Pandemic house price boost adds to affordability troubles
The pandemic-led property boom leads to affordability problems, as some parts of the UK experience 10 years' price growth in the space of just two years.
The effect of the pandemic on home moves and consequent house price rises has meant the average house price has increased five times more than the average price of flats since 2020.
In the last two years, the search for space and record low mortgage rates led to a surge in demand for new homes - and that demand pushed up house prices as buyers competed to secure their dream properties.
Some parts of the country have seen 10-years’ worth of price growth in just two years, such as Wales, which recorded a 27% increase in house prices.
Similarly, the North East and Scotland, which had experienced below average growth since 2009, has seen four-to-five years’ growth in the space of just two years.
In the South, the capital lagged behind the rest of the country in terms of house price growth.
Yet despite this, the average home in London has risen by £100,000 in value since the pandemic began.
Are we shifting to a buyers' market as more homes are reduced in price?
Conversely, the average flat in the capital has risen by just 2.4%, the weakest growth across the country, as buyers prioritised their needs for more space and a place to work from home.
These sizeable increases in house prices over the pandemic are set to be compounded by the impact of higher mortgage rates on market activity as we move towards the end of 2022 and into 2023.
Key takeaways
- The average house price has risen five times faster than the average flat since the pandemic
- Some parts of the country have seen 10 years' price growth in just two years
- The average home in London has risen by £100,000 since the pandemic began
Rising mortgage rates set to reduce buying power by 28%
With mortgage rates set to hit 5% by the end of this year, which areas are going to be hit hardest and what can buyers do to combat rising rates?
The macro backdrop for the housing market has evolved rapidly over the summer
Central banks have increased interest rates to bring down inflation.
Rising energy prices are adding to the cost-of-living squeeze and UK consumer confidence has hit an all-time low.
The UK government has responded with tax cuts and an energy price cap to support housing demand.
But while changes to stamp duty will boost some segments, the recent spike in borrowing costs are set to push mortgage rates higher.
Most new loans are on fixed rates and the costs to secure financing for these mortgages does not directly follow base rates.
That said, costs for new mortgages have surged recently, and mortgage rates are on track to reach 5% by the end of this year and even higher.
That’s more than double the rates at the start of 2022.
Our research shows that higher mortgage rates will reduce buying power by as much as 28% as rates rise from 2% to 5%.
That’s if buyers want to keep their monthly mortgage payments the same.
And the impact of this is likely to last into 2023.
Buyers now have four options to help combat rising mortgage rates
1: Put down larger deposits
2: Allocate more income to mortgage costs
3: Adjust their budgets by looking into smaller properties or cheaper areas
4: Wait on the sidelines until the outlook for borrowing costs becomes clearer.
Are we shifting to a buyers' market as more homes are reduced in price?
Mortgage approvals up 17% in August
Mortgage approvals for house purchases increased by 17% M/M, seasonally adjusted, to 74,300 in August, according to the Bank of England, showing the resilience of demand.
This is the highest level since January this year, where mortgage approvals hit 74,500, and above the 12-month pre-pandemic average up to February 2020 of 66,800.
The rise follows a downward trend over the previous several months, but suggests buyers and homeowners were getting ahead, ensuring they secured finance before rates rose.
On a non-seasonally adjusted basis, the Y/Y increase was 0.9%.
Areas with expensive homes and highest growth hit hardest
Rising mortgage rates are set to have the biggest impact on areas where homes are already at the higher end of the market, or where house prices have surged over the pandemic.
Pandemic house price boost adds to affordability troubles
The average UK home has risen by 8.2% - or £19,650 - in the last 12 months and although the quarterly growth rate is slowing, there are no immediate signs of a major slowdown in price inflation.
Looking ahead, higher mortgage rates will have the greatest impact on activity in these higher value markets and areas which have registered the greatest surge in prices over the the last two years.
Key takeaways
- Mortgage costs have surged recently, and mortgage rates are on track to reach 5% by the end of this year
- Buyers now have four options to combat rising mortgage rates:
- put down larger deposits
- allocate more income to mortgage costs
- adjust budgets by looking into smaller homes or cheaper areas
- wait until the outlook for borrowing costs becomes clearer
- Areas with more expensive homes are set to be hit hardest by the rising rates
Are we shifting to a buyers’ market as more homes are reduced in price?
After two years of being a red-hot sellers’ market, it looks like the UK housing market is shifting back to becoming a buyers’ market.
Over the spring and summer this year, an increasing number of homes for sale underwent price reductions.
And there has been a clear upward trend in the proportion of listings which have had asking prices reduced by 5% or more.
Pandemic house price boost adds to affordability troubles
Our latest data shows 6.1% of homes for sale have been reduced in price this year, the highest level since before the pandemic, although re-pricing is a common seasonal trend as we enter the autumn market.
After two years of being a red-hot sellers’ market, it looks like the UK housing market is shifting back to becoming a buyers’ market.
Rising mortgage rates set to reduce buying power by 28%
However, these price adjustments are to be expected as the market transitions from one where demand greatly exceeded supply to one where buyer demand is reducing.
The reductions don't mean we're about to see big price falls, but they do suggest house price growth will start to slow at the end of this year and into next.
That means anyone looking to sell their home this autumn and winter - or next year - will need to make sure their house is priced at the right level to ensure a sale.
And while demand for homes will weaken, we still expect ongoing pandemic and cost-of-living pressures to stimulate homeowners to want to move, while being more cautious on pricing.
