Two of the biggest banks in the UK have revealed this month (January 25th) that the average age for those getting involved in a first-time buyer mortgage is 30.

Nearly one in five (18 per cent) of those planning to retire in 2012 will have outstanding debts when they leave the working world, according to figures released this month by Prudential (January 25th).

It's gradually becoming a bit of a golden era to become a buy-to-let landlord, if new statistics are anything to go by. Halifax this month (January 16th) revealed that the typical mortgage payments for a new borrower at the long-term average loan-to-value ratio were 27 per cent of disposable earnings in quarter four of 2011 - far below the 37 per cent average of the last 27 years.

First impressions are vitally important for landlords when trying to let properties, it was advised today.

Although potential tenants are likely only to view properties they have already deemed as desirable, there is no room for complacency, warned letting agent Belvoir Cheadle.

A special advice session for current and prospective landlords has been hailed as a huge success by organisers.

Eden District Council said that almost 100 people attended the evening get-together, which covered areas such as fire safety, landlord law and energy efficiency.

The Bank of England has held interest rates at 0.5 per cent, as expected, for a fourth successive month.

The Bank's monetary policy committee (MPC) is expected to keep the current rate, in place since March until at least 2010.

Positive economic data filtering through in recent weeks could see the time that interest rates are raised against brought forward, however.