The Council of Mortgage Lenders estimates that gross mortgage lending reached £22.5 billion in August – 7% higher than July’s lending total of £21.1 billion. In addition to the month-on-month increase, lending went up 15% year-on-year, from £19.5 billion in August 2015. This is the highest August figure since 2007 when gross lending reached £33.6 billion.
Commenting on market conditions in this month’s market commentary, CML senior economist Mohammad Jamei said:
“Widely voiced fears in recent months about the housing market have proved to be wide of the mark. Prospects for house purchase activity post-referendum look slightly subdued, when compared to late 2015 and early 2016. However, sentiment in the market recovered in August. This is reflected in stronger-than-expected transaction figures, and in our gross lending estimate. This recovery in sentiment is likely to be down to a number of different factors, including the Bank of England’s monetary stimulus and its introduction of the Term Funding Scheme in August. A subsequent uptick in approvals is anticipated, albeit still at levels lower than earlier this year as affordability constraints and lack of properties on the market for sale continue to bear down on borrowers. The Bank also continues to indicate another rate cut on the cards, if medium term prospects remain unchanged.”[1]
[1] https://www.cml.org.uk/news/press-releases/late-summer-rise-for-gross-mortgage-lending-in-august/
