Gas and electricity bills breakdown

Here's a breakdown of the average energy bill to give you a better idea of where your money is going.

Your gas and electricity utility bill sets out the charges you've incurred as a gas and electricity customer.

Your energy supplier sends you your utility bills on a monthly or quarterly basis so that you can understand how much you owe.

The average utility bill is made up of several different components, with the majority of your payment going on the energy you use.

But there are other costs factored in, like distribution charges, environmental costs and VAT.

Here's how the average energy bill breaks down to give you a better idea of where your money is going.

Breakdown of the average energy bill

Where your gas payment goes

• 67% on wholesale energy, supply costs and profit margin

• 16% on distribution charges

• 6% on environmental costs

• 5% on VAT

• 4% on other costs

• 2% on transmission charges

Where your electricity payment goes

• 58% on wholesale energy, supply costs and profit margin

• 16% on distribution charges

• 11% on environmental costs

• 5% on VAT

• 5% on other costs

• 4% on transmission charges

Environmental costs

A proportion of your gas and electricity bill is used to subsidise the government's environmental initiatives.

Environmental costs comprise approximately 6% of your gas bill and 11% of your electricity bill.

Environmental schemes which are subsidised by your gas and electricity bill include:

• Feed-in Tariff scheme (FITs)

• Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT)

• Community Energy Saving Programme (CESP)

• The Renewables Obligation (RO)

• EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS)

Find out more about the Feed-in Tariff scheme on Uswitch.

VAT charges

Contrary to popular belief, you do not pay full VAT on gas and electricity, but you do pay some.

Currently, VAT payments are capped at 5% of your total bill.

Transmission charges

Transmission networks are what actually deliver electricity and gas to your home, and some of the cost of building and maintaining transmission chargers is passed on to customers.

Currently, 2% of your gas bill and 4% of your electricity bill make up these costs.

Distribution charges

16% of your gas bill and 16% of your electricity bill go towards distribution costs.

This covers some of the cost of building, maintaining and operating the local gas pipes and electricity wires which deliver energy to the home.

Wholesale energy and supply costs

The bulk of your bill, unsurprisingly, is comprised of charges for the gas and electricity you actually use.

This comes to roughly 67% and 58% of your respective bills.

Wholesale cost is the price that the energy supplier has to pay for the gas and electricity they buy.

Supply costs are the costs the energy supplier incurs for the general administration associated with a retail business, like running a call centre and sending out bills. These vary according to which tariff you're on.

Compare gas and electricity deals on Uswitch

Other costs

Other costs cover things like meter installation and gas storage, which comprise about 4% of your gas bill and 5% of your electricity bill.

How can you bring your energy bill down?

These energy-saving tips will help bring your energy bills down and reduce your carbon footprint.

Heating

The biggest portion of your energy bill is taken up with heating your home and water.

Follow these tips and you could save a fortune on your heating bills:

• Turn your thermostat down by a single degree. This could save you as much as £60 on your energy bills over the space of a year.

• Make sure your home is adequately insulated. Loft and cavity wall insulation may require an initial investment, but could easily save you hundreds a year in heating costs.

• If you're on a low income, you may be eligible for an energy efficiency grant to make improvements to your home.

• Try to block any draughts that are coming into your house and make sure you close your curtains to keep the heat in.

In the kitchen

The next largest portion goes towards powering your washing machines, fridges, freezers and cooking appliances.

Keep kitchen costs down with these tips:

• Do your washing less frequently. It may sound obvious but make sure the machine is full every time for maximum efficiency.

• Use the economy setting on your washing machine. Many washing powders will now work at temperatures as low as 30 degrees, which is enough to effectively wash clothes while also helping your machine run more efficiently.

• Dry your clothes outside or on a clothes horse. Tumble dryers use a lot of energy, so if you can dry your clothes for free, that will help keep costs down.

• Replace your current fridge and/or freezer with an energy-efficient model. Look out for the energy efficiency stickers on modern appliances. You should also make sure they're kept as full as possible and that the area around them is clean so they don't have to work as hard.

Computers, gadgets and electronics

Next up is the amount of energy used by consumer electronics such as DVDs, TVs and computers every year.

