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 October 2025, the average 10-year fixed mortgage rate stood at **** 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 first quarter of 2025, the average weighted interest rate stood at **** percent — nearly ***** times the interest rate in the first quarter of 2022. 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 over ** billion euros in gross residential mortgage lending as of the fourth quarter of 2024. When comparing the total outstanding residential mortgage lending, the UK also ranks first with about *** trillion euros.

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.

The statistics are broken down by:

• Quarter
• Country, Region
• Qualifying Benefit

Background information

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

Interactive statistics

Find further breakdowns of these statistics on https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/jsf/login.xhtml">Stat-Xplore, an online tool for exploring some of DWP’s main statistics.

Next release

Support for Mortgage Interest statistics are released quarterly.
Next release: 29 June 2021

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.

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 first quarter of 2025, the average mortgage interest rate in the UK stood at **** percent. Spain 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 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.

Mortgage Rate in the United Kingdom remained unchanged at 6.78 percent in October. This dataset provides - United Kingdom BBA Mortgage Rate- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

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.

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.

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 2025, 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 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.

The total monthly number of mortgage approvals for the purpose of a house sale in the UK plummeted in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, followed by a spike in the second half of the year. In 2021, interest rates started to rise, resulting in a decline in the volume of mortgage approvals. In October 2025, mortgage approvals for home purchases totaled ******, while remortgage approvals stood at around ******. Being approved for a mortgage is one of the first steps in purchasing a home, which makes it an early indicator of the development of transaction volumes. However, a mortgage approval does not necessarily mean that a sale is going to take place, as home buyers need to undergo several other steps to complete the sale: conveyancing, or the process of transferring the legal title of the property from the seller to the buyer, a property survey, contract exchange, and closing.

Mortgage rates in the United Kingdom have been on the rise since 2022, leading to an increased cost burden for buy-to-let landlords. In August 2023, the average mortgage cost amounted to ** percent of rental income. In the same month of 2022, this figure amounted to ** percent.

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.

Latest findings

The outstanding value of all residential mortgages loans was £1,513.3 billion at the end of 2020 Q2, 3.2% higher than a year earlier.

The value of gross mortgage advances in 2020 Q2 was £44.1 billion, 33.3% lower than in 2019 Q2.

The value of new mortgage commitments (lending agreed to be advanced in the coming months) was 53.2% lower than a year earlier, at £34.3 billion.

Following the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the number of residential mortgage approvals in the UK plummeted. As the measures eased, the market rebounded, peaking at ******* mortgage approvals in November 2020. In 2022 and 2023, mortgage lending declined again as a response to the rising mortgage interest rates and the cooling of the housing market. In May 2025, the number of mortgage approvals exceeded *******—up from about ****** in the same month a year ago. The increase indicated a rise in mortgage demand and an improvement in consumer sentiment.

Housing affordability in the UK has worsened notably since 2020, with the share of income spent on mortgage payments rising for first-time and repeat buyers. In 2024, homebuyers spent, on average, 20.5 percent of their income on mortgage payments, up from 16.2 percent in 2020. First-time buyers spent a notably higher percentage than repeat buyers. One of the main factors for the declining affordability is the rising housing costs. House prices have increased rapidly since the COVID-19 pandemic. Mortgage rates have also soared since, leading to notably higher monthly payments.

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. Latest findings The outstanding value of all residential mortgage loans was £1,584.1 billion at the end of 2021 Q2, 4.6% higher than a year earlier. The value of gross mortgage advances in 2021 Q2 was £89.0 billion, over double the amount seen in 2020 Q2, and the highest level since 2007 Q3. The value of new mortgage commitments (lending agreed to be advanced in the coming months) was almost 2.5 times greater than a year earlier, at £85.6 billion, but £2.1 billion lower than the recent peak seen in 2020 Q4.

The value of approvals issued for house purchase lending in the UK plummeted at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, reaching a record low of 1.9 billion British pounds in May 2020. In the second half of the year, the release of pent-up demand led to the value of approvals spiking at over 23 billion British pounds in November 2020. With mortgage rates increasing in response to stubborn inflation, the value of mortgage approvals saw a substantial decrease in 2022 and an uptick in 2023, with the latest data showing a value of 15.6 billion British pounds in May 2025. Remortgage approvals followed a similar trend.

Mortgage arrears in the UK have been on the rise since 2022. In the fourth quarter of 2023, there were over ******* mortgage arrears, up from ****** during the same period in 2022. Homeowner mortgages accounted for almost ****** of these arrears, while buy-to-let mortgages in arrears measured about 14,000.

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. Latest findings The outstanding value of all residential mortgage loans was £1,601.2 billion at the end of 2021 Q3, 4.9% higher than a year earlier. The value of gross mortgage advances in 2021 Q3 was £73.4 billion, which was £15.6 billion lower than the previous quarter, but 17.4% higher than the amount seen in 2020 Q3. The value of new mortgage commitments (lending agreed to be advanced in the coming months) was 8.2% less than the previous quarter but broadly unchanged from a year earlier, at £78.9 billion.