Key takeaways
- Over the spring and summer this year, an increasing number of homes for sale underwent price reductions
- However, this is to be expected as the market transitions from one where demand greatly exceeded supply to one where buyer demand is reducing
- The reductions don't mean we're about to see big price falls, but they do suggest house price growth will start to slow at the end of this year and into next
Record number of mortgages pulled by lenders
More than 900 deals were withdrawn in one day as lenders looked to reprice their loans. But the move is set to be temporary as lenders reassess their rates.
Mortgage lenders have withdrawn deals at a record rate in response to the current market volatility.
More than 900 products – representing one third of the mortgage market – were pulled overnight between 27 and 28 September, the highest level since financial information group Moneyfacts started keeping records.
More than a dozen lenders either withdrew or repriced their mortgages, including big names such as Halifax, Santander and Nationwide Building Society.
Their actions left 2,661 different products available, less than half the 5,315 deals that were on offer in December last year, before the Bank of England started to increase interest rates.
But homeowners were reassured that the situation is likely to be temporary, while lenders reassess the interest rates they charge in response to the current market volatility.
Rachel Springall, finance expert at Moneyfacts, said: “Borrowers would be wise to keep calm over the current volatility in the mortgage market and seek the advice from an independent broker.
“Various lenders have been very vocal that their decision to withdraw products is a temporary measure, amid the uncertainty over interest rates."
Why is this happening?
Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng mini-Budget triggered a steep fall in the value of the pound, with investors worried his plans to cut taxes would boost inflation.
The Bank of England has already increased interest rates from 0.1% to 2.25% in a bid to bring inflation down from its current 40-year high.
But economists have warned that it may now have to hike the cost of borrowing even higher than previously thought, with some predicting they could peak at 5% next year, while money markets have priced in a rise to 6% by May 2023.
Speculation that interest rates will have to rise faster and further than previously thought has led to lenders’ own borrowing costs increasing from 3.6% in early September to 5% now.
This rise means lenders can no longer afford to offer mortgages at their previous rates, so they have withdrawn their products while they reprice them.
What does it mean for homeowners?
The good news for homeowners is that lenders are expected to relaunch their ranges once they have repriced them.
It is worth noting that, unlike at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic when lenders withdrew products for people with small deposits, mortgages have been pulled across nearly all areas of the market, with people looking to borrow 75% of their home’s value seeing the biggest fall in choice.
This suggests that the lenders do simply want to reassess the rates they charge and not that they have lost their appetite to lend to certain types of borrower.
The bad news is that when they do relaunch their ranges, interest rates will definitely be higher.
The average cost of a two-year fixed rate mortgage has already increased from 4.24% at the beginning of September to 4.81% now, while interest rate charged on a typical five-year fixed rate deal has risen from 4.33% to 4.76% during the same period.
Economists are predicting the Bank of England will make a significant increase to interest rates when it next meets in early November, possibly raising the Bank Rate by as much as 1% in one go.
As a result, mortgage rates are likely to get significantly more expensive in the months ahead.
What should I do?
If you are on your lender’s standard variable rate – the rate you revert to when your mortgage deal comes to an end – you should remortgage as soon as possible.
Although mortgage rates have risen, at 4.81%, the average two-year fixed rate loan is still cheaper than the average standard variable rate at 5.4%. As a result, switching would save someone with a £200,000 mortgage around £70 a month.
If you have six months or less left on your current mortgage deal, you should also move quickly to secure your next one.
Lenders will let people ‘book’ a new rate between three to six months before their current one ends.
The situation is harder to call if you have more than six months left on a fixed rate or tracker product, as you may incur penalties if you exit the mortgage early.
Even so, in some cases, it may be worth doing this to enable you to secure a new deal before mortgage rates rise further.
As each case will be different, you may want to consider consulting a mortgage broker to help you decide what the best course of action is for you.
It is worth noting that five-year fixed rate deals are now cheaper than two-year ones – reversing the normal situation in which homeowners have to pay a premium for the security of having their rate fixed for a longer period of time.
This suggests that while markets anticipate steep rises in interest rates in the short-term, they expect rates to be back on their way down again after a couple of years.
Key takeaways
- More than 900 products, representing one third of the mortgage market, were pulled overnight between 27 and 28 September
- The situation is likely to be temporary while lenders reassess the rates they charge following predictions interest rates could hit 6%
- The average cost of a two-year fixed rate mortgage has risen from 4.24% at the beginning of September to 4.81% now
What the weak pound means for the mortgage market
The value of the pound has tumbled following Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng’s mini-Budget. We take a look at what it’s likely to mean for mortgage rates.
The value of the pound has fallen steeply since Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng delivered his mini-Budget.
The pound briefly hit a record low against the US dollar on Monday, as markets digested the implications of tax cuts and higher government borrowing for the UK economy.
Many economists have predicted the giveaways will stoke inflation and lead to higher interest rates.
We take a look at why the pound has dived and what this means for homeowners.
Why has the pound fallen so much?
The pound has been weakening for some time against the dollar in line with other global currencies as the US central bank, the Federal Reserve, increases interest rates in the USA, drawing in international investors.
The pound has weakened further due to market uncertainty over the funding costs for the spending changes announced in the mini budget.
Kwarteng announced tax cuts and other support measures worth an estimated £45 billion in his mini-Budget.
He believes putting more money in people’s pockets and reducing the amount of tax businesses have to pay will increase demand and help to drive economic growth.
In fact, he has set a target for GDP to reach 2.5% a year over the medium term, arguing that growing the UK economy will reduce the UK’s debt-to-GDP ratio in a fiscally sustainable way.
Unfortunately, the markets don’t agree.
Investors are worried that the Chancellor’s giveaways will lead to higher inflation, which will mean higher interest rates that will reduce economic growth.
