Mace Consult says panic-buying ahead of changes to UK steel import rules has contributed to sharp rises in fabricated structural steel prices and wider construction material inflation. The report links this to supply disruption, higher energy costs and broader uncertainty, warning that lead times and procurement risk may worsen in the near term.
The article reports that the first Making Tax Digital deadline is imminent, with concerns that many landlords and sole traders have not yet signed up or are unaware of the new requirements. It cites survey findings suggesting a significant proportion still need to register with HMRC and use approved software for quarterly returns.
The article reports that some lenders are declining mortgage applications for flats where annual service charges exceed around 1% of the property’s value, citing concerns about resaleability and future affordability. It also highlights data showing service charges are rising for many leaseholders, with a significant proportion of flats now above this threshold.
The Prudential Regulation Authority has fined HDI Global SE £4,165,000 for repeatedly submitting inaccurate FSCS Liabilities and FSCS Fee Tariff data between August 2021 and August 2024. The PRA said the errors reflected failures in controls, accountability and diligence, although the firm has since remediated the issue, corrected historical data and paid additional levies due.
New government figures show that large construction firms paid 14% of invoices late in 2025, with a median supplier payment time of 33 days. The data places construction around the middle of the sector table for payment performance and comes as parliament considers legislation to tighten protections for small suppliers.
New Freedom of Information data suggests the FCA opened only one mortgage fraud enforcement investigation in 2025, down from three to four annually in the previous three years. The article links this decline to wider concerns that fraud is becoming more digital, AI-enabled and harder to detect, despite new government measures in the Home Office Fraud Strategy 2026–2029.
X1 Manchester Waters has entered administration with debts of £25.7m, including more than £24m owed to 336 investors who paid deposits on unbuilt flats. The administrator’s report cites construction cost inflation, fire-safety remediation costs on other X1 schemes, and leasehold reform as contributing factors, while freeholder Peel Land is seeking an alternative route to complete the homes.
A Freedom of Information request indicates the FCA opened only one mortgage fraud enforcement investigation in 2025, down from three to four cases a year in previous periods. The article argues this low level of activity may not reflect the true scale of mortgage fraud, which is described as becoming more sophisticated and harder to detect, particularly with the use of AI and digital tools.
The Bank of England, PRA and FCA will begin jointly overseeing the first designated Critical Third Parties from 13 July 2026, following HM Treasury designations of four major cloud and technology providers. The new regime is intended to improve resilience in services that underpin the UK financial system, while leaving regulated firms responsible for their own outsourcing and operational resilience arrangements.
