The UK Mortgage Market: A Year of Progress, Pause and Potential

If there’s one thing 2025 has taught the mortgage industry, it’s the importance of resilience, matched by a willingness to adapt. After a turbulent few years, many brokers and lenders saw a more stable, albeit unpredictable, environment take shape this year.

It was a year of two halves: early momentum gave way to a cautious end, driven by economic headwinds and policy uncertainty. But it was also a year of learning, where smarter tech, improved affordability and greater clarity on regulation created opportunities for brokers.

We’ve brought together views from across the sector to reflect on the year, its surprises, its sticking points, and what brokers can take forward into 2026.

A Year of Two Halves

For many, 2025 began with cautious optimism. “The market was a lot calmer… and there was more competition, which led to more choice and lower prices for customers,” notes Jeremy Duncombe, Managing Director at Accord Mortgages.

Stephanie Charman, CEO of AMI, agrees, highlighting strong early demand: “stabilisation of swap rates and reductions in bank base rate brought about competitive product pricing creating opportunities, particularly for first-time buyers, with completions up 62% in Q1.”

But that momentum didn’t last. Johnny Graham, Lender Relationship Manager at Connells recalls, “Ultimately, the budget had little impact”. He reflected that speculation leading up to it slowed things down, causing the market to go into ‘brace’ mode for a couple of months

Nathan Reilly, Commercial Director at Twenty7Tec, describes the shift in tone: “H1 was buoyant, positive, with purchase momentum developing… but H2 felt frustrating. Government rhetoric cooled demand and fed that ‘wait and see’ mentality”.

Complexity and Caution

Even in a quieter year, borrower journeys were far from simple. Stephanie Charman pointed to the complexity of refinancing in 2025, with borrowers exiting vastly different deals: “Some were exiting high 2-year fixed rates from the post-mini-budget period, while others exiting longer-term deals faced significant rate shocks”.

That backdrop made the role of brokers more essential than ever. Greg Cunnington, Head of Strategic Partnerships at L&G Mortgage Club, noted that criteria changes throughout the year opened new doors, especially for first-time buyers: “We saw positive affordability changes in the market… brokers who are upskilled and adapting to client needs will remain front and centre”.

At the same time, regulatory activity became a defining feature of the year. “The Mortgage Rule Review and the proposal to remove the advice interaction trigger dominated 2025,” says Stephanie. AMI warned these changes risk weakening protections and diminishing the value of advice.

Martin Reynolds, CEO of SimplyBiz, echoed that view: “The outcomes of these discussions will be felt into 2026 and beyond… and they’ve created uncertainty in the market for both advisers and lenders”.

Finding Opportunity Through Innovation

While external forces shaped much of the year, some of the most exciting developments came from within the industry itself, particularly around the adoption of AI and digital tools.

“The biggest opportunities we’ve experienced this year are around using AI to assist brokers and improve processes,” says Johnny Graham, who’s seen increased efficiency and stronger retention as a result.

At Twenty7Tec, innovation became a core focus. “We’ve rebuilt our data analytics platform, INSIGHT,” says Nathan Reilly. “There’s been a real obsession with speed and accuracy, so advisers can have full trust when completing product and criteria research”.

Greg Cunnington added a note of balance here: “Those that work with AI will see large productivity gains… to free them up to do what they do best – speak to clients, and give advice.” His view reinforces the importance of tech enabling, not replacing, advice.

Stephanie Charman agrees. “We support innovation, but always advocate for safe adoption. It must enhance human-led advice, not undermine it”.

Broker Learnings from 2025

Despite a more stable rate environment, the shifting policy landscape and evolving consumer behaviours kept brokers on their toes. What stood out was the importance of consistency, communication and curiosity.
“Contact, talk to, and educate your clients,” advises Martin Reynolds. He emphasised that by giving clear updates, brokers help maintain loyalty and may also generate valuable referrals.

Nathan Reilly puts it more bluntly: “Communication, reassurance, and personalisation in delivering advice has never been more important… advisers who find time to be curious and plan ahead will improve effectiveness and client experience”.

And Jeremy Duncombe reminds brokers that this isn't just about transactions: “the need for rounded advice can be supported by technology, to create capacity for brokers and improve the customer journey for clients.”

Final Thoughts

2025 didn’t deliver the sweeping transformation some might have hoped for, but in many ways, it laid the groundwork for the next phase of broker growth. It was a year of small shifts with big consequences, where strategic adoption of tech, stronger client engagement, and an understanding of regulation all mattered.

As we move into 2026, brokers who can balance compliance with creativity, and efficiency with empathy, will be best equipped to thrive.