UK lenders approve more mortgages than expected in October, consumer lending cools

[LONDON] British lenders approved more mortgages than expected in October, despite concerns about finance minister Rachel Reeves’ budget, and consumer credit grew at a slower pace than in September, Bank of England data showed on Monday (Dec 1).

The BOE said 65,018 mortgages were approved in October, down from 65,647 in September and the lowest since May. Economists polled by Reuters had pointed to 64,200 approvals during the month.

Reeves raised taxes in last week’s budget with higher levies on expensive homes among the measures announced last week.

The BOE’s data showed approvals for people looking to re-mortgage fell by the most in October since February.

Net mortgage lending – which reflects completed house purchases – fell to a net £4.273 billion (S$7.32 billion) compared with a rise of £5.223 billion in September.

Simon Gammon, managing partner at Knight Frank Finance, said uncertainty about tax rises and a “steady drip of policy leaks” hit sentiment in the housing market.

“That said, the fall in approvals was small. Monthly transaction activity has been broadly in-line with pre-pandemic levels since the summer, which is a display of resilience given the weakening economy and the uncertain fiscal outlook. Aspects of that uncertainty have now passed and the Bank of England looks on course to cut the base rate in December.”

The BOE’s data also showed consumers borrowed at a slower rate ahead of Reeves’ tax and spending plan.

Net consumer borrowing rose by £1.1 billion in October, less than the £1.35 billion forecast in the Reuters poll of economists.

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The increase was below September’s £1.398 billion rise, leaving the annual rate of consumer credit growth unchanged at 7.2 per cent, joint-highest since October 2024.

Official data published ahead of the budget showed a drop in retail sales and consumer confidence in October. REUTERS