender's standard variable rate (SVR). Based on current market conditions, borrowers transitioning to an SVR, now averaging 7.13% according to the latest Bank of England data, would face average monthly payments of £1,227. That marks a £510 increase from the £717 they paid under their original fixed-rate terms, assuming an average mortgage debt of £178,523. Annually, this equates to a jump from £9,195 to £15,319 — an increase of nearly 67%. For many, the transition to higher monthly payments is expected to strain household budgets grappling with rising living costs. Financial advisers are urging borrowers nearing the end of fixed-rate periods to explore remortgaging options and avoid automatically slipping into more expensive SVRs, which are often significantly higher than alternative deals available on the market. L&C Mortgages associate director David Hollingworth said: 'There could be temptation to wait in the hope of lower rates to come but that carries the risk of falling onto a sky high standard variable rate. With uncertainty in the market, rates are constantly moving and some have edged back up, so it can be a confusing time for borrowers.' 'Seeking advice in good time will allow homeowners to secure a deal, protecting against any turnaround in pricing but still having the chance to review before the switch and take advantage of lower rates, if there is further improvement.' Read more: The pros and cons of getting a mortgage in your 70s The primary inflation measure, the Consumer Price Index (CPI), stood at 3.5% in the 12 months to April, a higher-than-expected increase from the previous month. That means price increases are moving away from the BoE's 2% target. This week, no major lender cut rates, with the majority hiking mortgages for first-time buyers as the market moves away from the mini price war that pushed deals deep into under-4% territory. A new mortgage has been launched offering the chance to borrow 100% of a property's value. Gable Mortgages provides home loans that don't require the borrower to deposit. It follows April Mortgages' launch of a similar 100% product. HSBC (HSBA.L) has a 3.93% rate for a five-year deal, unchanged from the previous week. For those with a Premier Standard account with the lender, this rate is 3.90%. Looking at the two-year options, the lowest rate is 3.86% with a £999 fee, also unchanged from the previous week. Both cases assume a 60% loan-to-value (LTV) mortgage, meaning buyers need to have at least 40% for a deposit. HSBC offers 95% LTV deals, meaning you only need to save for a 5% deposit. However, the rates are much higher, with a two-year fix at 4.97% or 4.81% for a five-year fix. This is because their financial situation and deposit size determine the rate someone can get. The larger the deposit, the lower the LTV, allowing buyers to access better deals because lenders consider them less risky. NatWest's (NWG.L) five-year deal is 3.99% with a £1,495 fee, higher than last week's 3.88%. The cheapest two-year fix deal is 3.94%, again higher than last week's 3.88% deal. You'll need at least a 40% deposit to qualify for the rates in both cases. At Santander (BNC.L), a five-year fix is 3.93% for first-time buyers, higher than the previous 3.91%. It has a £999 fee, assuming a 40% deposit. Read more: Average first-time buyers in London need almost £140,000 for a deposit. For a two-year deal, customers can also secure a 3.90% offer, with the same £999 fee, higher than the previous 3.87%. Barclays (BARC.L) was the first among major lenders to bring back under-4% deals and currently has a five-year fix at 3.89%, unchanged from last week. For "premier" clients, this rate drops to 3.88%. The lowest for two-year mortgage deals is 3.87%, also unchanged. Barclays has launched a mortgage proposition to help new and existing customers access larger loans when purchasing a home. The initiative, known as Mortgage Boost, enables family members or friends to effectively "boost" the amount that can be borrowed toward a property without needing to lend or gift money directly or provide a larger deposit. Under the scheme, a borrower's eligibility for a mortgage can increase significantly by including a family member or friend on the application. For example, an individual with a £37,500 annual income and a £30,000 deposit might traditionally be able to borrow up to £168,375, enabling them to purchase a home priced at around £198,375. However, with Mortgage Boost, the total borrowing potential can rise substantially if a second person, such as a parent, joins the application. In this case, if the second applicant also earns £37,500 a year, the combined income could push the borrowing limit to £270,000, enabling the buyer to afford a home worth up to £300,000. Nationwide's (NBS.L) lowest mortgage rate for first-time buyers is 4.19% for a five-year fix, higher than last week's 4.09%. First-time buyers are currently looking at 3.99% for a two-year fix, again higher than the previous 3.94%. Read more: UK sellers offer £16,000 discount on average to secure house sale The lender has announced adjusting its mortgage affordability calculation by reducing stress rates by 0.75 and 1.25 percentage points, helping applicants borrow more, whether buying a first home, moving, or remortgaging. Applicants can borrow, on average, £28,000 more; however, in