Mortgage rates surged at an unprecedented pace in 2022, with the average 10-year fixed rate doubling between March and December of that year. In response to mounting inflation, the Bank of England implemented a series of rate hikes, pushing borrowing costs steadily higher. By August 2025, the average 10-year fixed mortgage rate had climbed to 4.49 percent. As financing becomes more expensive, housing demand has cooled, weighing on market sentiment and slowing house price growth. How have the mortgage hikes affected the market? After surging in 2021, the number of residential properties sold fell significantly in 2023, dipping to just above *** million transactions. This contraction in activity also dampened mortgage lending. Between the first quarter of 2023 and the first quarter of 2024, the value of new mortgage loans declined year-on-year for five consecutive quarters. Even as rates eased modestly in 2024 and housing activity picked up slightly, volumes remained well below the highs recorded in 2021. How are higher mortgages impacting homebuyers? For homeowners, the impact is being felt most acutely as fixed-rate deals expire. Mortgage terms in the UK typically range from two to ten years, and many borrowers who locked in historically low rates are now facing significantly higher repayments when refinancing. By the end of 2026, an estimated five million homeowners will see their mortgage deals expire. Roughly two million of these loans are projected to experience a monthly payment increase of up to *** British pounds by 2026, putting additional pressure on household budgets and constraining affordability across the market.

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.

Mortgage rates in the United Kingdom (UK) have risen dramatically since the beginning of 2022, causing concerns about households with loans up for renewal facing notable increases in costs. That is the case for 1.4 million fixed rate mortgages up for renewal in 2023. This type of mortgage is a popular choice among homebuyers because it allows them to lock in the interest rate for a specific period. After the period runs out, homebuyers need to renegotiate the loan or switch to a variable interest rate. The vast majority of loans up for renewal until 2024 have an initial effective mortgage rate of less than 2.5 percent - significantly lower than the current mortgage rates.

Interest rates in the UK spiked in 2022 and 2023, with the average rate for new mortgage advances to individuals and individual trusts rising by **** percentage points between January 2022 and January 2024. Mortgages on a floating interest rate were the most expensive as of January 2024, at **** percent. On the other hand, the average rate for new advances with a five-year fixed rate was **** percent.

Data for households in receipt of Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI) loans is available in Stat-Xplore on a quarterly basis.

These quarterly experimental statistics include the number of households who are currently in receipt of the support as well as the number who have received SMI loans so far (see the background information and methodology note for an explanation of households).

The statistics are broken down by:

• Quarter
• Country, Region
• Qualifying Benefit

Geography data

Geography information may not be up to date for some households. This affects the geography statistics from April 2020.

Background information

Read the background information and methodology note for guidance on these statistics, such as timeliness and interpretation.

Feedback

Please answer this https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=6fbxllcQF0GsKIDN_ob4ww6eQtaLpw1MuH5cgQWx29tUMVE4QkFPVlUxMVM5VllRMDc2REpUWVc5UC4u" class="govuk-link">short survey to help us make the statistics better for you.

We welcome all feedback on the content, relevance, accessibility and timing of these statistics to help us in producing statistics that meet user needs. For non-media enquiries on these statistics email: laura.parkhurst@dwp.gov.uk

For media enquiries please contact the DWP press office.

Next release

Support for Mortgage Interest statistics are published quarterly. The dates for future releases are listed in the statistics release calendar.

Pre-release access

In addition to staff who are responsible for the production and quality assurance of the statistics, up to 24-hour pre-release access is provided to ministers and other officials. We publish the job titles and organisations of the people who have been granted up to 24-hour pre-release access to the latest Support for Mortgage Interest statistics.

The benchmark interest rate in the United Kingdom was last recorded at 4 percent. This dataset provides - United Kingdom Interest Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

This dataset contains two sheets showing: * The number of regulated mortgages outstanding as at end 2022 in the UK by region/country, broken down by interest rate type (for example fixed rate, Standard Variable Rate etc) * The number regulated fixed rate mortgages outstanding as at end 2022 in the UK by region/country, broken down by the month in which the fixed rate ('incentive rate') ends The data was provided to the GLA by the FCA, and the source is FCA Mortgages Performance Product Sales Data (PSD007).

Due to interest rates decreasing in recent years, mortgages in the United Kingdom have become overall more affordable: In 2007, when mortgages were the least affordable, a home buyer spent on average **** percent of their income on mortgage interest and *** percent on capital repayment. In 2019, the year with the most affordable mortgages, mortgage interest accounted for *** percent and capital repayment was **** percent of their income. As interest rates increase in response to the rising inflation, mortgage affordability is expected to worsen. Though below the levels observed before 2007, the total mortgage repayment between 2022 and 2026 is expected to exceed ** percent of income.

In 2022, the majority of mortgage holders in the UK had a fixed rate repayment schedule. The share of respondents who had a fixed-rate repayment schedule was ** percent, followed by ** percent on a repayment schedule with a variable rate. Interest only mortgages were the case for ** percent of respondents, with an even split between a variable and fixed rate.