Bring these costs down by:

• Turning electronics off instead of leaving them on standby. If you're forgetful, invest in a standby saver - it will automatically cut the power to any electronics left on standby.

• Only charging devices when you need to. Don't leave laptops and mobile phones charging overnight as this is a big waste of energy.

Lighting

Finally, there is the portion of bills going towards lighting your home.

The quickest and easiest ways to save on your lighting costs are to:

• Buy energy-efficient LED lightbulbs. They last up to 24 times more than incandescent lightbulbs and each one you swap could save you at least £4 per year.

• Turn the lights off behind you when you leave a room and get into the habit of switching the lights off as you move through the house.

by Blackstones

How much value did your home gain in 2022?

12 in 13 homeowners enjoyed value gains in 2022, could you be one of them?

2022 started well…

2022 was a year of two halves for UK housing.

It kicked off with a strong start thanks to record-low mortgage rates and a continuation of the pandemic-driven desire to move.

These factors, combined with a chronic lack of homes for sale, meant house price growth remained strong up until the summer.

And looking across the year as a whole, 12 out of 13 homeowners saw the value of their home increase by an average of £19,000.

Among them, nearly 3 million homeowners made more than £50,000.

How much value did your home gain?

But then things started to change…

In the second half of the year, the picture became less rosy.

Rising living costs and a jump in mortgage rates halved the demand for homes, causing the rate of house price growth to start slowing rapidly.

In some areas of the UK the value of individual homes is now falling, writing off some of the recent pandemic gains.

How much value are homes losing?

Of the UK’s 30 million homes, 16 million experienced value losses by the end of 2022.

But for the majority of these homeowners, the drop is small. The average value reduction in the final 3 months of 2022 was £3,900.

When compared to the average value gain of £19,000 over the course of the whole year, this leaves most homeowners comfortably in the black for 2022.

And that figure becomes even smaller when noting the average home gained £32,400 during the first two years of the pandemic.

Within the group of 16 million homeowners experiencing value losses in the last 3 months of 2022, only 2.3 million (or 8%) registered a loss over the year.

For these homeowners, that average loss was £7,300.

And more than 26% of those homes were in London.

We estimate that 1 million homes lost all of the value their properties gained in the two years leading up to February 2022.

But these homes were found in areas where prices didn’t increase much during the pandemic in the first place, such as the capital, the South East and Scotland.

A further 7.3 million homeowners lost part of their pandemic paper gains in the last 6 months of the year.

However, while home values are starting to decline in some areas, in contrast to the national headlines, our price estimates for the UK’s homes reveal that 14 million properties saw their values increase in the final 3 months of 2022.

Where are homes losing value?

The reduction in home values over the second half of 2022 was concentrated in markets where price gains have been slower over the last year.

Homeowners in London have seen the largest number of reductions, followed by the South East.

The average reduction between June and December was £8,400 in London and £5,200 in the South East.

However in both these areas, more homes increased in value than fell, showing how the pressure on values is highly localised.

Outside of London and the South East, we found that three-quarters of homeowners saw the value of their home increase by an average of £6,600.

And price falls in these areas were modest, averaging £3,800.

Which areas are in demand right now?

In the latter half of 2022, some markets were faring better than others.

Our latest House Price Index found that affordable cities and suburbs continue to see strong demand for homes, while the outlook is weaker for the more expensive markets and rural locations.

Why are homes losing value?

Home values are starting to fall back because of weaker demand in the final 6 months of 2022.

Rising mortgage rates and cost-of-living pressures are causing some potential home movers to press pause for now. And a reduction in demand leads to a reduction in upwards pressure on house prices.

But while the number of homes losing value is growing: rising from 8 million in between July and December 2022 to 16 million in the 3 months to December 2022, it’s crucial to remember that these price reductions are fairly modest compared to the gains made in recent years.

What’s going to happen to home values in 2023?

The scale of value reductions has been relatively small so far but is likely to grow further in the first part of 2023.

We’re expecting to see national house price falls of around 5% for this year.

Homeowners who lose value may be put off moving or need to look at alternatives like cheaper homes or lower-value markets for their next move.

