Mortgage rates increased at a record pace in 2022, with the 10-year fixed mortgage rate doubling between March 2022 and December 2022. With inflation increasing, the Bank of England introduced several bank rate hikes, resulting in higher mortgage rates. In May 2025, the average 10-year fixed rate interest rate reached **** percent. As borrowing costs get higher, demand for housing is expected to decrease, leading to declining market sentiment and slower house price growth. How have the mortgage hikes affected the market? After surging in 2021, the number of residential properties sold declined in 2023, reaching just above *** million. Despite the number of transactions falling, this figure was higher than the period before the COVID-19 pandemic. The falling transaction volume also impacted mortgage borrowing. Between the first quarter of 2023 and the first quarter of 2024, the value of new mortgage loans fell year-on-year for five straight quarters in a row. How are higher mortgages affecting homebuyers? Homeowners with a mortgage loan usually lock in a fixed rate deal for two to ten years, meaning that after this period runs out, they need to renegotiate the terms of the loan. Many of the mortgages outstanding were taken out during the period of record-low mortgage rates and have since faced notable increases in their monthly repayment. About **** million homeowners are projected to see their deal expire by the end of 2026. About *** million of these loans are projected to experience a monthly payment increase of up to *** British pounds by 2026.
Data for households in receipt of Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI) loans is available in Stat-Xplore on a quarterly basis.
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Support for Mortgage Interest statistics are published quarterly. The dates for future releases are listed in the statistics release calendar.
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Mortgage interest rates in the UK were on a downward trend for more than a decade before soaring in 2022. In the fourth quarter of 2024, the average weighted interest rate stood at **** percent — nearly ***** times the interest rate in the fourth quarter of 2021. Mortgage rates also vary depending on the type of mortgage: Historically, fixed rate mortgages with a shorter term had on average lower interest rates. What types of mortgages are there? In terms of the type of interest rate, mortgages can be fixed and variable. A fixed interest rate is simply a mortgage where the rate of repayment is fixed, while a variable rate depends on the lender’s underlying variable interest rate. Furthermore, mortgages could be for a house purchase or for refinancing. The vast majority of mortgages in the UK are fixed rate mortgages for house purchase, and only a small share is for remortgaging. How big is the UK mortgage market? The UK has the largest mortgage market in Europe, amounting to nearly ***billion euros in gross residential mortgage lending as of the second quarter of 2023. When comparing the total outstanding residential mortgage lending, the UK also ranks first with about *** trillion euros.
In the fourth quarter of 2023, the number of mortgage sales in the UK stood at over *******. Of these, the vast majority were taken out with a fixed interest rate. The average mortgage interest rate soared in 2022. That has resulted in an overall decline in mortgage sales and a slight uptick in sales with a variable rate.A fixed interest rate is simply a mortgage where the rate of repayment is fixed. The source defines a standard variable rate as "the rate that is the lender’s underlying variable interest rate. This rate is a basic variable rate charged to borrowers with no discounts or other special deals. It is also the rate used by the lender as a reference rate when defining a discounted variable rate product (e.g., discounted product ABC is **** percent below the lender’s standard variable or basic rate). This is the rate that mortgage deals will often revert to after a special rate period."
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OECD descriptor ID: CPRPTT02 OECD unit ID: IXOB OECD country ID: GBR
All OECD data should be cited as follows: OECD, "Main Economic Indicators - complete database", Main Economic Indicators (database),http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/data-00052-en (Accessed on date) Copyright, 2016, OECD. Reprinted with permission.
