Gross mortgage lending up 43% on last year

by Aaron Strutt

Mar 21 2014

The Council of Mortgage Lenders estimates that total gross mortgage lending was £15.2 billion in February. This is 6% lower than January's figure of £16.1 billion, but 43% higher than the £10.6 billion lent in February last year. It is the highest total for a February since 2008.

CML chief economist Bob Pannell was positive about the latest lending figures. He said: “Housing market indicators have continued to be strong over recent months, once seasonal factors have been taken into account.

“First-time buyers have benefited most from the government's Help to Buy initiatives, with the more recent mortgage guarantee scheme now starting to push typical loan-to-value levels higher.

“The housing market got a further boost from this week's Budget. This, together with benign developments in the economy more widely, should bolster short-term sentiment and activity.”

March 21, 2014