The mortgage market is facing uncertainty due to ongoing developments in the Middle East.

Affordability challenges had been easing slightly in recent months - mortgage rates were slowly coming down due to cuts to Bank Rate. In January 2026, the average monthly mortgage payment was 7% lower than the previous year.

Research from Rightmove has identified the UK towns that recorded the strongest house price growth last year.

The list was largely dominated by towns in Scotland and the north of England. Hawick in the Scottish Borders saw the biggest annual rise, with prices increasing by 18% in 2025. Durham followed with a 15% increase, while Stannington in Sheffield saw prices grow by 12%.

Last year saw significant housing reforms for renters and homebuyers – here’s a recap of what you need to know.

Change to renters’ rights

The Renters’ Rights Act received Royal Assent in October 2025 and will come into force in three phrases this year. The initial phase of the rollout in May will include the much-awaited end to Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions in England. Plus, all fixed term tenancies will automatically convert to periodic tenancies.

Data from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) indicates that more borrowers are opting for ultra-long mortgages in an effort to manage rising housing costs.

According to the analysis, in 2024 there were 116,276 mortgages taken out with repayment periods of 35 years or more. This is over three times the number sold in 2020, highlighting how borrowing conditions have changed significantly in recent years. As affordability challenges persist for buyers, longer mortgage terms help to reduce the cost of monthly repayments. While this can make finances easier to manage in the short term, it is more expensive in the long run.

End of year statistics for 2025 offer some reasons to be optimistic about the housing market.

According to Zoopla, house sales for 2025 hit 1.2 million, the highest level for three years. First-time buyers showed growing confidence as they accounted for 39% of transactions last year.

Meanwhile, house prices lagged last year, with the average house valued at £270,300 at the end of 2025. This is up 1.1% on the previous year but is lower than the 10-year average of 3.8% growth. Zoopla expects prices to rise by 1.5% in 2026 while Rightmove’s outlook is more positive, at 2%.

Research suggests that landlords may be forced to raise rents to account for tax hikes announced in the Autumn Budget.

From April 2027, landlords will face a 2% tax increase on their rental income - the basic rate of property income tax will rise from 20% to 22%, while the higher rate will increase from 40% to 42%. Those paying the additional rate will pay 47%.

Hoping to move or remortgage this year? Here’s how to get mortgage-ready in 2026.

Review your finances

Now that the busy festive period is over, why not take this opportunity to organise your finances. Go through your bank statements and identify where you can reduce your spending – not only will this help you save for a deposit, but it will make your mortgage application stronger in the eyes of a lender.

The start of a new year often prompts people to review their plans and for many, that might include a resolution to move home. As market conditions continue to evolve, prospective buyers and sellers might be wondering what will happen with property prices in 2026 and beyond.

A survey from LRG has revealed the three most influential factors when buying a property, excluding price and location.

 Updated kitchens and bathrooms were the important features, with 77% of respondents citing these as key influencers.

Data from the Bank of England shows that UK borrowers are currently favouring two-year fixed-rate deals.

 In Q2 of this year, half of new mortgages were two-year deals, with only 35% opting for five-year terms. Borrowers are probably hoping to remortgage to a cheaper deal if Bank Rate keeps falling over the next two years.

Savills has published its latest five-year outlook for the UK housing market, including predictions for house price growth between now and 2030.

 The report predicts that house price growth will be subdued in the short term, with the average home expected to rise in value by just 1.0% in 2025 and 2.0% in 2026. This slow pace is due to ongoing uncertainty about the economy and weak demand from buyers.

New data indicates that first-time buyers (FTBs) are taking out longer mortgages to help them move straight into their ‘forever home’.

 In August, a third (33.5%) of FTBs bought a semi-detached property, up 1.7% when compared with the same month in 2024. Meanwhile, only 19% purchased a flat, representing a 2.7% annual decline.

Millions of UK homeowners are choosing to renovate their existing home instead of moving.

 In England and Wales, about 1.7 million homes (one in 15 properties) have undergone significant renovation work. These homes are marked with ‘official improvement indicators’, showing that they have had major structural changes, such as an extension or loft conversion. Legally, Council Tax cannot be increased on homes with improvement indicators until the property is sold or there is a general revaluation of all domestic properties.

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Data from the Office of National Statistics shows that the average monthly mortgage repayment has surpassed £1,000 for the first time on record.

 In August, the typical monthly payment reached £1,002.27, indicating that, despite some cuts to Bank Rate over the last year, homeowners are still facing affordability challenges due to higher inflation. Less than a year ago, average repayments were below £950 and, in 2020, homeowners were paying an average of £680 per month. This sharp increase shows how much borrowing costs have risen in the last five years.

Data shows that the number of people buying a home with a Lifetime ISA (known as LISA) increased in the 2024/25 tax year.

 According to the statistics, 82,750 account holders withdrew money from their LISA to buy their first home, which is about 30,500 more than in the previous tax year.

Research has revealed the best UK commuter towns, offering lower house prices whilst being in proximity to major cities.

In July, the Labour government’s permanent Mortgage Guarantee Scheme became available, after the previous iteration supported over 56,000 mortgage completions.

 The old scheme, which ran from April 2021 to March 2025, was launched by Boris Johnson’s Conservative government. It helped 56,389 people to access mortgages with smaller deposits, with 3,180 completions in Q1 of this year.

Over 760,000 borrowers will be considering their mortgage options as their fixed-rate deals come to an end this year.

 Those with five-year deals about to expire may be anticipating sharp rises in their monthly bills; they will have fixed their mortgage in 2020, when interest rates were as low as 1.4%. Since then, rates have soared, meaning payments could increase by up to £300 a month.

A survey of homeowners has highlighted the savvy behaviours of today’s first-time buyers (FTBs).

 The report found that over half of FTBs are opting to buy a studio flat or a home with one or two bedrooms.

HMRC has warned buyers to be cautious of tax agents making false claims about Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT).

 Some homeowners have been wrongly advised that properties in need of repair are uninhabitable, so are eligible for non-residential rates of SDLT. Rogue agents are suggesting that, for a fee, they can secure a tax refund on behalf of the buyer.