Between January 2018 and May 2025, the United Kingdom's consumer price inflation rate showed notable volatility. The rate hit its lowest point at *** percent in August 2020 and peaked at *** percent in October 2022. By September 2024, inflation had moderated to *** percent, but the following months saw inflation increase again. The Bank of England's interest rate policy closely tracked these inflationary trends. Rates remained low at -* percent until April 2020, when they were reduced to *** percent in response to economic challenges. A series of rate increases followed, reaching a peak of **** percent from August 2023 to July 2024. The central bank then initiated rate cuts in August and November 2024, lowering the rate to **** percent, signaling a potential shift in monetary policy. In February 2025, the Bank of England implemented another rate cut, setting the bank rate at *** percent, which was further reduced to **** percent in May 2025. Global context of inflation and interest rates The UK's experience reflects a broader international trend of rising inflation and subsequent central bank responses. From January 2022 to July 2024, advanced and emerging economies alike increased their policy rates to counter inflationary pressures. However, a shift began in late 2024, with many countries, including the UK, starting to lower rates. This change suggests a potential new phase in the global economic cycle and monetary policy approach. Comparison with other major economies The UK's monetary policy decisions align closely with those of other major economies. The United States, for instance, saw its federal funds rate peak at **** percent in August 2023, mirroring the UK's rate trajectory. Similarly, central bank rates in the EU all increased drastically between 2022 and 2024. These synchronized movements reflect the global nature of inflationary pressures and the coordinated efforts of central banks to maintain economic stability. As with the UK, both the U.S. and EU began considering rate cuts in late 2024, signaling a potential shift in the global economic landscape.
The median loan-to-value ratio in the United Kingdom (UK) for sales made in the fourth quarter of 2023 was approximately **** percent. This meant that the average mortgage covered **** percent of the property sales price, leaving the home acquirer to cover the remaining **** percent with their own savings. Regionally, it was North East where the highest average LTV ratio was seen, at ** percent. Number of mortgage loans In 2023, the number of mortgage sales (PSD) stood at just over *******, which was a decrease from the previous year when the number of mortgage sales dropped significantly. Mortgage interest rates The vast majority of mortgage loans were taken out with fixed interest rates. A fixed interest rate is simply a mortgage where the rate of repayment is fixed. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) defines a standard variable rate as "the rate that is the lender’s underlying variable interest rate”. It is not surprising that fixed interest rates are the preferred option for so many borrowers - two, three, five and ten year fixed interest rates saw a continuous decrease in recent years, before surging in 2022.
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The benchmark interest rate in the United Kingdom was last recorded at 4.25 percent. This dataset provides - United Kingdom Interest Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.
August 2024 marked a significant shift in the UK's monetary policy, as it saw the first reduction in the official bank base interest rate since August 2023. This change came after a period of consistent rate hikes that began in late 2021. In a bid to minimize the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bank of England cut the official bank base rate in March 2020 to a record low of *** percent. This historic low came just one week after the Bank of England cut rates from **** percent to **** percent in a bid to prevent mass job cuts in the United Kingdom. It remained at *** percent until December 2021 and was increased to one percent in May 2022 and to **** percent in October 2022. After that, the bank rate increased almost on a monthly basis, reaching **** percent in August 2023. It wasn't until August 2024 that the first rate decrease since the previous year occurred, signaling a potential shift in monetary policy. Why do central banks adjust interest rates? Central banks, including the Bank of England, adjust interest rates to manage economic stability and control inflation. Their strategies involve a delicate balance between two main approaches. When central banks raise interest rates, their goal is to cool down an overheated economy. Higher rates curb excessive spending and borrowing, which helps to prevent runaway inflation. This approach is typically used when the economy is growing too quickly or when inflation is rising above desired levels. Conversely, when central banks lower interest rates, they aim to encourage borrowing and investment. This strategy is employed to stimulate economic growth during periods of slowdown or recession. Lower rates make it cheaper for businesses and individuals to borrow money, which can lead to increased spending and investment. This dual approach allows central banks to maintain a balance between promoting growth and controlling inflation, ensuring long-term economic stability. Additionally, adjusting interest rates can influence currency values, impacting international trade and investment flows, further underscoring their critical role in a nation's economic health. Recent interest rate trends Between 2021 and 2024, most advanced and emerging economies experienced a period of regular interest rate hikes. This trend was driven by several factors, including persistent supply chain disruptions, high energy prices, and robust demand pressures. These elements combined to create significant inflationary trends, prompting central banks to raise rates in an effort to temper spending and borrowing. However, in 2024, a shift began to occur in global monetary policy. The European Central Bank (ECB) was among the first major central banks to reverse this trend by cutting interest rates. This move signaled a change in approach aimed at addressing growing economic slowdowns and supporting growth.
