We’re all about making the industry easier to understand and even easier to navigate.
Our education hub breaks things down simply — practical tips, clear explanations and up-to-date insights — all designed to support brokers, lenders and solicitors in giving clients the best possible experience.
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Independent legal advice for lenders and borrowers plays a vital role in ensuring transparency, fairness, and mutual trust in the UK’s lending market. It protects borrowers from undue influence and helps lenders enforce agreements confidently. Backed by legal precedent and FCA regulations, ILA supports ethical, compliant financial practices. Choosing a trusted, SRA-regulated provider like iLA ensures clarity, protection, and a seamless lending experience.
By Jasmine Yusuf
Independent Legal Advice (ILA) is a relatively modern legal development rooted in two landmark
cases: Barclays Bank Ltd v O;Brien [1994] and Royal Bank of Scotland Plc v Etridge (No. 2) [2001].
In O;Brien, a husband, who was also a company shareholder, misrepresented the extent of a
mortgage liability to his wife when using their matrimonial home as security for a company loan. The
court held that the bank failed in its duty to ensure that the wife’s consent was properly obtained.
As a result, the charge over the home was set aside.
Social media is transforming the finance market, driving education, transparency, and collaboration. Platforms like LinkedIn, X, and Instagram provide real-time access to industry news, regulatory changes, and financial strategies. Professionals engage in webinars, tutorials, and discussions, fostering shared learning and higher standards across the industry, making finance more accessible and credible.
By Payal Patel
The UK’s property laws are undergoing major reform. At the forefront is the Renters’ Rights Bill, aimed at boosting tenant protections across residential and commercial sectors. Alongside it, the Law Commission’s review of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 seeks to modernise commercial leasing. Together, these changes aim to rebalance power in the property market—though challenges remain.
By Jasmine Yusuf
In a significant decision that reshapes how lenders assess risk in domestic loan arrangements, the UK
Supreme Court has delivered judgment in Waller-Edwards v OneSavings Bank Plc. The Court has
imposed a bright-line test for identifying when a lender is “put on inquiry” and therefore obliged to
ensure that a borrower, typically a spouse or partner, receives independent legal advice to guard
against undue influence.
Navigating the New UK Stamp Duty Rules: What Property Investors Need to Know
By Jasmine Yusuf
On 1 April 2025, the UK government implemented significant changes to the Stamp Duty
Land Tax (SDLT) system, affecting property buyers in England and Northern Ireland. These
revisions mark the end of temporary measures introduced in the September 2022 mini-
budget, altering the tax landscape for property transactions.