The Bank of England has already had to raise interest rates aggressively in a bid to tackle inflation, which is currently at a 40-year high.
It has increased the Bank Rate from 0.1% in December to 2.25% now.
Investors are concerned that the Bank of England will now have to raise rates even higher than previously thought to get inflation back under control.
At the same time, they think the tax cuts will lead to higher government borrowing.
This has made them lose confidence in the pound, leading to them selling the currency, causing its value to drop.
What does the fall in the pound mean?
The value of currencies fluctuates all the time. But the recent drop in the pound is of a different order of magnitude, with the currency at one point losing nearly 5% of its value against the US dollar.
This is important because global commodities – everything from oil to grain – are priced in US dollars.
As a result, the drop in the pound means the cost of everything the UK imports has become more expensive, which will drive inflation higher.
In order to control inflation, the Bank of England may have to hike interest rates even more aggressively than previously thought.
How high could interest rates go?
Before the mini-Budget, economists were predicting interest rates would peak at between 3% and 4% in the middle of next year.
The money markets now expect them to reach 6% by May. If this happened, it would represent a 3.75% increase from the current level of 2.25%.
But it is important to stress that this is just a prediction - markets can be volatile and fluctuate in times of greater uncertainty..
Markets are less confident in the UK government’s plans, especially given the fact that the proposals were not accompanied by an independent forecast from the Office for Budget Responsibility.
Hopefully If the government can regain their confidence, the pound should strengthen again, and interest rates may not have to rise so steeply.
What happens next?
There is speculation that the Bank of England will have to step in to help restore confidence in the pound, either by holding an emergency meeting to increase interest rates, or raising them steeply at its scheduled meeting in early November.
Unfortunately, the increase would need to be dramatic to make a difference, with traders betting rates could be increased to just below 4% by November.
What does this mean for mortgages?
Mortgage rates reached record lows in early 2022 but higher inflation and rising interest rates means higher borrowing costs for new buyers using a mortgage and those looking to refinance.
Since December last year, average mortgage rates have risen across the board as the cost of money for banks has risen.
If interest rates do rise to 6% by May, and mortgage rates increase by the same amount, it would add £465 a month to a £200,000 mortgage.
That is a pretty sizable increase for new borrowers.
Existing borrowers will have had to prove to their bank they could afford a 6 or 7% mortgage rate to get a mortgage in the last 5 years, so there is some insulation to higher rates but perhaps less so at a time of rising living costs.
There are steps homeowners can take to protect themselves.
What should I do?
If you are currently on a fixed rate mortgage, you don’t need to do anything, as the mortgage rate you are charged will stay the same for your product term, usually two or five years.
If you are on your lender’s standard variable rate – the rate you are automatically put on when your mortgage deal ends – you should try to remortgage as soon as possible.
The average cost of a two-year fixed rate mortgage is currently 4.24%, while a five-year one is 4.33%.
If you take out one of these deals now, your interest rate will stay the same for two or five years – depending on the term you opt for – by which time inflation should be back under control and interest rates could be heading down again.
If you are currently on a tracker mortgage, under which the interest rate charged moves up and down in line with changes to the Bank Rate, you may want to consider exiting your deal early in order to take out a fixed rate one.
But before you do so, be sure to check whether you will incur any exit penalties, as these may wipe out the savings you would make.
Equally, if you only have a few months left on a fixed rate deal, you may want to consider exiting it to take out a new one before interest rates rise further.
Again, it is important to weigh up the penalties you would pay against the potential savings you would make.
It is also worth remembering that many lenders will let you ‘book’ a new mortgage deal up to three to six months before your current one ends, which may enable you to secure a new rate without having to pay an early redemption penalty.
What does this mean for the housing market?
The surge in mortgage rates means buying power in the housing market will be hit, compounding the rising cost of living and economic uncertainty. House price growth will slow and we are set to move to more of a buyers market.
However, 25% of sales involve no mortgage and a large proportion of other sales have small to mid sized loans which will reduce the impact on borrowers. The greatest impact will be felt by those wanting to move, taking on more debt to buy a larger home or buying their first home.
The Chancellor announced in the mini-Budget that the threshold at which stamp duty is paid had been doubled to £250,000, in a bid to kick-start activity.
But rapidly rising interest rates, which will reduce the amount people can afford to borrow, is likely to more than offset any boost provided by the stamp duty cut.
Key takeaways
- The value of the pound has fallen steeply since Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng delivered his mini-Budget, briefly hitting a record low against the US dollar
- The situation is expected to lead to higher interest rates, which could hit 6% by May
- Mortgage rates are also expected to rise, which would hit the buying power of households and lead to a sharp slowdown in the housing market
What the stamp duty cuts mean for buyers
The level at which the tax kicks in has been doubled to £250,000 for home movers and £425,000 for first-time buyers.
The level at which stamp duty kicks in has doubled, saving some home buyers thousands of pounds.
Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng announced that the tax would not be charged on the first £250,000 of a property purchase for people moving home, up from the current level of £125,000.
To help people get on to the property ladder, no stamp duty will be paid on the first £425,000 of a property worth up to £625,000 bought by first-time buyers.
In the previous scheme, first time buyers were not charged stamp duty on the first £300,000 of a home costing up to £500,000.
Kwarteng said: “Cuts to stamp duty will get the housing market moving and support first-time buyers to put down roots.”
The changes came into force from midnight on Friday 23 September and will be permanent.
The new threshold only applies in England and Northern Ireland, as Scotland and Wales set their own property transaction taxes.
Our take on the stamp duty cuts
Based on the value of homes across England and Wales, it’s likely 8 million homes - 31% - will be taken out of stamp duty.