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.

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. In 2022, the five-year fixed mortgage interest rate for a BTL property in the United Kingdom was **** percent, which was an increase by **** percent compared to the same quarter of 2021. Conversely, the 10-year mortgage rate decreased from **** percent to *** percent. The vast majority of UK landlords had a fixed mortgage, with 5-year fix being the most popular mortgage term.

The European home mortgage finance market, currently exhibiting a robust Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) exceeding 6%, presents a significant investment opportunity. Driven by factors such as increasing homeownership aspirations, particularly among millennials, favorable government policies aimed at stimulating the housing market in several key European nations (like the UK's Help to Buy scheme, though with adjustments), and low-interest rate environments (though this is subject to change based on global economic conditions), the market is poised for considerable expansion throughout the forecast period (2025-2033). The market is segmented by application (home purchase, refinance, home improvement, other), provider (banks, housing finance companies, real estate agents), and interest rate type (fixed and adjustable). While the market size for 2025 is not explicitly stated, estimations based on the provided CAGR and considering historical market data from reputable sources suggest a substantial value in the billions, with annual growth consistently adding hundreds of millions each year. Key players such as Rocket Mortgage, United Shore Financial, and major European banks (Aareal Bank, Bank of America, Barclays, etc.) are vying for market share, utilizing diverse strategies to attract borrowers and maintain profitability. However, several restraints could influence the market's trajectory. These include fluctuating interest rates, which directly impact borrowing costs and affordability, potential economic downturns that affect consumer confidence and purchasing power, and increasingly stringent regulatory requirements aimed at safeguarding borrowers and promoting financial stability. Furthermore, competition among lenders is fierce, with banks facing challenges from rapidly growing fintech companies offering innovative mortgage products and services. Despite these challenges, the long-term outlook for the European home mortgage finance market remains positive, particularly in countries experiencing strong population growth and economic stability. Regional variations exist within the European market; the UK, Germany, France, and other large economies are expected to drive significant market value, while smaller nations will contribute proportionally less. The projected market size for 2033 is likely to demonstrate considerable growth from the 2025 base. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for stakeholders to navigate the market effectively. This comprehensive report provides an in-depth analysis of the European home mortgage finance market, covering the period from 2019 to 2033. With a base year of 2025 and an estimated market value in the billions (specific figures will be included in the full report), this study offers valuable insights for investors, lenders, and industry professionals seeking to navigate this dynamic sector. Keywords: Europe mortgage market, home loans Europe, mortgage finance Europe, European housing market, refinancing Europe, home purchase finance Europe, mortgage lenders Europe. Recent developments include: November 2022: Rocket Mortgage, the nation's largest mortgage lender and a part of Rocket Companies, today introduced a conventional loan option for Americans interested in purchasing or refinancing a manufactured home., November 2022: The Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) approved four new loans worth EUR 232.5 million to boost affordable housing and other social sector development. Under this, it offered EUR 25 million in loans to Kosovo to finance the 'Adequate Social Housing Programme' to establish a sustainable social and affordable housing system in the country.. Notable trends are: Increased Number of Salaried Individuals is Driving the Market Growth.

Mortgage interest rates in Europe soared in 2022 and remained elevated in the following two years. In many countries, this resulted in mortgage interest rates across the region more than doubling. In the fourth quarter of 2024, the average mortgage interest rate in the UK stood at *** percent. Belgium had the lowest rate, at **** percent, while Poland had the highest, at *** percent. Why did mortgage interest rates increase? Mortgage rates have risen as a result of the European Central Bank (ECB) interest rate increase. The ECB increased its interest rates to tackle inflation. As inflation calms, the ECB is expected to cut rates, which allows mortgage lenders to reduce mortgage interest rates. What is the impact of interest rates on home buying? Lower interest rates make taking out a housing loan more affordable, and thus, encourage home buying. That can be seen in many countries across Europe: In France, the number of residential properties sold rose in the years leading up to 2021, and fell as interest rates increased. The number of houses sold in the UK followed a similar trend.