some remortgage cases, customers could borrow up to £42,600 more. Nationwide is reducing its standard stress rate and the rate applied to eligible first-time buyers and home movers fixing their deal for at least five years. Halifax, the UK's biggest mortgage lender, offers a five-year rate of 4.03% (also 60% LTV), higher than last week's 3.93%. The lender, owned by Lloyds (LLOY.L), offers a two-year fixed rate deal at 3.97%, with a £999 fee for first-time buyers, more than the previous 3.87%. It also offers a 10-year deal with a mortgage rate of 4.78%. Read more: How to choose where to live as you get older Halifax has enhanced its five-year fixed mortgage products by increasing borrowing capacity. This improvement allows borrowers to access up to £38,000 more, enabling them to secure larger mortgages based on individual incomes. Rachel Springall, finance expert at Moneyfacts, said: "The flourishing choice of low-deposit mortgages will no doubt be welcomed by borrowers looking to remortgage or are a first-time buyer. "The government has been clear that it wants lenders to do more to boost UK growth, and so a rise in product availability for aspiring homeowners is a healthy step in the right direction." As providers start hiking rates, prospective homeowners are quickly running out of good options. Barclays' (BARC.L) 3.89% is currently the cheapest deal for five-year fixes, while HSBC (HSBA.L) offers the most affordable deal for two-year fixes at 3.86%, though access requires a hefty 40% deposit. The average UK house price is £297,781, so a 40% deposit equals about £120,000. A growing number of homeowners in the UK are opting for 35-year or longer mortgage terms, with a significant rise in older borrowers stretching their repayment periods well into their 70s. Read more: Odds of more Bank of England interest rate cuts fall as food inflation rises Lender April Mortgages offers buyers the chance to borrow up to six times their income on loans fixed for five to 15 years, from a deposit of 5%. Both those buying alone and those buying with others can apply for the mortgage. As part of the independent Dutch asset manager DMFCO, the company offers interest rates starting at 5.20% and an application fee of £195. Skipton Building Society has also said it would allow first-time buyers to borrow up to 5.5 times their income to help more borrowers get on the housing ladder. Leeds Building Society is increasing the maximum amount that first-time buyers can potentially borrow as a multiple of their earnings with the launch of a new mortgage range. Aspiring homeowners with a minimum household income of £40,000 may now be able to borrow up to 5.5 times their earnings. Mortgage holders and borrowers have faced record-high repayments in recent years, as the Bank of England's base rate has been passed on by banks and building societies. According to UK Finance, 1.3 million fixed mortgage deals are set to end in 2025. Many homeowners will hope the Bank of England acts quickly to cut rates more aggressively. At the same time, savers will likely root for rates to remain at or near their current levels. Read more: 9 coastal homes a stone's throw from the beach How to get your children to move out Home renovation mistakes and how to avoid themSign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Energy bills: How to make sure you find the cheapest deal
Regulator Ofgem confirmed the energy price cap is coming down from July with around a seven per cent drop, meaning average bills could fall by £129. While the usual reminders apply about the price cap relating to charges for units of energy, rather than maximum bills, it's still a big boost for households after April's rises in council tax and other costs. Ofgem's last increase came around the same time, which contributed to overall inflation in the UK increasing to 3.5 per cent in April. This is likely to have the knock-on effect of seeing interest rates remain higher for longer than anticipated. All the same, the impending reduction in energy bills will be welcome - and if you shop around rather than sticking with whatever your current provider immediately offers, there's a fair chance you could save more than £129 off your upcoming bills. If your deal is ending soon, your current provider will give you options to switch to their best tariffs, but they might not be the cheapest or most suitable ones for you overall. There are a number of options for you to begin your search, however, which don't take up too much time and could save you plenty in the long run. To start with, Uswitch should be your first port of call: enter your address, confirm your current provider, enter your email address and get the best options they have in their database. Uswitch has been running for 25 years and works closely with Ofgem to include everything consumers need to know - and they'll even do the switching for you if you find the right tariff on their site. Alternative options are GoCompare and Which?, while a less well-known site is WattsWatt - a new, privately run checker website which promises to find the cheapest energy tariff for you based on your postcode. One extra tip to save even more money: some browser add-ons or cashback sites like Quidco will sometimes offer you an extra percentage of your money back if you log in before buying. Right now