That said, we’re still expecting 1 million property transactions to take place this year as the pandemic-driven search for space continues. The ability to work from home remains for many office workers, which has opened up the location landscape for many.

Those in retirement, who may be cash buyers or looking to downsize, will also continue to look for new homes and cost-of-living adjustments are likely to motivate people to find new properties that are cheaper to run.

How can I find out what’s happening to house prices in my area?

The outlook for home values depends very much on the individual home and the market it sits within.

It's important that homeowners don’t focus too much on national trends in prices, but rather what’s happening in their area locally.

Key takeaways

• Despite a turbulent second half to the year, 92% of homeowners enjoyed value gains on their homes in 2022
• The average capital gain was £19,000
• However, weaker demand from July onwards meant that nearly 1 in 3 saw the value of their home decline by an average of £4,400 from July to December

by Blackstones

New Save to Buy scheme launched for first-time buyers

What if the rent you paid could be saved towards your deposit instead? New homes developer Fairview has launched a scheme that does exactly that.

A new scheme has been launched for first-time buyers under which all money they pay in rent is put towards a deposit for their home.

The Save to Buy initiative enables first-time buyers to move into their home and pay ‘rent’ at a fixed cost for between six months and two years.

But instead of the money going into the pocket of a landlord, it is set aside until they have saved a big enough deposit to qualify for a mortgage on the property.

The scheme, offered by housebuilder Fairview New Homes, is currently running at two of its developments: New Hayes in West London, and Epping Gate in Loughton, Essex.

However, homes at other developments are expected to be added to the scheme later this year.

Christopher Hood, sales and marketing director at Fairview, said: “We’re bringing forward the opportunity to own a home for our customers.

"Those who thought home ownership was out of reach, because of the rental trap they found themselves in, can finally have the breathing space to save.”

How does Save to Buy work?

People who want to buy one of the Save to Buy homes must have already saved a deposit equivalent to 1% of the property’s value.

They hand this over to Fairview when they first exchange contracts and move into their home.

They then pay ‘rent’ at a fixed monthly cost, based on their own finances and average local rents, with 100% of the money going towards their deposit.

Buyers typically have between six to 12 months to save their deposit, but the scheme can run for up to two years if they need longer.

They can also top up their monthly payments to reach their goal sooner.

When they are within one month of having saved the required deposit, they submit a mortgage application to a lender to buy the property.

Once they have legally completed, they own the property, just as they would if they had bought it on the open market.

Who can use Save to Buy?

The scheme is designed to help people who would not otherwise be able to buy a home immediately.

To use it, you must also be a first-time buyer, be employed and the property must be your only residence.

If you think this applies to you, Fairview suggests talking to one of its sales representatives.

Those wanting to take part in the scheme will need to be assessed by a financial advisor, who will set out the income and deposit they require. They will also conduct a credit check to make sure you are eligible.

Homes available through the scheme are offered on a first come, first served basis, with the initiative due to close to new applicants in December 2023.

What other help is available to first-time buyers?

While Save to Buy is offered by a housebuilder, there are a number of government schemes available to help people get on to the property ladder.

Shared Ownership enables people to buy a share in a property and pay rent on the rest.

First Homes enables first-time buyers, key workers and local people to purchase a home at a 30% discount to its market price.

The Mortgage Guarantee Scheme, recently extended until 31 December 2023, enables both first-time buyers and home-movers to purchase a property with just a 5% deposit, with the government guaranteeing the portion of the loan over 80%.

First-time buyers saving for a deposit can also use the Lifetime ISA, under which they can save £4,000 a year. The government then adds a 25% bonus - up to a maximum of £1,000 annually. The money must be used to either purchase a first home or for retirement.

The government has also increased the threshold at which stamp duty kicks in for first-time buyers from £300,000 to £425,000 on homes costing up to £625,000 until April 2025.

