Get all your news in one place.

100's of premium titles.
One app.

Get all your news in one place.

100's of premium titles. One news app.

The Guardian - UK

Business

Rupert Jones

Second mortgages: lending soars as Britons struggle to pay off debt

Nick Mendes MoneyHelper

Male couple completing a mortgage application — Just over 2,800 second mortgages, with a total value of £133m, were taken out by homeowners in May this year. Photograph: Reeldeal Images/Alamy

Perhaps it’s no surprise with a cost of living crisis raging, but growing numbers of homeowners are opting to saddle themselves with a second mortgage.

Many people are using the money to pay off debts such as credit cards and personal loans.

Sign up to read this article

Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.

Already a member? Sign in here

Top stories on inkl right now

Pensacola Beach Doctor Pleads Guilty to Prescribing at Least 25,500 Opioid and Stimulant Pills Without Examining Patients

Pensacola Beach Doctor Pleads Guilty to Prescribing at Least 25,500 Opioid and Stimulant Pills Without Examining Patients

A Pensacola Beach doctor pleaded guilty to illegally prescribing at least 25,500 opioid and stimulant pills without exams. What patients and families should know.

Seminole County Confirms Locally Acquired Dengue Case Near Orlando and Issues Its First Mosquito-Borne Illness Advisory of 2026

Seminole County Confirms Locally Acquired Dengue Case Near Orlando and Issues Its First Mosquito-Borne Illness Advisory of 2026

Seminole County confirmed a locally acquired dengue case and issued its first mosquito-borne illness advisory of 2026. Warning signs and prevention steps.

From Hospital Shelves to Street Stalls: Mexico Confirms Drug Diversion and Bets on Tech

From Hospital Shelves to Street Stalls: Mexico Confirms Drug Diversion and Bets on Tech

Mexico confirmed hospital drugs marked "public property" are illegally resold near clinics. A digital fix is promised—with no timeline or confirmed budget.

Florida cop accused of taking over dead man’s home and spending years renovating it – he alleged went as far as pretending to be the dead man

Florida cop accused of taking over dead man’s home and spending years renovating it – he alleged went as far as pretending to be the dead man

There was no evidence that the two had ever met.

We Got This Covered

One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites

Already a member? Sign in here

Tennessee man allegedly leaves baby inside car in an area with ‘heavy foot traffic and intoxicated individuals.’ Then he’s spotted waiting in line at a bar

Tennessee man allegedly leaves baby inside car in an area with ‘heavy foot traffic and intoxicated individuals.’ Then he’s spotted waiting in line at a bar

Take care of your little ones!

We Got This Covered

USMNT Receives Major Advantage for Concacaf Nations League Quarterfinals

USMNT Receives Major Advantage for Concacaf Nations League Quarterfinals

Mauricio Pochettino’s men are hoping to put on a show against Haiti in a few weeks.

Sports Illustrated

Related Stories

Top stories on inkl right now

Pensacola Beach Doctor Pleads Guilty to Prescribing at Least 25,500 Opioid and Stimulant Pills Without Examining Patients

Pensacola Beach Doctor Pleads Guilty to Prescribing at Least 25,500 Opioid and Stimulant Pills Without Examining Patients

A Pensacola Beach doctor pleaded guilty to illegally prescribing at least 25,500 opioid and stimulant pills without exams. What patients and families should know.

Seminole County Confirms Locally Acquired Dengue Case Near Orlando and Issues Its First Mosquito-Borne Illness Advisory of 2026

Seminole County Confirms Locally Acquired Dengue Case Near Orlando and Issues Its First Mosquito-Borne Illness Advisory of 2026

Seminole County confirmed a locally acquired dengue case and issued its first mosquito-borne illness advisory of 2026. Warning signs and prevention steps.

From Hospital Shelves to Street Stalls: Mexico Confirms Drug Diversion and Bets on Tech

From Hospital Shelves to Street Stalls: Mexico Confirms Drug Diversion and Bets on Tech

Mexico confirmed hospital drugs marked "public property" are illegally resold near clinics. A digital fix is promised—with no timeline or confirmed budget.

Florida cop accused of taking over dead man’s home and spending years renovating it – he alleged went as far as pretending to be the dead man

Florida cop accused of taking over dead man’s home and spending years renovating it – he alleged went as far as pretending to be the dead man

There was no evidence that the two had ever met.

We Got This Covered

One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites

Already a member? Sign in here

Tennessee man allegedly leaves baby inside car in an area with ‘heavy foot traffic and intoxicated individuals.’ Then he’s spotted waiting in line at a bar

Tennessee man allegedly leaves baby inside car in an area with ‘heavy foot traffic and intoxicated individuals.’ Then he’s spotted waiting in line at a bar

Take care of your little ones!

We Got This Covered

USMNT Receives Major Advantage for Concacaf Nations League Quarterfinals

USMNT Receives Major Advantage for Concacaf Nations League Quarterfinals

Mauricio Pochettino’s men are hoping to put on a show against Haiti in a few weeks.

Sports Illustrated

Our Picks

Restaurant server asks couple about food allergies. Then the man refuses and says: ‘I’m not disclosing my medical information with someone like you’

That's some overreach!

We Got This Covered

McDonald’s customer finishes her Diet Coke. Then she looks inside the cup and realizes what she just swallowed: ‘Literally, it was in someone’s ear’

That's going to scar her for life.

We Got This Covered

Sacha Baron Cohen reveals Marvel’s ‘devil’ dilemma over his Jewish heritage as he admits feeling finally understood

The Borat and Ali G comedian has opened up about the unusual sensitivity shown by the creative team behind Disney+ series Ironheart, revealing how historical antisemitic stereotypes influenced discussions about his casting as Marvel villain Mephisto.

Noah Wyle Gets Absolutely Eviscerated After Becoming Clear Favorite To Win Famous Title: “Used To Mean Something”

Noah Wyle is reportedly leading the race for People magazine’s 2026 Sexiest Man Alive title, but the buzz has sparked plenty of criticism online.

Cara Delevingne reveals bizarre lesbian sex party disaster

The supermodel and actress has opened up about an unforgettable romantic encounter while discussing her sobriety, relationship with musician Minke and her changing attitude towards love as she embarks on a new chapter in her career.

Your License Plate Is Public — But Should Your Driving History Be?

A stranger can photograph your license plate at a red light without asking permission. That doesn’t mean the stranger should get your driving history, home address, or a convenient timeline of your movements. In the United States, those are different kinds of information, governed by different rules. Yet modern technology…

Fourteen days free

Download the app

One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.

Download on the AppStore

Get it on Google Play