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Mortgage sales in 2025 rebound to highest level since 2021


By Goran Nastic

UK mortgage sales rose by more than 100,000 in 2025 to their highest level since 2021, with first-time buyers (FTBs) accounting for more than half of all mortgage sales, figures published today from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) have shown.

There were 717,519 mortgage sales across the UK in 2025, up from 617,295 in 2024, according to the official ONS data, Mortgage statistics, UK: 2025


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HNW investors reviewing wealth plans amid rising tax concerns

High net worth (HNW) investors are increasingly reviewing how they structure, protect, and pass on wealth as uncertainty around potential tax reforms in the upcoming Budget grows, according to Rathbones

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BoE base rate remains at 3.75%

The Bank of England (BoE) has held the base rate once again at 3.75%, as the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted six to three in favour of holding interest rates.

The central bank lowered the base rate from 4% to 3.75% in December 2025, and it has remained unchanged since

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FCA steps up crackdown on illegal P2P crypto trading in London

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), working with HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) and the Metropolitan Police Service, has taken further action against suspected illegal peer-to-peer (P2P) crypto trading in London

Majority of landlords have not had tenancy agreements checked by solicitors

Nine in 10 (90%) landlords have not had their most recent tenancy agreement reviewed by a solicitor, Lendlord has revealed

Pure Retirement

AI poised to reshape workplace pensions

Artificial intelligence is poised to reshape the UK defined contribution (DC) pensions market, with employers increasingly looking to use the technology to improve member communications, engagement and retirement outcomes, according to a new WTW survey
Financial services leaders say job has become ‘more complex’ since 2020

The vast majority of business leaders in the financial services sector have said their roles have become more complex since 2020, Alliance Manchester Business School (AMBS) has stated

Pure Retirement

Inflation rises by 3.1% in August

Consumer price index (CPI) inflation rose 3.1% in the 12 months to August, up from 2.9% the previous month, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has revealed.

On a monthly basis, CPI inflation rose 0.5%, up from 0.3% the previous year

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HNW investors reviewing wealth plans amid rising tax concerns

High net worth (HNW) investors are increasingly reviewing how they structure, protect, and pass on wealth as uncertainty around potential tax reforms in the upcoming Budget grows, according to Rathbones

Savers facing £10k-plus tax bills rise by 289%

An estimated 109,000 people will owe more than £10,000 in tax on their savings income in 2026-27, up from 28,000 in 2022-23, according to freedom of information data obtained by Paragon Bank

Advisers state evidencing tax wrappers 'takes more effort' in current environment

Over four in five advisers (85%) and paraplanners (83%) find evidencing tax wrapper decisions takes more effort in the current environment, AJ Bell has found

HMRC sets out pension/IHT information-sharing and payment processes

HMRC has published further detail on how pension schemes, personal representatives and beneficiaries will be expected to manage inheritance tax (IHT) on pension death benefits from 6 April 2027, including new information-sharing, withholding and direct-payment requirements

Restore Britain unveils plan to abolish FCA/PRA in their current form

Restore Britain has unveiled a plan to abolish the FCA and the PRA in their current form

More than one in 20 financial services complaints take over eight weeks to resolve

More than a fifth of complaints made to financial services firms take at least eight weeks to resolve, according to analysis by Huntswood of the latest FCA complaints data

FCA secures majority of victims’ money back from convicted fraudster

Victims of convicted fraudster, John Burford, are set to recover most of the money they invested after the FCA obtained a confiscation order against him

FCA decides to ban father and son following fraud and misuse of client money

The FCA has decided to ban a father and son from UK financial services after the High Court found that they had engaged in fraud and misused client money

BoE base rate remains at 3.75%

The Bank of England (BoE) has held the base rate once again at 3.75%, as the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted six to three in favour of holding interest rates. The central bank lowered the base rate from 4% to 3.75% in December 2025, and it has remained unchanged since

70 million savings accounts earn less than inflation

Almost 70 million adult savings accounts earn 3% or less in interest, which is lower than the CPI inflation rate of 3.1%, Spring has revealed

Two thirds of top easy access cash ISAs have ‘strings attached’

Only 33 of the top 100 easy access cash ISAs are classed as "clean", Spring has stated, as they come with no short-term bonus rates, withdrawal limits or other restrictions

One in five UK adults has no financial safety net

Financial anxiety is rising steeply across the UK, with one in five adults having no financial safety net and growing concern over investment, pension, mortgage and borrowing decisions, new research from Handelsbanken Wealth has warned. A third of UK adults (33%) now feel apprehensive about making investment decisions themselves, up from 26% last year, while concern around pensions has also risen from 19% to 26%

