Mortgages news in 2025
18 stories, newest first.
- December 2025
FCA publishes Mortgage Rule Review Feedback Statement and Roadmap with 2026 consultation areas
The FCA has published its Mortgage Rule Review Feedback Statement and Roadmap, setting out targeted reforms for first-time buyers and the self-employed and areas for consultation in 2026.
Mortgage approvals for house purchase fell in December 2025 while remortgaging approvals rose
Bank of England data show net mortgage approvals for house purchase fell by 3,100 to 61,000 in December 2025, while remortgaging approvals rose by 1,600 to 38,400.
- November 2025
Q3 2025 mortgage and landlord possession statistics published
Mortgage repossessions in England and Wales rose 40 per cent year on year in July to September 2025, while landlord repossessions rose 9 per cent, even as new claims for both fell.
Effective rate on newly drawn mortgages rose for the first time since February 2025
The Bank of England says the effective interest rate on newly drawn mortgages rose to 4.20% in November, the first increase since February 2025, as mortgage borrowing and credit card growth also picked up.
Net mortgage borrowing by individuals rose to £4.5 billion in November 2025
Net mortgage borrowing by individuals rose to £4.5 billion in November 2025, up from £4.2 billion in October, while the effective interest rate on newly drawn mortgages increased for the first time since February 2025.
- October 2025
BSA research finds 29% of aspiring homeowners believe they will never own a home
Building Societies Association research published on 30 October 2025 found 29% of people who want to buy a home believe they never will, with deposits, repayments and stamp duty cited as barriers.
Mortgage borrowing and remortgage approvals fall in October 2025
Bank of England figures show net mortgage borrowing fell to £4.3 billion in October 2025, with remortgage approvals dropping to 33,100, the lowest since February 2025.
- September 2025
Effective rate on newly drawn mortgages fell to 4.19%, the lowest since January 2023
The effective interest rate on newly drawn mortgages fell by 7 basis points to 4.19% in September, the lowest since January 2023, the Bank of England has reported.
Mortgage borrowing by individuals rose to £5.5 billion in September 2025, the highest since March 2025
Bank of England data show net mortgage borrowing by individuals rose by £1.2 billion to £5.5 billion in September 2025, the highest since March, while the effective rate on new mortgages fell to 4.19%.
UK residential mortgage product count reaches series high of 7,062
The number of residential mortgage products in the UK rose by 220 over the month to 7,062 in early September 2025, the highest level since the series began in 2008.
- July 2025
Affordability, explanation and switching policy rules revised
The Financial Conduct Authority has updated mortgage rulebook provisions on remortgaging without additional borrowing, covering the more affordable test, explanation and warning requirements, and internal switching policies.
New rule on expired term customers took effect
A new Financial Conduct Authority rule took effect on 22 July 2025 requiring mortgage firms to deal fairly with customers whose mortgage term has expired with a balance still outstanding.
Bank of England introduces temporary exemption to the 15% loan-to-income limit
The Bank of England introduced a temporary exemption to its 15% cap on mortgages above 4.5 times income in July 2025, letting individual lenders exceed the limit if the market as a whole does not.
PRA and FCA amend Loan-to-Income flow limit rule to apply industry-wide
The Prudential Regulation Authority and Financial Conduct Authority have changed the loan-to-income flow limit so the 15% cap on mortgages above 4.5 times income applies across the industry rather than to each lender.
- June 2025
95% mortgage guarantee scheme made permanent
The government's 95% mortgage guarantee scheme, which was due to close on 30 June 2025, has been made permanently available, according to Which?.
Remortgaging approvals reach highest level since October 2022
Bank of England data show remortgage approvals rose to 41,800 in June 2025, the highest monthly figure since October 2022, alongside higher mortgage borrowing and consumer credit.
- May 2025
Equity Release Council launches Standards 2.0
The Equity Release Council launched Standards 2.0 in May 2025, adding a Consumer Charter and a product standard that waives early repayment charges for customers moving permanently into long-term care.
- March 2025
Green mortgage market grows from four products to over 90
The number of green mortgage products in the UK rose from four in 2019 to more than 90 in 2025, according to Green Finance Institute data, with almost 60 of them residential mortgages.