Business mortgages, or buy-to-let (BTL) mortgages, are a loan sold to property investors, rather than to people who want to purchase a home to live in. While flat, or fixed fees, are usually applied to vanilla products (standard BTL transactions of normal *** to ***** bedroom houses or *** to *** bedroom flats), percentage-based lending is focused on landlords with non-standard properties and more complex borrowing needs. As of the fourth quarter of 2019, the average flat rate fee was ***** British pounds. More than *** third of mortgage products had a flat rate fee.
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United Kingdom Lending Rate: Outs: NB: Households: Mortgages (MG) data was reported at 2.100 % pa in Oct 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 2.110 % pa for Sep 2018. United Kingdom Lending Rate: Outs: NB: Households: Mortgages (MG) data is updated monthly, averaging 4.230 % pa from Jan 1999 (Median) to Oct 2018, with 238 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 6.090 % pa in Sep 2008 and a record low of 1.920 % pa in Oct 2017. United Kingdom Lending Rate: Outs: NB: Households: Mortgages (MG) data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bank of England. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United Kingdom – Table UK.M002: Lending Rate: Outstanding.
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Mortgage brokers’ revenue is anticipated to climb at a compound annual rate of 4.5% over the five years through 2024-25 to £2.3 billion, including estimated growth of . Rising residential property transactions stimulated by government initiatives and rising house prices have driven industry growth. However, mortgage brokers have faced numerous obstacles, including downward pricing pressures from upstream lenders and a sharp downturn in the housing market as rising mortgage rates ramped up the cost of borrowing. After a standstill in residential real estate activity in the immediate aftermath of the COVID-19 outbreak, ultra-low base rates, the release of pent-up demand, the introduction of tax incentives and buyers reassessing their living situation fuelled a V-shaped recovery in the housing market. This meant new mortgage approvals for house purchases boomed going into 2021-22, ramping up demand for brokerage services. 2022-23 was a year rife with economic headwinds, from rising interest rates to fears of a looming recession. Yet, the housing market stood its ground, with brokers continuing to benefit from rising prices. Elevated mortgage rates eventually hit demand for houses in the first half of 2023, contributing to lacklustre house price growth in 2023-24, hurting revenue, despite a modest recovery in the second half of the year as mortgage rates came down. In 2024-25, lower mortgage rates and an improving economic outlook support house prices, driving revenue growth. Mortgage brokers’ revenue is anticipated to swell at a compound annual rate of 5.3% over the five years through 2029-30 to £2.9 billion. Competition from direct lending will ramp up. Yet, growth opportunities remain. The emergence of niche mortgage products, like those targeting retired individuals and contractors, as well as green mortgages, will support revenue growth in the coming years. AI is also set to transform the industry, improving cost efficiencies by automating tasks like document verification, risk assessment and customer profiling.
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The number of mortgage cases received and disposed in the High Court. Datasets are produced on an annual year basis. The dataset is entered onto ICOS, the Integrated Courts Operations System. The data are then extracted and merged with the Central Postcode Directory, and aggregated information uploaded to this portal. Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service collects information on writs and originating summonses issued in respect of mortgages in Chancery Division of the Northern Ireland High Court. This covers both Northern Ireland Housing Executive and private mortgages, and relates to both domestic and commercial properties. A mortgage case may involve more than one address or a land property. In such cases, the first postcode address entered onto ICOS is used. Not all writs and originating summonses lead to eviction. A plaintiff begins an action for an order for possession of property. The court, following a judicial hearing, may grant an order for possession. This entitles the plaintiff to apply for an order to have the defendant evicted. However, even where an order for eviction is issued the parties can still negotiate a compromise to prevent eviction. Users of this data may have been able to self-identify themselves due to the low values in some cells. Primary and secondary disclosure control methods have been applied to this data, denoted by cells with missing data in the tables. Values of less than four participants, but not zero participants, were initially suppressed, but some of these values could have been calculated using some row and column totals and thus secondary suppression was applied to the next lowest value in the row and column. The data contain the number of cases received and the number of cases disposed by each Assembly Area and have the following proportions of postcode coverage: 2010, 97.9%, 2011, 97.3%; 2012, 97.2%; 2013, 95.9%; 2014, 96.0%; 2015, 94.5%; 2016, 95.4%; 2017, 95.2%; 2018, 94.5%; 2019, 95.5%; 2020, 96.7%; 2021, 95.7%; 2022, 95.6%; 2023, 95.2%.
