Banks praised for mortgage relief offer
virus, Transport for London (TFL) announced it has started an “enhanced cleaning regime” to reduce the spread of coronavirus. Additional substances that kill viruses and bacteria are being used across the London Underground and bus networks, the transport body announced.
The busiest stations will be cleaned more regularly than usual, and TFL is also testing a new disinfectant which could provide up to 30 days of antiviral protection.
It also emerged next week’s Royal Television Society Programme Awards will be held behind closed doors, as will Manchester United’s Europa League first-leg match against LASK in Linz following advice from the Austrian government.
Last night MPS welcomed the mortgage relief announced by banks for homeowners. Steve Baker, the Conservative MP who sits on the Treasury select committee, said: “I am delighted to see banks putting customers first and demonstrating such good will.
“In the longer run, we will have to be very careful about the prudential implication and I am confident the Bank of England will want to look at [these].
“The last thing we need is another bank bail-out.”
The Royal Bank of Scotland, Lloyds Banking Group, Barclays, Santander UK, Virgin Money and TSB have all offered to suspend mortgage repayments for borrowers that are in self-isolation or too ill to work. RBS, which is largely owned by the taxpayer, said payments could be delayed by up to three months, while TSB promised a relief on repayments of up to two months.
Nationwide said it would determine the length of payment holidays for mortgage customers on a case-by-case basis.
Interest will still accrue during the payment holidays, RBS, TSB, Virgin Money and Lloyds told The Telegraph. This means homeowners will see their monthly bills rise slightly when they resume payments. RBS said it would also determine whether people qualify for the relief on a “case-by-case basis.”