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.

Mortgage repayments as a percentage of monthly equivalised disposable household income, throughout the house price and income distribution.

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.

The value of lump sum mortgage repayments in the UK increased notably in 2022, reaching almost *** billion British pounds in the third quarter of 2023. That includes both home purchase loans and remortgaging.

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.

United Kingdom Mortgage Loans Repayment: MFIs data was reported at 16,736.000 GBP mn in Sep 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 18,280.000 GBP mn for Aug 2018. United Kingdom Mortgage Loans Repayment: MFIs data is updated monthly, averaging 12,456.500 GBP mn from Oct 1997 (Median) to Sep 2018, with 252 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 21,627.000 GBP mn in Oct 2007 and a record low of 3,412.000 GBP mn in Jan 1998. United Kingdom Mortgage Loans Repayment: MFIs 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.KB023: Mortgage Loans: Repayment.

United Kingdom Mortgage Loans Repayment: OS: Other Lump Sum data was reported at 34.000 GBP mn in Oct 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 30.000 GBP mn for Sep 2018. United Kingdom Mortgage Loans Repayment: OS: Other Lump Sum data is updated monthly, averaging 52.000 GBP mn from Jan 1999 (Median) to Oct 2018, with 238 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 202.000 GBP mn in Feb 2008 and a record low of 10.000 GBP mn in Feb 1999. United Kingdom Mortgage Loans Repayment: OS: Other Lump Sum 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.KB023: Mortgage Loans: Repayment.

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 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

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" class="govuk-link">Stat-Xplore, an online tool for exploring some of Department for Work and Pensions (DWP’s) main statistics.

Feedback

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 releases

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 total value of mortgage repayments in the United Kingdom (UK) picked up in the third quarter of 2023, after falling to one of the lowest values since the (COVID-19) pandemic. Secured loans on dwellings includes all home purchase loans and remortgaging. In the third quarter of 2023, the repayments of secured loans on dwellings in the UK reached a total value of nearly 59.5 billion British pounds.

United Kingdom Mortgage Loans Repayment: OS: On Redemption data was reported at 1,278.000 GBP mn in Oct 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 1,360.000 GBP mn for Sep 2018. United Kingdom Mortgage Loans Repayment: OS: On Redemption data is updated monthly, averaging 1,358.000 GBP mn from Jan 1999 (Median) to Oct 2018, with 238 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 4,754.000 GBP mn in Feb 2008 and a record low of 265.000 GBP mn in Jan 2000. United Kingdom Mortgage Loans Repayment: OS: On Redemption 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.KB023: Mortgage Loans: Repayment.

The quarterly value of regular mortgage repayments in the United Kingdom (UK) has increased since 2012. In the third quarter of 2023, the value of mortgage repayments peaked at over 15 billion British pounds. This was an increase of about one billion British pounds higher than the same period in 2022. This figure includes all home purchase loans and remortgaging.

United Kingdom Mortgage Loans Repayment: Other Lump Sum data was reported at 1,442.000 GBP mn in Sep 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 1,623.000 GBP mn for Aug 2018. United Kingdom Mortgage Loans Repayment: Other Lump Sum data is updated monthly, averaging 1,163.000 GBP mn from Jan 1999 (Median) to Sep 2018, with 237 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1,809.000 GBP mn in Oct 2008 and a record low of 467.000 GBP mn in Jan 1999. United Kingdom Mortgage Loans Repayment: Other Lump Sum 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.KB023: Mortgage Loans: Repayment.

Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.The Survey of Mortgage Lenders (SML) was launched on 1st April 1992 to succeed the 5% Sample Survey of Building Society Mortgage Completions (BSM) (See GN:33191). The aims were to improve the survey in three principal ways: a) to broaden the range of institutions surveyed to incorporate other mortgage lenders in addition to building societies and Abbey National. With the entry of the high street banks and then the centralised lenders into the mortgage market, information provided by the building societies no longer represented the whole market in the way it did when the BSM was set up in the 1960s. b) to extend its coverage to include further advances, remortgages and top-up loans in addition to first mortgages. c) to increase the level of detail on the questionnaire especially with respect to the characteristics of the mortgage loan. An important consideration for users of the data is that the SML figures allow continuity with the BSM survey results to be maintained for a reasonable period. Main Topics: Financial institution code, date mortgage completed, whether dwelling is wholly or partly occupied by borrower. Mortgage amount, type of advance, whether solely for purchase of property, period of mortgage, gross rate of interest, whether the interest charged is fixed or variable rate, whether interest payments are discounted or deferred, repayment method, source of mortgage business, purchase price and whether discounted in any way, location of dwelling, whether new, age of dwelling, type of dwelling, number of habitable rooms, number, sex and age of borrowers, basic income of main borrower, other income and total income on which mortgage is based, whether applicant previously owner occupier, previous tenure. The institutions are divided into four strata according to the size of their assets. All the largest were asked to complete questionnaires on a sample of 5 per cent of their new mortgage advances. Mortgages are included if their reference numbers end in specified digits chosen so that every twentieth mortgage is selected. Institutions in the next stratum are arranged in order of size of assets and alternate institutions chosen each of which are asked to complete questionnaires on 10 per cent of their mortgages. In the next stratum 20 per cent of the mortgages of every fourth institution are obtained. The smallest institutions are completely excluded.

Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.The Survey of Mortgage Lenders (SML) was launched on 1st April 1992 to succeed the 5% Sample Survey of Building Society Mortgage Completions (BSM) (See GN:33191). The aims were to improve the survey in three principal ways: a) to broaden the range of institutions surveyed to incorporate other mortgage lenders in addition to building societies and Abbey National. With the entry of the high street banks and then the centralised lenders into the mortgage market, information provided by the building societies no longer represented the whole market in the way it did when the BSM was set up in the 1960s. b) to extend its coverage to include further advances, remortgages and top-up loans in addition to first mortgages. c) to increase the level of detail on the questionnaire especially with respect to the characteristics of the mortgage loan. An important consideration for users of the data is that the SML figures allow continuity with the BSM survey results to be maintained for a reasonable period. Main Topics: Financial institution code, date mortgage completed, whether dwelling is wholly or partly occupied by borrower. Mortgage amount, type of advance, whether solely for purchase of property, period of mortgage, gross rate of interest, whether the interest charged is fixed or variable rate, whether interest payments are discounted or deferred, repayment method, source of mortgage business, purchase price and whether discounted in any way, location of dwelling, whether new, age of dwelling, type of dwelling, number of habitable rooms, number, sex and age of borrowers, basic income of main borrower, other income and total income on which mortgage is based, whether applicant previously owner occupier, previous tenure. The institutions are divided into four strata according to the size of their assets. All the largest were asked to complete questionnaires on a sample of 5 per cent of their new mortgage advances. Mortgages are included if their reference numbers end in specified digits chosen so that every twentieth mortgage is selected. Institutions in the next stratum are arranged in order of size of assets and alternate institutions chosen each of which are asked to complete questionnaires on 10 per cent of their mortgages. In the next stratum 20 per cent of the mortgages of every fourth institution are obtained. The smallest institutions are completely excluded.

The median loan-to-value ratio in the United Kingdom (UK) for sales made in the fourth quarter of 2023 was approximately 69.5 percent. This meant that the average mortgage covered 69.5 percent of the property sales price, leaving the home acquirer to cover the remaining 30.5 percent with their own savings. Regionally, it was North East where the highest average LTV ratio was seen, at 74 percent. Number of mortgage loans In 2023, the number of mortgage sales (PSD) stood at just over 888,000, 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.

Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.

The Survey of Mortgage Lenders (SML) was launched on 1st April 1992 to succeed the 5% Sample Survey of Building Society Mortgage Completions (BSM) (See GN:33191). The aims were to improve the survey in three principal ways:
a) to broaden the range of institutions surveyed to incorporate other mortgage lenders in addition to building societies and Abbey National. With the entry of the high street banks and then the centralised lenders into the mortgage market, information provided by the building societies no longer represented the whole market in the way it did when the BSM was set up in the 1960s.
b) to extend its coverage to include further advances, remortgages and top-up loans in addition to first mortgages.
c) to increase the level of detail on the questionnaire especially with respect to the characteristics of the mortgage loan.
An important consideration for users of the data is that the SML figures allow continuity with the BSM survey results to be maintained for a reasonable period.
Main Topics:
Financial institution code, date mortgage completed, whether dwelling is wholly or partly occupied by borrower. Mortgage amount, type of advance, whether solely for purchase of property, period of mortgage, gross rate of interest, whether the interest charged is fixed or variable rate, whether interest payments are discounted or deferred, repayment method, source of mortgage business, purchase price and whether discounted in any way, location of dwelling, whether new, age of dwelling, type of dwelling, number of habitable rooms, number, sex and age of borrowers, basic income of main borrower, other income and total income on which mortgage is based, whether applicant previously owner occupier, previous tenure.

The Federal Housing Administration's HECM program is the only government-insured reverse mortgage program. The HECM program guarantees that the lender will meet its payment obligations to the homeowner, limits the borrower's loan origination costs, and insures full repayment of the loan balance to the lender up to the maximum claim amount. The loan amount is based on borrower age, home value, and current interest rates. The HECM data files provide loan-level records that will enable interested parties to explore issues regarding downpayment assistance provided to homebuyers utilizing HECM insured mortgage financing.