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The UK’s total loan balances outstanding (including credit card balances, personal loan balances, and residential mortgage balances outstanding) recorded a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.3% during 2014-18 to reach £1,626.6bn ($2,075.6bn). The majority of loan balances outstanding are from home loans, with residential mortgage balances outstanding accounting for 86.7% of total balances in 2018, followed by personal loans (8.8%) and credit cards (4.5%). However, uncertainty on account of Brexit and its impact on the economy will affect the growth of total loan balances outstanding in the coming years. As a result, we estimate total loan balances outstanding to record a subdued CAGR of 2.7% over 2019-23. The UK lending space is dominated by Lloyds Banking Group, Barclays, and RBS Group – a trend that is anticipated to continue over the coming years. However, they may face increased competition from non-bank lenders, digital banks, and digital lending platforms breaking into the market and offering low interest rates and hassle-free loan approvals. The savings market in the UK recorded a CAGR of 3.9% over 2014-18 to reach £1,433.7bn ($1,829.4bn) in 2018. The market grew at a higher rate compared to loan balances during the five-year review period due to economic uncertainty surrounding Brexit. Read More
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The FCA and the Prudential Regulatory Authority (PRA) both have responsibility for the regulation of mortgage lenders and administrators. They jointly publish the mortgage lending statistics every quarter.
Since the beginning of 2007, around 340 regulated mortgage lenders and administrators have been required to submit a Mortgage Lending and Administration Return (MLAR) each quarter, providing data on their mortgage lending activities.
In June 2024, the European Central Bank (ECB) began reducing its fixed interest rate for the first time since 2016, implementing a series of cuts. The rate decreased from 4.5 percent to 3.15 percent by year-end: a 0.25 percentage point cut in June, followed by additional reductions in September, October, and December. The central bank implemented other cuts in early 2025, setting the rate at 2.4 percent in April 2025. This marked a significant shift from the previous rate hike cycle, which began in July 2022 when the ECB raised rates to 0.5 percent and subsequently increased them almost monthly, reaching 4.5 percent by December 2023 - the highest level since the 2007-2008 global financial crisis.
How does this ensure liquidity?
Banks typically hold only a fraction of their capital in cash, measured by metrics like the Tier 1 capital ratio. Since this ratio is low, banks prefer to allocate most of their capital to revenue-generating loans. When their cash reserves fall too low, banks borrow from the ECB to cover short-term liquidity needs. On the other hand, commercial banks can also deposit excess funds with the ECB at a lower interest rate.
Reasons for fluctuations
The ECB’s primary mandate is to maintain price stability. The Euro area inflation rate is, in theory, the key indicator guiding the ECB's actions. When the fixed interest rate is lower, commercial banks are more likely to borrow from the ECB, increasing the money supply and, in turn, driving inflation higher. When inflation rises, the ECB increases the fixed interest rate, which slows borrowing and helps to reduce inflation.