The European home mortgage finance market, currently valued at an estimated €[Estimate based on provided market size and currency conversion; e.g., €500 Billion] in 2025, is projected to experience robust growth, exhibiting a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) exceeding 6% from 2025 to 2033. This expansion is fueled by several key drivers. Firstly, favorable demographics, including a growing population and increasing urbanization in major European cities like London, Paris, and Berlin, contribute to a consistent demand for housing. Secondly, government initiatives aimed at stimulating the housing market, such as tax incentives or subsidized mortgages, are expected to boost market activity. Furthermore, the ongoing trend of low-interest rates in certain parts of Europe has made mortgage financing more accessible and attractive to prospective homebuyers and those seeking refinancing options. This positive environment also benefits market players such as Rocket Mortgage, United Shore Financial, and major European banks. However, the market is not without its challenges. Potential restraints include economic volatility, fluctuations in interest rates (particularly impacting adjustable-rate mortgages), and stringent lending regulations designed to mitigate risks within the financial system. Furthermore, the segment encompassing home improvements faces potential slowing as macroeconomic conditions change and consumers become more cautious with spending. The market is segmented by application (home purchase, refinance, home improvement, other), provider (banks, housing finance companies, real estate agents), and interest rate type (fixed vs. adjustable). The largest segments are likely to be home purchases and fixed-rate mortgages offered by established banks, although the rapid growth of online mortgage providers may shift this dynamic in the coming years. The UK, Germany, France, and other major European economies will continue to dominate the market share, driven by their larger populations and established financial infrastructure. This dynamic landscape presents opportunities for both traditional lenders and innovative fintech companies to capitalize on growth within the diverse segments of the European home mortgage finance market. Recent developments include: November 2022: Rocket Mortgage, the nation's largest mortgage lender and a part of Rocket Companies, today introduced a conventional loan option for Americans interested in purchasing or refinancing a manufactured home., November 2022: The Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) approved four new loans worth EUR 232.5 million to boost affordable housing and other social sector development. Under this, it offered EUR 25 million in loans to Kosovo to finance the 'Adequate Social Housing Programme' to establish a sustainable social and affordable housing system in the country.. Notable trends are: Increased Number of Salaried Individuals is Driving the Market Growth.

Building society revenue is anticipated to grow at a compound annual rate of 27.4% over the five years through 2025-26 to £51.7 billion, including estimated growth of 2.7% in 2025-26. Building societies have benefitted from an influx of re-mortgaging activity, as homeowners have sought to lock in lower rates before expected interest rate rises. However, societies faced challenging operating conditions, including intense competition from other financial institutions like retail banks. Following the COVID-19 outbreak, the Bank of England underwent aggressive rate hikes, aiding interest income. Despite the growing base rate environment feeding through to elevated mortgage rates, the residential property market proved resilient for most of 2022-23, resulting in building societies reporting huge boosts to their net interest income. In 2023-24, rates continued to rise, lifting revenue growth further despite intensifying mortgage price competition. However, deposit costs picked up during the year, placing downward pressure on net interest income and profitability. Yet, revenue continued to skyrocket thanks to healthy interest income from mortgage lending in the higher base rate environment. In 2024-25, sticky inflation resulted in interest rates staying higher for longer, aiding revenue growth. However, rate cuts did occur as inflation normalised, contributing to a slower rate of revenue growth, which was partially offset by a healthy housing market. In 2025-26, revenue is set to continue growing as mortgage lending gathers momentum, with buyers making the most of lower borrowing costs. However, a declining base rate will continue to erode interest income and further slow revenue in 2025-26. Building society revenue is anticipated to grow at a compound annual rate of 2.5% over the five years through 2029-30 to reach £58.5 billion. The UK housing market will continue to grow thanks to lower borrowing costs and aid interest income in the coming years through healthier mortgage lending. Revenue growth will disperse outside of the capital in regions like the North West, Yorkshire and the West Midlands due to the government's levelling up agenda and private multinationals expanding their presence elsewhere.

The UK equity lending market is a rapidly growing industry, with a market size of XX million and a CAGR of 5.00%. The key drivers of this growth are the increasing demand for alternative lending options, the growing popularity of online lending, and the favorable regulatory environment. The main trends in the market include the increasing adoption of fixed rate loans and home equity lines of credit, the growing market share of online lenders, and the increasing availability of credit to underserved borrowers. The key restraints in the market include the strict credit criteria of traditional lenders, the high cost of borrowing, and the potential for fraud and abuse. The UK equity lending market is highly fragmented, with a large number of small and medium-sized lenders. The major players in the market include Barclays Bank, Bank of England, Selina Advance, Aviva UK, Nationwide Building Society, Coventry Building Society, Royal Bank of Scotland, Legal and General, LV Friendly Society, and Onefamily. These lenders offer a variety of products and services, including fixed rate loans, home equity lines of credit, and unsecured loans. The market is also characterized by a high degree of competition, with lenders offering a variety of incentives to attract customers. Recent developments include: In February 2022, Selina Advance, a London-based fintech business, has raised USD150 million in investment to expand its home equity lending solutions to customers across the UK. The round of fundraising, coordinated by global private equity platform Lightrock, included USD 35 million in equity and USD 115 million in loans from Goldman Sachs and GGC to help the company expand across the UK., On February 2, 2022, Santander announced its decision to stop originating residential mortgages and home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) . Santander will continue to service existing home loans and lines of credit received till February 11, 2022.. Notable trends are: Raising Homeownership Rate is Driving the Home Equity Lending Market.

Expenditure on rent by renters and mortgages by mortgage holders, by region and age from the Living Costs and Food Survey for the financial year ending 2022. Data is presented as a proportion of total expenditure and a proportion of disposable income.

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.

This publication is available here.