Over 20% of all mortgage approvals went to small deposit buyers according to e.surv

Latest e.surv Mortgage Monitor February 2018 headlines ‘Small deposit mortgages kickstart new year.’

The February Mortgage Monitor revealed a positive start to the year for the UK mortgage market, with an increase in the number of small deposit mortgages being approved.

The latest Mortgage Monitor from e.surv found that 21% of all approvals went to small deposit buyers, well above recent months. In December 2017, 18.2% of loans were to this part of the market while the month before it was just 17.2%.

Richard Sexton, a Director of e.surv Chartered Surveyors, comments were:

“We are now starting to see the effects of the Bank of England’s decision to increase the base rate filtering through to the market.

“While it is now two months on from the base rate rise, we are starting to see those who were alarmed by the talk of increased rates finalise new mortgage deals, whether with their existing lender or elsewhere.

“First-time buyers and others with smaller deposits have experienced a strong start to the year, with the proportion of loans rising compared to the end of 2017.

“While other types of borrowers have been squeezed, the larger overall mortgage market means that more people are getting approved than a month ago.”

Richard Sexton, a Director at e.surv Chartered Surveyors, concluded:

“We know that raising a deposit is one of the most difficult tasks would-be homeowners face. House hunters in London face an uphill struggle to get themselves a big enough deposit to buy, but there are places in the UK which offer much more fertile ground.

“In the North West and Yorkshire there are more mortgages approved to buyers with smaller deposits than those with a large cash pile, both are ideal places to get your foot onto the property ladder.”

Read the e.surv Mortgage Monitor report February 2018 in full click here.

 

Allen Walkey

Highly experienced businessman with a successful career in property sales and investment both in the UK and abroad. Now a freelance writer and blogger for the property and Investment Industry, keeping readers up-to-date with changes and events in a rapidly changing world.

You May Also Enjoy

Breaking News

First-time buyer reform could reshape conveyancing risk landscape

The Government’s consultation on replacing the Lifetime ISA with a new first-time buyer savings product by April 2028, and review of the £450,000 property price cap, could have significant legal and transactional implications for buyers and property professionals alike. According to Beswicks Legal, the reform is a live conveyancing risk issue already affecting transactions on…
Read More
Breaking News

Property Redress reports Complaint enquiries rise 47%

Complaint enquiries rise 47% as Property Redress annual report shows faster resolutions and higher early settlements 47% increase in complaint enquiries in 2025 (4,220 vs 2,863 in 2024) 41% more cases accepted by December compared to the previous year Average resolution time reduced to 34 days (down from 39 days in 2024) 53% of cases resolved at early…
Read More
Breaking News

Breaking Property News 2/3/26

Daily bite-sized proptech and property news in partnership with Proptech-X.   Rightmove’s CEO Johan Svanstrom … ‘is a man under pressure’ Rightmove’s ‘Unthinkable Event’ Thought Leadership by Mal McCallion CEO at ModelProp, guiding AI-driven growth in property. The #Rightmove CEO came out swinging on Friday when his company’s latest set of annual results, for 2025, showed that they…
Read More
bank of england interest rate
Breaking News

Bank of England Money and Credit Report – January 2026

Overview These monthly statistics on the amount of, and interest rates on, borrowing and deposits by households and businesses are used by the Bank’s policy committees to understand economic trends and developments in the UK banking system. Key points: et borrowing of mortgage debt by individuals decreased to £4.1 billion in January, from £4.5 billion…
Read More
Breaking News

Nationwide house prices showing a 0.3% increase

Thoughts from the Industry Nathan Emerson, CEO of Propertymark comments: “Today’s figures from Nationwide show continued upward movement in house prices, reflecting resilient demand in many parts of the UK despite ongoing affordability constraints. “While rising prices may signal confidence in the market, they also reinforce the need for policies that support supply and improve…
Read More
Breaking News

House price growth holds steady in February

Annual house price growth unchanged at 1.0% House prices were up 0.3% month on month Continued improvement in affordability helped drive first-time buyer activity in 2025 Commenting on the figures, Robert Gardner, Nationwide’s Chief Economist, said: “Annual house price growth remained steady at 1.0% in February. Prices increased by 0.3% month on month, after taking…
Read More