It’s great news for the lower end of the housing market, including first time buyers and those with a budget of up to £250,000.
And areas where house price growth is already strongest, as values rise quickly off a low base, will benefit – places like Oldham, Wigan and Nottingham.
But the changes are unlikely to help buyers of homes worth £250,000 to £925,000 who pay the higher 5% rate. This band has grown by 10% in the last year and includes 13.6 million homes.
Director of Research, said:
“We welcome today’s changes to stamp duty, which will significantly reduce barriers for first time buyers and support those at the lower end of the market.
“However, the reforms do little to reduce the burden for those at the middle to upper price bands, which account for almost half of all property sales.
“Stamp duty is starting to resemble income tax, where the more you earn the more you pay, especially if the bands don't move.
“If we are to significantly mobilise the housing market, greater changes are needed to offset the impact of higher mortgage rates - particularly in London and the South East where house prices are highest and where higher mortgage rates will have the greatest impact in 2023."
Why has stamp duty been cut?
The housing market is a major contributor to the UK economy, not just because of the jobs directly involved in the sector, but also because moving house tends to boost people’s spending, as they purchase new furniture and kitchen appliances.
Today’s mini budget from the Chancellor aims to increase the country’s economic growth at a time when it is slowing down, with the Bank of England warning that the UK may already be in recession.
The housing market is also showing signs of slowing, as consumers become more cautious in the face of rising interest rates and living costs.
The Chancellor hopes that cutting stamp duty will get the housing market moving again.
Will the stamp duty cuts increase housing market activity?
The previous stamp duty holiday, introduced by Kwarteng’s predecessor Rishi Sunak, led to a surge in activity.
But this was partly because the cut was only temporary, giving people an incentive to bring forward purchasing decisions to benefit from the tax break.
It was also more generous, with stamp duty waived on the first £500,000 of a property purchase, while it came as the Covid-19 pandemic triggered a once-in-a-lifetime reassessment of our housing needs.
But this time around the reduction is permanent, meaning people do not have a limited period in which to benefit from it.
It also comes after mortgage rates have more than doubled since the start of the year, rising from 2% to more than 4%, offsetting the savings buyers will make from lower stamp duty bills.
And the cuts don’t do much for those looking at a house in the £250,000 to £925,000 price band. This band has grown by 10% in the last year and includes 13.6 million homes, mostly in London and the South East – where people will also feel the biggest impact of mortgage rate rises.
Even so, the move has been welcomed by estate agents.
Jeremy Leaf, a former RICS residential chairman, said: “The Chancellor clearly recognises the dangers in terms of reduced revenue from stamp duty, given the recent reduction in housing market activity, and has taken steps to boost the market.
“The stamp duty cut, particularly for first-time buyers, should encourage those at the first rung of the housing ladder to take the plunge, which will be good not just for the market but for job and social mobility across the board, as well as the wider economy.”
What are the new stamp duty rates?
The new stamp duty rates for those buying a property to live in are:
| Property price | Stamp duty rate |
| Up to £250,000 | 0% |
| £250,001 to £925,000 | 5% |
| £925,001 to £1.5 million | 10% |
| £1.5 million and above | 12% |
GOV.UK
You pay in slabs, so 2% on the home value up to £250,000 and 5% on the proportion between £250,001 and £925,000, and so on. The highest bracket remains at 12% for any value over £1.5 million.
As a result, while someone who previously bought a home costing £250,000 would have paid £2,500 in stamp duty, they will now not pay anything, while someone purchasing a £500,000 home will see their bill drop from £15,000 to £12,500.
The previous stamp duty bands were:
| Property price | Stamp duty percentage to pay |
| £0 - £125,000 | 0% |
| £125,000 - £250,000 | 2% |
| £250,000 - £925,000 | 5% |
| £925,000 - £1.5m | 10% |
| £1.5m+ | 12% |
What other housing announcements were there?
The Chancellor also announced plans to boost the supply of housing through releasing more land for new build developments.
This will be done through increasing the disposal of surplus government land for housing developments.
Kwarteng also said Investment Zones, which will have liberalised planning rules and targeted tax cuts to encourage the building of homes, will be set up in 38 local authorities.
In the past, the shortage of homes for sale has created a mismatch between supply and demand, pushing house prices higher.
Key takeaways
- The level at which stamp duty kicks in has been doubled from £125,000 to £250,000
- The threshold at which first-time buyers start paying the tax has increased to £425,000 on homes costing up to £625,000
- Home-movers in the lower price brackets will save up to £2,500 and first time buyers can save up to £11,250
- These changes remove 8 million homes from stamp duty payments, but greater changes are needed to offset the impact of higher mortgage rates
Are solar panels worth the money?
Thinking about getting solar panels? They can be a great way to save on energy bills but there’s a lot to weigh up. Here’s our guide to solar panels and whether they’re worth the cost.
Want to reduce your carbon footprint and save on energy bills?
More people are choosing solar panels to do just that, with the number of projects rising by two thirds between 2019 and 2021, according to Barbour API.
Solar panels generate clean energy and reduce your reliance on the national grid. They can cut your carbon emissions by up to 1.6 tonnes a year and save you hundreds on your electricity bills.
But at an average cost of £6,500, they don’t come cheap. It could take you more than nine years to make your money back, depending on the type of system you go for.
Let’s take a look at the costs and considerations of solar panels and if they’re worth it in the long run.
1. How much do solar panels cost to install?
The average cost for a solar panel system comes in at around £6,500, so it’s definitely not a small investment.
That figure’s based on a 4.2kWp solar panel system across just under 30 square metres of your roof. It’s about the right size to cover the electricity of a three bedroom semi-detached house with four people living there.