Triple lock faces fresh scrutiny as state pension set to exceed tax-free allowance

The state pension triple lock is facing renewed scrutiny after the latest figures put the full new state pension on course to exceed the personal tax allowance for the first time from April 2027. Latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures showed total pay increased by 3.9% between May-July 2025 and May-July 2026, meaning average earnings growth is currently on track to determine next April’s state pension increase under the triple lock

Two in five adults know where all their pensions are held

Just two in five (40%) UK adults know where all their private and workplace pensions are held, Aegon has revealed

Raindrop reunites savers with £2bn in lost pensions

Raindrop has said that since the launch of its pension-finding technology in 2020, it has recovered 230,000 lost or dormant pension pots for UK savers, valued at over £2bn

Rental arrears reach all-time low

The proportion of landlords experiencing rental arrears has fallen to an all-time low, as 26% reported arrears in the last year, Pegasus Insight has found. The firm’s latest Landlord Trends research showed that the latest data completes a sustained six-year decline from the 42% recorded at the peak of 2020

Cash ISA subscriptions jump to £95.6bn ahead of planned reforms

British savers subscribed to £135.7bn of adult ISAs in the 2024/25 tax year, up £32.7bn year on year, with Cash ISAs accounting for most of the increase, according to new HMRC data

Inflation rises by 3.1% in August

Consumer price index (CPI) inflation rose 3.1% in the 12 months to August, up from 2.9% the previous month, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has revealed. On a monthly basis, CPI inflation rose 0.5%, up from 0.3% the previous year

Quarter of Brits believe stocks and shares investments are too risky

More than one in four (27%) UK adults with at least £25,000 in investible assets believe that stocks and shares are too risky an investment, while many admit a lack of understanding to invest effectively, Rathbones has found

Overall savings product choice continues to beat records

Overall product choice in the savings market has continued to beat all-time high, increasing to 2,642 deals including ISAs in September, Moneyfacts has revealed. The firm’s latest UK Savings Trends Treasury Report found that excluding ISAs, product count rose to 1,894, which is the highest number of non-ISA products on record

AI poised to reshape workplace pensions

Artificial intelligence is poised to reshape the UK defined contribution (DC) pensions market, with employers increasingly looking to use the technology to improve member communications, engagement and retirement outcomes, according to a new WTW survey

AI will raise speed expectations for letting agents

Artificial intelligence is more likely to replace individual tasks than letting agents themselves, but the technology will raise expectations for faster service, smarter decision-making and greater efficiency across the lettings sector, Propoly has argued

Almost half of Gen Z say AI has changed their mind about a decision

Almost half of Gen Z adults say AI has influenced a decision they made, and a majority trust the technology, with AI playing a growing role in shaping personal and financial choices, according to research commissioned by Aegon

Financial services businesses risk ‘AI invisibility’ by ignoring reviews

The financial services sector is facing a "critical strategy-action gap" that puts many firms at risk of losing market share because they are becoming invisible in the AI answers consumers are using to make decisions, TrustPilot has stated

News in brief - 18 September 2026

Today's round up of developments coming out of the consumer finance space, featuring Skipton Building Society, JammJar, Darlington Building Society and ModaMortgages

News in brief - 17 September 2026

Today's round up of developments coming out of the consumer finance space, featuring Monmouthshire Building Society, Pepper Money, Saffron Building Society and Leeds Building Society

MBE London announces seminar schedule

Mortgage Business Expo (MBE) has announced its seminar schedule for MBE London, which will take place at the Business Design Centre on 20 October

Financial services leaders say job has become ‘more complex’ since 2020

The vast majority of business leaders in the financial services sector have said their roles have become more complex since 2020, Alliance Manchester Business School (AMBS) has stated

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In February 2026, we were recognised at the MoneyAge Mortgage Awards, taking home the title of ‘Later Life Lender of the Year’, with judges highlighting our rapid distribution growth, extensive adviser engagement and meaningful product enhancements. As an equity release provider, our approach is rooted in a holistic view of retirement, aiming to provide good customer outcomes with backing from the UK’s largest mutual life, pensions and investment company* – but what can we offer you and your clients?

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Scottish Widows Protection Director, Rose St Louis, discusses how reframing protection conversations can help to engage clients

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Saffron for Intermediaries discusses its latest lending offering on the MoneyAge blog

BLOG: Doing Good is Good Business

MoneyAge Awards winner Bespoke Advice discusses the key fundamentals of good financial planning in our latest blog piece

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