In May 2025, global inflation rates and central bank interest rates showed significant variation across major economies. Most economies initiated interest rate cuts from mid-2024 due to declining inflationary pressures. The U.S., UK, and EU central banks followed a consistent pattern of regular rate reductions throughout late 2024. In early 2025, Russia maintained the highest interest rate at 20 percent, while Japan retained the lowest at 0.5 percent. Varied inflation rates across major economies The inflation landscape varies considerably among major economies. China had the lowest inflation rate at -0.1 percent in May 2025. In contrast, Russia maintained a high inflation rate of 9.9 percent. These figures align with broader trends observed in early 2025, where China had the lowest inflation rate among major developed and emerging economies, while Russia's rate remained the highest. Central bank responses and economic indicators Central banks globally implemented aggressive rate hikes throughout 2022-23 to combat inflation. The European Central Bank exemplified this trend, raising rates from 0 percent in January 2022 to 4.5 percent by September 2023. A coordinated shift among major central banks began in mid-2024, with the ECB, Bank of England, and Federal Reserve initiating rate cuts, with forecasts suggesting further cuts through 2025 and 2026.
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Modern auctions allow mortgage buyers to take part in auctions, leading to higher bids and sales prices and attracting higher-value properties into auctions. Following the 2007-08 global financial crisis, UK auction property sales accelerated, climbing around 25% between 2010 and 2013. According to the Essential Information Group (EIG), auction volumes stayed high from 2013 to 2018, with around 20,000 yearly property auction sales taking place, but they then dipped by 10% through 2020. However, climbing UK house prices have also dragged up the average value of an auctioned property, supporting revenue growth, particularly over 2021-22. Over the five years through 2024-25, the Property Auction Houses industry's revenue is expected to climb at a compound annual rate of 8% to £433.3 million. The pandemic severely impacted auction sales, with practically no properties sold between April and June 2020, denting revenue in 2020-21. However, a stamp duty holiday encouraged a flood of properties to the market later in the year. EIG stated that despite a decrease in the number of lots offered at auctions compared to 2019, most months in 2020 saw a climb in the percentage of auction lots sold. In 2021-22, revenue skyrocketed, driven by a massive hike in the average sale price of auctioned properties and a rise in the volume of property sales by auction. Over 2023-24, cost-of-living pressures and tumbling UK house prices slashed revenue by 5.5%. In 2024-25, house prices are rising again and interest rates are set to start edging downwards, which will boost market activity. As a result, revenue is slated to rise by 3.7%. Over the five years through 2029-30, revenue is forecast to expand at a compound annual rate of 3.8% to £523.2 million. Even with rates expected to start falling, high mortgage rates will make UK properties less affordable and soften house prices in the short term. Property auction houses will benefit from increased online auction activity as consumers increasingly value and trust the faster and more convenient online model, which offers a better chance of selling their property than estate agents.
The mortgage market in the UK declined in 2023, with the value of mortgage lending plummeting by nearly *** billion British pounds from the previous year. That was because of the dramatic increase in mortgage interest, which increased the cost of borrowing. In 2024, gross lending to individuals picked up slightly, reaching ****** billion British pounds.
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70% of White British households owned their own homes – the highest percentage out of all ethnic groups.
Mortgage rates increased at a record pace in 2022, with the 10-year fixed mortgage rate doubling between March 2022 and December 2022. With inflation increasing, the Bank of England introduced several bank rate hikes, resulting in higher mortgage rates. In May 2025, the average 10-year fixed rate interest rate reached **** percent. As borrowing costs get higher, demand for housing is expected to decrease, leading to declining market sentiment and slower house price growth. How have the mortgage hikes affected the market? After surging in 2021, the number of residential properties sold declined in 2023, reaching just above *** million. Despite the number of transactions falling, this figure was higher than the period before the COVID-19 pandemic. The falling transaction volume also impacted mortgage borrowing. Between the first quarter of 2023 and the first quarter of 2024, the value of new mortgage loans fell year-on-year for five straight quarters in a row. How are higher mortgages affecting homebuyers? Homeowners with a mortgage loan usually lock in a fixed rate deal for two to ten years, meaning that after this period runs out, they need to renegotiate the terms of the loan. Many of the mortgages outstanding were taken out during the period of record-low mortgage rates and have since faced notable increases in their monthly repayment. About **** million homeowners are projected to see their deal expire by the end of 2026. About *** million of these loans are projected to experience a monthly payment increase of up to *** British pounds by 2026.