As you’d expect, the cost of solar panels rises with the size of the system and the efficiency of the panels.
A smaller 3kWp system will bring the cost down to around £5,000, while a larger 6kWp one could set you back £11,000.
But the more you spend up front, the more you’re likely to save on energy costs.
If you live in a listed home or a conservation area, don’t forget to factor in the cost of planning permission.
2. How much money can you save with solar panels?
The numbers around solar panels are looking even better now that energy costs are rising again from October 2022.
When electricity costs 24p per kWh, solar panels could cut your electricity bill by £274 between October 2022 and April 2023 alone (The Eco Experts).
They reckon the average UK household with a new set of solar panels will now break even in 9.9 years.
But how much you can save varies, and it comes down to how efficient your system is, as well as how and when you use electricity in your home.
For example, you’ll save more money if you’re at home using your appliances during the day when the solar panels are active.
Work out what you could save with this solar energy calculator from the Energy Saving Trust.
3. How much value do solar panels add to your home?
With solar panel installations only really picking up in the last five years, it’s hard to put a figure on exactly how much value they’ll add to your home.
However, recent research has found that solar panels boost a home's value by 25% compared to similar properties in the same area (Admiral Money). That makes them the most value-adding home improvement in 2022.
And the same study found that people will pay 24% more for homes with an EPC rating of C or higher.
On top of this, our data shows that homes with an EPC rating of A or B are selling twice as fast as they were in early 2018, taking 28 days compared to the previous 56.
While all homes are selling faster now, homes rated F or G are only selling 15 days faster than in 2018 at 29 days.
And more buyers are choosing new-builds to meet their green priorities.
So it’s clear that energy efficiency is moving up on buyers’ lists of priorities.
Look at what you can do to improve your home's efficiency before – or at the same time as – getting solar panels. The overall energy efficiency of your home could have a big impact when you come to sell.
4. Do you need a solar battery as well?
The short answer is no – a solar battery is not essential. But having a battery means you can make the most of the solar energy your panels generate. They cost between £1,200 and £6,000.
A solar battery stores your solar energy. When it gets dark in the evening, you can keep using the power from your panels and you’re less likely to need to use electricity from the national grid.
If you do not have a battery, the national grid becomes your back-up. When it gets dark you’ll go back to paying for your electricity.
But without a battery, you can also send more electricity back into the national grid through the Smart Export Guarantee.
5. Can you solar charge an electric vehicle?
Solar panels and electric vehicles are a great combo if you want to go the extra mile for the environment.
You can use solar power to charge an electric vehicle and you just need an inverter unit, which converts solar power to electricity.
Keep in mind that you'll need a solar battery if you want to charge your car at night, otherwise you'll use electricity from the national grid.
6. How does the Smart Export Guarantee scheme work?
If you want to make your money back faster, have a look into the Smart Export Guarantee.
The government-backed scheme was introduced in 2020 and it sees suppliers pay you to send spare solar energy into the national grid.
Tariffs vary from 1.5p to 12p per kW, and can earn the average household between £80 to £110 a year.
Smart Export Guarantee scheme (Ofgem)
7. Which type of solar panel is best?
There are two main categories of solar panel: ones that generate electricity and ones that heat water.
Here’s a breakdown of the first kind, which are much more popular in the UK.
| Type of solar panel | Efficiency | Pros | Cons |
| Monocrystalline Solar Panels (Mono-SI) | ~20% | High efficiency rate; optimised for commercial use; high lifetime value | Expensive |
| Polycrystalline Solar Panels (p-Si) | ~15% | Lower price | Sensitive to high temperatures; lower lifespan and slightly less space efficiency |
| Thin-Film: Amorphous Silicon Solar Panels (A-SI) | ~7-10% | Relatively low costs; easy to produce and flexible | Shorter warranties and lifespan |
Greenmatch.co.uk
Mono-SI panels are made of high purity silicon, which means a high power output, less space needed and the longest life span at around 25 years.
P-Si panels are cheaper than Mono-SI panels. They’re a little less efficient and they don’t last quite as long.
But these two have a similar power output so get a recommendation from a solar panel installer. The type of solar panel that’s best for you will depend on your home, electricity usage, space and budget.
And keep in mind that although solar panels need very little maintenance, their efficiency does wane over time.
8. Is your roof suitable for solar panels?
Solar panels are most effective on certain homes, and it mainly comes down to the size and orientation of your roof.
For the most efficient solar panel system, you roof should have:
- enough space for a system that will generate the amount of electricity you use
- a south-facing aspect to get more sun and therefore generate more electricity (but east- and west-facing roofs are good enough)
- a pitch of between 10 and 60 degrees, although you can mount the panels at an angle to improve efficiency
- a sound structure to take the weight of the panels
- a bit of space in the loft or attic for the inverter, which is about the size of a microwave.
9. How to get solar panels fitted
If you’ve decided to go ahead with solar panels, you’ll need to find a qualified installer to fit them for you.
You can find qualified installers on the MCS website.
We also recommend choosing a company that’s registered with the Renewable Energy Consumer Code (RECC). This means they’ve committed to high consumer protection standards.
Costs vary between installers and products, so get quotes from at least three different installers.
Need help paying for solar panels? You might be able to get a loan through the Green Deal (GOV.UK).
10. Are solar panels worth it?
We’d say solar panels are worth the money if:
- you can afford them outright, and don’t mind waiting to see a return on your investment
- you have the roof space and orientation for a system that can cover most of your home’s electricity usage
- you use most of your electricity in the daytime – or you can get a solar battery to use solar power when it’s dark.