on Uswitch, for example, you can get up to £26 back through Quidco if you complete a transaction to change your energy provider there. It's worth a look! While we'll list a few of the top deals around today, it is important to note that energy deals and available tariffs can change quickly depending on uptake, as well as news like Friday's. Discounts also tend to be measured against the current price cap, not the future one, and not every deal is available to everybody, so again, make sure you check around to find the one which suits you. That said... Outfox the Market's Fix'd Dual May25 12M v5.0 tariff is picked by several places as one standout deal to consider. It's a dual-fuel tariff, with a 12-month fix. Longer terms are also available. EDF has an Energy Simply Fixed May26v5 tariff available, which is ranked as the most popular on Uswitch at present. So Energy has several cropping up as good options right now, with their So Clove and So Chestnut tariffs in particular stacking up well. And if you only want electricity rather than a dual fuel switch, the Outfox the Market Fix'd Elec May25 12M v3.0 tariff may be one to consider. Always consider exit fees and term duration as well as energy unit costs. Ofgem present their latest price cap adjustments every three months. That means the next review will be confirmed on 27 August 2025, which will cover the period from 1 October 2025 to 31 December 2025. If your fixed-term deal isn't due to run out until later in the year, mark those dates and check back later to ensure you still get the best deal possible. Sign in to access your portfolio
The Independent
25-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Energy bills: How to make sure you find the cheapest deal
Regulator Ofgem confirmed the energy price cap is coming down from July with around a seven per cent drop, meaning average bills could fall by £129. While the usual reminders apply about the price cap relating to charges for units of energy, rather than maximum bills, it's still a big boost for households after April's rises in council tax and other costs. Ofgem's last increase came around the same time, which contributed to overall inflation in the UK increasing to 3.5 per cent in April. This is likely to have the knock-on effect of seeing interest rates remain higher for longer than anticipated. All the same, the impending reduction in energy bills will be welcome - and if you shop around rather than sticking with whatever your current provider immediately offers, there's a fair chance you could save more than £129 off your upcoming bills. Make sure to find the right deal for your property If your deal is ending soon, your current provider will give you options to switch to their best tariffs, but they might not be the cheapest or most suitable ones for you overall. There are a number of options for you to begin your search, however, which don't take up too much time and could save you plenty in the long run. To start with, Uswitch should be your first port of call: enter your address, confirm your current provider, enter your email address and get the best options they have in their database. Uswitch has been running for 25 years and works closely with Ofgem to include everything consumers need to know - and they'll even do the switching for you if you find the right tariff on their site. Alternative options are GoCompare and Which?, while a less well-known site is WattsWatt - a new, privately run checker website which promises to find the cheapest energy tariff for you based on your postcode. One extra tip to save even more money: some browser add-ons or cashback sites like Quidco will sometimes offer you an extra percentage of your money back if you log in before buying. Right now on Uswitch, for example, you can get up to £26 back through Quidco if you complete a transaction to change your energy provider there. It's worth a look! Best potential deals While we'll list a few of the top deals around today, it is important to note that energy deals and available tariffs can change quickly depending on uptake, as well as news like Friday's. Discounts also tend to be measured against the current price cap, not the future one, and not every deal is available to everybody, so again, make sure you check around to find the one which suits you. That said... Outfox the Market's Fix'd Dual May25 12M v5.0 tariff is picked by several places as one standout deal to consider. It's a dual-fuel tariff, with a 12-month fix. Longer terms are also available. EDF has an Energy Simply Fixed May26v5 tariff available, which is ranked as the most popular on Uswitch at present. So Energy has several cropping up as good options right now, with their So Clove and So Chestnut tariffs in particular stacking up well. And if you only want electricity rather than a dual fuel switch, the Outfox the Market Fix'd Elec May25 12M v3.0 tariff may be one to consider. Always consider exit fees and term duration as well as energy unit costs. Ofgem present their latest price cap adjustments every three months. That means the next review will be confirmed on 27 August 2025, which will cover the period from 1 October 2025 to 31 December 2025. If your fixed-term deal isn't due to run out until later in the year, mark those dates and check back later to ensure you still get the best deal possible.