Solar panels are only ever going to be worth it if you can afford them. Be careful if you need to take out a loan as the interest repayments might be higher than your returns.
And while it’s important to think about the money, lots of people see the environmental impact as the key reason to invest in solar panels.
If you want to create clean energy, reduce your use of fossil fuels and cut your carbon emissions, solar panels are well worth the money.
Once they’re in, you’ll be having a positive impact on the environment and starting to make your money back.
Key takeaways
- Solar panels are a popular way to create clean energy, reduce use of fossil fuels and cut your carbon emissions by up to 1.6 tonnes a year
- The average 4.2kWp solar panel system costs £6,500 to install and can save you more than £500 a year on your energy bills
- You can use a solar battery to store your extra power or sell spare electricity to the national grid through the Smart Export Guarantee
- New research shows solar panels are the most value-adding home improvement, and can add up to 25% to the value of your home
Interest rates increase to a 14-year high
Nearly two million homeowners face higher mortgage repayments after the Bank of England hikes rates by 0.5.%
The Bank of England has increased interest rates by 0.5% as it continues to battle high inflation.
The move leaves the Bank Rate at 2.25%, its highest level since 2008.
It was the seventh meeting in a row at which its Monetary Policy Committee has hiked the official cost of borrowing.
The change will add around £50 a month to repayments for someone with a £200,000 mortgage.
Around 850,000 people have a tracker mortgage, while 1.1 million are on their lender’s standard variable rate, both of which move up and down in line with the Bank Rate.
Homeowners with variable rate mortgages have now seen their monthly payments rise by more than £200 a month since December, adding to the pressure they face from spiralling energy and food prices.
The latest increase is also bad news for first-time buyers, as higher interest rates reduce the amount they can afford to borrow.
Our research found that the increase from a 2% mortgage rate to a 4% one means the average first-time buyer will need an addition £12,250 a year in income for repayments to remain affordable.
What happens next?
The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has now hiked interest rates by 2.15% since it first started to raise the cost of borrowing in December last year in a bid to combat high inflation.
Despite inflation dipping slightly to 9.9% in August, the MPC warned that it had not yet peaked.
It expects inflation, as measured by the Consumer Prices Index, to continue rising to reach a high of 11% in October.
It said the peak would be lower and come sooner than previously thought as a result of the energy price freeze introduced by Prime Minister Liz Truss.
But it warned that the energy price freeze, and other measures that are expected to be announced in tomorrow’s mini-Budget, would lead to inflation remaining higher for longer.
This suggests the MPC may have to increase the Bank Rate by more than previously expected.
Rather ominously, the MPC warned in the minutes accompanying its interest rate decision that it would “respond forcefully, as necessary” to get inflation back to its 2% target.
It is also worth noting that while five members of the MPC voted to raise the Bank Rate by 0.5%, three members wanted to go for a more aggressive 0.75% hike.
As a result, interest rates are widely expected to be increased again in the coming months.
Economists are now predicting that interest rates will rise to between 3% and 4% during the first half of next year.
There was further bad news for homeowners, as the MPC also warned that it expects economic growth to contract by 0.1% in the three months to the end of September, which combined with the contraction in growth seen during the previous three months, would mean the UK was in recession.
On the face it, a recession, combined with rising mortgage rates and living costs, suggest the housing market will start to slow sharply in the final part of this year.
But if the government announces a stamp duty cut in its mini-Budget, as predicted, this could lead to a pickup in demand, providing support for house prices.
What should I do now?
If you are sitting on your lenders standard variable rate (SVR), the rate you are automatically put on when your mortgage deal ends, you should remortgage without delay.
The average interest rate charged on SVR mortgages was already 5.4% before the latest interest rate hike, its highest level for more than a decade, and it is likely to increase further.
Although other mortgage rates have been on a steady upward trend since December, you could still save £136 a month by switching to a typical two-year fixed rate of 4.24%, based on a £200,000 mortgage.
Adrian Anderson, director of property finance specialists Anderson Harris, said:
“The message to mortgage borrowers is very simple – don’t wait, take action now as its likely the situation will get worse in the short term.
“This is a huge reality check. We are no longer living in a period of ultra-low interest rates with plenty of disposable income, our outgoings are increasing faster than our income and we are going to have to adjust quickly and get used to the new norm.”
If you are on a fixed rate deal the situation is less urgent, as your monthly repayments will stay the same for the length of your product term, usually two or five years.
But if you are close to the end of your product term, you should try to find a new mortgage as soon as possible.
Most lenders will allow you to ‘book’ a new rate between three and six months before your current one ends.
Those coming off fixed rate deals should brace themselves for a significant increase in monthly repayments.
The average interest rate charged on a two-year fixed rate mortgage has increased from 2.24% two years ago, to 4.24% now, meaning someone with a £200,000 mortgage would see a £217 rise in monthly payments.
Those coming to the end of a five-year fixed rate will have seen average rates rise from 2.77% when they last remortgaged, to 4.33% now, leading to a monthly jump of £171 in repayments.
The decision of whether to remortgage is more complex for people on tracker mortgages, which move up and down in line with changes to the Bank Rate, and those who have more than six months left on a fixed rate deal.
If you are in this situation, before deciding whether to exit your current deal early, it is important to find out if you would face any early redemption penalties.
You should also try to calculate whether it is worth switching to a new mortgage now, which will likely have a higher interest rate than your current one, or wait until it ends but accept that mortgage rates will likely have increased again by then.
See out guide Will mortgage rates keep rising and should I remortgage now? for more details.
How can I reduce my mortgage repayments?
If you are about to remortgage and are worried about the increase in repayments you might face, there are steps you can take to reduce them.
One of the easiest ways to lower your repayments is to borrow less. As a result, you may want to consider making a lump sum overpayment to reduce the size of your mortgage if you have the savings to do so.
Alternatively, you can cut your monthly repayments by increasing your mortgage term.
For example, monthly repayments on a £200,000 mortgage on a fixed rate of 4.24% would be £1,252 if the mortgage was being repaid over 20 years.
But monthly repayments would fall to £992 if the term was increased to 30 years, and to £922 if it was being repaid over 35 years, although doing so would mean you paid more in interest over the entire life of your mortgage.
It is also worth remembering that although interest rates have increased, the value of your home is also likely to have gone up since you last remortgaged.
As a result, you will be borrowing a lower proportion of your property’s value than previously, known as the loan-to-value (LTV) ratio.
Lenders offer their most competitive rates to people with lower LTVs, so you may now qualify for a better rate than previously.
What can I do if I’m already struggling with my mortgage?
If you are already struggling to keep up with your mortgage repayments or think you may do so in the near future, it is important to contact your lender as soon as possible.
There are a number of steps lenders can take to help you, including granting you a temporary payment holiday or putting you on to an interest-only mortgage for a short time.
But options become much more limited if you have already missed a payment.
Key takeaways
- The Bank of England has increased interest rates by 0.5% to 2.25% as it continues to battle high inflation
- The change will add around £50 a month to repayments for someone with a £200,000 mortgage
- Around 850,000 people with a tracker mortgage and 1.1 million on their lender’s standard variable rate will be affected
Three-quarters of landlords are helping renters with cost-of-living squeeze
One in four landlords have frozen rents, while 22% have offered a payment holiday.
Three-quarters of private sector landlords have taken steps to help renters cope with the cost-of-living squeeze.
One in four landlords have frozen the level of rent they charge, while 22% have offered renters a payment holiday, according to research by bank Shawbrook.
Meanwhile, one in five landlords have reduced their rent, and 19% have offered to include the cost of bills in rent.
In the face of soaring energy costs, 26% of landlords are also taking steps to make their properties more energy efficient, such as improving insulation, installing double glazing or putting in a new boiler.
Emma Cox, managing director of real estate at Shawbrook, said: “In order to have a fair and sustainable rental market, it’s vital that landlords are open to supporting their tenants through hard times.
"Reducing rents or offering payment holidays will help tenants during the worst of the crisis and get them back on their feet.”
The findings come as our latest rental market report found that renters were looking for smaller homes to combat the cost-of-living squeeze, with two-bedroom apartments becoming more popular than three-bedroom family homes.
It also found that average rents for new lets had increased by £115 per calendar month during the past year.
Why is this happening?
With inflation, which measures the rate at which the cost of goods and services are increasing, currently running at a 40-year high, many people are struggling to cover all of their bills.
The Shawbrook study found that 85% of people living in the private rented sector had already made lifestyle changes to cope with the higher cost of living.
Many landlords recognise the pressure high inflation is putting on renters.
At the same time, it is often cheaper for them to freeze rent or offer a payment holiday, rather than face the costs and void periods associated with finding new renters.
What should I do if I’m struggling to pay my rent?
If you are struggling to pay your rent, you should contact your landlord as soon as possible to talk to them about the problem.
The research found that 14% of landlords who had not made any changes to their rent in response to the cost-of-living squeeze, would be prepared to do so if their renters were facing financial difficulties.
You are more likely to be successful if you suggest a plan to your landlord, such as paying a reduced rent for a set period of time, before resuming full payments.
What’s the background?
The Scottish Government recently announced that rents in both the public and private sector would be frozen until March 2023 as part of a package of measures to help people cope with increases to the cost of living.
It is also introducing a moratorium on evictions, meaning landlords will not be able to force renters to leave their homes, even if they fall behind with their rent.
Campaigners are calling for a similar rent freeze and eviction ban to be introduced for renters in other parts of the UK.
Meanwhile, the UK government has launched a consultation on introducing a cap on rent increases for people living in social housing, such as council and housing association homes.
The cap would be set at 3%, 5% or 7% from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024.
It has also included measures to protect renters from unfair rent increases and ban no fault evictions in the Renters Reform Bill, which will be introduced during the current parliamentary session.
Key takeaways
- Three-quarters of private sector landlords have taken steps to help renters cope with the rising cost of living
- Landlords are freezing rent, offering payment holidays and some are including the cost of bills in the rent
- Landlords are also taking steps to make their properties more energy efficient, such as improving insulation, installing double glazing or putting in a new boiler
Will there be a housing crash? Here’s what the data says
Spoiler alert: no, we don’t think there’s a housing crash coming. Let’s take a look at why the UK market is on track to avoid any major falls in house prices.
The housing market’s slowing down with fewer sales and slower house price growth.
But the housing market remains resilient despite economic uncertainty.
And we don’t see a housing crash on the horizon.
Why not?
Well, a huge amount of change since the Covid-19 pandemic has opened up the housing landscape in the UK.
It’s given us greater choice over where we live, highlighted our relationships with our homes, and altered our reasons for moving.
And the housing market’s in a very different position to the last time we saw house prices fall, after the global financial crisis of 2008.
Let’s take a look at what’s changed in the last few years, and why it means there won’t be a housing crash.
House prices aren’t as overvalued as they were in previous economic cycles
“House prices tend to fall when they get too high and out of kilter with incomes,” says- Executive Director.
“In the past, this has gone hand in hand with more relaxed mortgage lending.
“In 2007, more than a third of buyers taking out a mortgage didn’t prove their income to the bank. And almost a fifth were getting mortgages when they had small deposits of less than 10%.
“This led to house prices shooting up. Then, when mortgages dried up and the economy went into recession, prices fell back.
“The difference now is that there are much tougher rules to get a mortgage.
“You must prove a lot more about your income and outgoings. People usually have much more than 10% deposits so they are less vulnerable to possible negative equity.
“In short, we don’t have the scale of over-valuation of housing that we’ve seen before.
“This puts the market in a much better position to weather high mortgage rates and the increased cost of living.
“The housing market is not immune from these pressures and some will already be feeling the squeeze. But the likelihood of big price falls is much lower than in the past.”
House price growth has spread across the country
House price growth has spread around the country.
It’s no longer London and the South East that are tracking the biggest house price gains.
Instead, we’ve got the South West, Wales and the Midlands seeing the biggest house price growth.
With higher demand in new areas, the value of housing has started evening up across the country.
And when you’ve seen your house price rise, it’s another incentive to sell. Many people want to release equity or take the chance to upgrade their home.
More people want to move because of the pandemic
In a recent survey, we found that 22% of people were more keen to move house since the pandemic. Only 6% were more keen to stay put.
Of existing homeowners, 19% were eager to move because of the pandemic.
Those figures might not sound very high.
But when only 4% to 6% of owner-occupiers move house each year, it’s a massive proportion.
Was this just a short-lived, post-lockdown thing?
Nope.
We asked consumers the same question in 2022. And for those who want to move home, they’re even more certain it’s the right choice.
“The data suggests that attitudinal changes have matured,” says Richard. “They’re both more considered and more embedded within households.
“And when you have buyers with their mind set on a move, the market will keep moving too.”
Thinking all these committed buyers have already made a move?
Only 1 in 17 privately-owned homes changed hands in 2021. That means plenty of people who want to move and haven’t yet taken the plunge.
Hybrid working is here to stay
In February 2022, 42% of people plan to work mostly from home, according to the Office for National Statistics. That’s an increase from 30% in April 2021.
That’s around five million more workers who are now able to work from home when they want, and a total of 9.7 million people.
“We’ve seen a strong trend between home working and the desire to move home,” says Richard.
“Our consumer survey found that home workers are five times more eager to move than those with more traditional working patterns.”
54% of those who expected to work from home more said they were more eager to move, compared with 13% who expected to do less working from home in future.
Working from home patterns have been a major contributor to the demand to move home in the last two years. We expect this influence to continue in the years ahead.
First time buyers are more motivated to get on the ladder
The working from home trend has granted a huge amount of opportunity for first time buyers.
“In our survey, renters were the most keen to move house out of anyone” says Richard.
“25% of renters said they were more eager to move because of the pandemic.
“With less of a need to live close to the office, first time buyers can look further afield for their home.”
We’ve seen a marked increase in the radius that first time buyers are searching in since the pandemic.
“A first time buyer in London now considers homes in an area 33% bigger than pre-pandemic,” says Richard.
“And first time buyers outside of London stretch their search by a further 20% since the pandemic.”
“This shows that many first time buyers would rather get on the ladder now in a cheaper area using their current savings, than wait until they can afford a more expensive area.”
We’re still keen to swap city life for country living
It’s been one of the biggest talking points about the housing market since the pandemic.
That we all want to switch the city for a slower pace and more space.
And our research shows this trend is even more pronounced a couple of years on.
“Back in July 2021, people living in major cities were far more likely to want to move house (36%) than those in rural areas (3%),” says Richard.
“Fast forward to spring 2022, and 44% of city dwellers want to move to a more rural location.”
“Interestingly, more rural homeowners fancy a move this year, too (8%).”
“This is typically older homeowners looking to downsize. The influx of demand to rural areas has created more opportunities to relocate closer to family or take equity from their current home.”
More people are retiring
Almost half a million older workers have left the labour market since the pandemic.
A huge 63% of adults aged 50 to 70 left their job sooner than expected, according to the Office for National Statistics.
Leaving work to retire was the most commonly reported reason (47%). But 15% of retirees said they left because of the Covid-19 pandemic, and 13% cited illness or disability.
Retirement is a common trigger for selling your home.
You might want to be closer to family and friends. Some are looking to embrace a new lifestyle or indulge in a passion, while others want to downsize and release some equity.
There may be other practical reasons for a move in retirement, like the need for good public transport or healthcare nearby.
With 75% of older households (65+) owning their home outright (GOV.UK), this group has the means to make a move that suits their lifestyle. They’re keeping momentum in the market by offering homes for sale while also buying a new place.
Rising mortgage rates won’t hit existing homeowners too hard - but it will prompt some to move
Half of all homeowners have a mortgage, and the rest own their homes outright.
Of homeowners with mortgages, 90% are on fixed rate deals for up to 5 years. Many are on low rates of sub 2%.
So most homeowners with mortgages will be unaffected by interest rate increases due to their fixed rate.
And if they got their mortgage post-2015, they will have had to prove they can afford a mortgage rate of up to 7%. This means many homeowners will be able to absorb additional cost pressures on their budget.
Rising interest rates can also prompt some savvy homeowners to make a move. If they’re coming to the end of their fixed term, a move could help them lock in a rate they might not see again for several years.
With most mortgage offers lasting just six months, this impact will dissipate soon. But we expect it to be one factor that keeps the market buoyant in late 2022.
Key takeaways
- House prices aren’t as overvalued as they were in previous economic cycles
- Value has spread across the country, giving more people the ability and motivation to move
- More people are working from home, retiring and reevaluating their lifestyle, which all prompt sales and purchases
- Nearly a quarter of people said they want to move house since the pandemic, but only 1 in 17 privately-owned homes changed hands in 2021