Key takeaways

• A new Save to Buy scheme has launched, enabling first-time buyers to move into the home they plan to buy before they have completed on the purchase
• They then pay ‘rent’ at a fixed cost, with all of the money going towards their deposit
• The scheme, launched by Fairview New Homes, is currently available in London and Essex, but is set to be rolled out to other developments later this year

by Blackstones

Fixed rate mortgage deals up for 1.4 million homeowners in 2023

If you're worried that your fixed deal is up this year, you’re not alone. 57% of people who need to remortgage in 2023 are coming off two-year deals fixed at 2% rates.

If your fixed-rate mortgage deal is due to expire this year, you’re not alone. More than 1.4 million homeowners are in exactly the same boat.

And more than half of that 1.4 million, around 57%, are coming off two-year deals that were fixed at 2% rates, according to the Office for National Statistics.

The report said that with the average cost of new two-year fixed rate deals standing at around 6%, someone with a £100,000 mortgage would face a £220 increase in monthly repayments.

Someone with a £300,000 loan would face a £661-a-month jump.

A total of 353,000 fixed rate mortgages are due to expire in the first three months of the year, followed by a further 371,000 in the three months to the end of June, with the rest coming up for renewal during the second half of the year.

An estimated 86% of homeowners with outstanding mortgages are on fixed rate deals, under which the interest rate charged stays the same for the length of the product term, usually two or five years.

The figure is up from just 51% in 2016.

What will happen to interest rates in 2023?

The official cost of borrowing is known as the Bank of England Bank Rate.

The Office for Budgetary Responsibility, which provides independent analysis on the UK’s public finances, has forecast that the Bank Rate will increase to 4.8% in the second half of 2023, before falling to 4.5% in 2024.

But this is just an estimate, and a number of factors, including the uncertain economic outlook, war in Ukraine and high inflation, make it more difficult to predict the future path of interest rates than usual.

What’s happening in the mortgage market right now?

The good news is that despite the fact the Bank Rate increased in the final part of last year, the cost of fixed rate mortgages has actually fallen for the past two months.

This is because the cost at which lenders borrow money for the deals shot up in the wake of the mini-Budget.

It has since come back down after new Chancellor Jeremy Hunt reversed many of his predecessor’s announcements.

The average interest rate charged on a two-year fixed rate mortgage is now 5.79%, according to financial information group Moneyfacts.

For a five-year deal, it is 5.63%.

If you’re borrowing just 60% of your home’s value, typical rates fall to 5.39% for a two-year fix and 5.33% for a five-year fix.

And some sub-5% deals are now becoming available.

By contrast, the average cost of a standard variable rate mortgage – the rate borrowers are automatically put on when their current deal ends if they do not remortgage – is 6.64%.

Those looking to remortgage will need to move fast, with the average deal available for just 15 days before lenders pull it, down from 28 days in January 2022.

Renters also face higher housing costs

The ONS study found that homeowners are not the only ones facing increased costs, with those renting in the private sector seeing the fastest growth in rents since records began in 2016.

One in four renters said their rent had gone up in the past six months, with rents rising by an average of 4% in the past year.

Rent accounts for an average of 24% of renters’ weekly expenditure, compared with just 16% for those who have a mortgage.

Key takeaways

• More than 1.4 million fixed rate mortgages are due to expire this year
• Around 57% of people who need to renew their mortgage in 2023 are coming off two-year deals fixed at 2% rates
• But mortgage rates have fallen for the last 2 months and sub 5% fixed-rate deals are now available

by Blackstones

New rules make property listings more transparent

When it comes to searching for a home, the devil is in the details. Here’s everything you need to know about the new material information rules when you’re buying, renting or selling a home.

If you’re searching for a home, you might’ve noticed that property listings are more detailed than ever before.

It’s no coincidence. In fact, it’s part of an industry-wide process to improve property listings and give you all the important information from the get-go.

The aim is to create a more transparent and less stressful process for everyone involved in buying, selling or renting. It’s all about helping you make informed decisions about a property.

And ultimately, it should help your sale, purchase or rental go through more smoothly, as the facts are clear and everyone knows what they’re getting into from the start.

What is ‘material information’ for a property listing?

The term ‘material information’ covers the nitty-gritty details about a property that might impact your choices around it.

National Trading Standards (NTS) defines it as “information which the average consumer needs, according to the context, to take an informed transactional decision”.

So think of it as the fine print that you really *need* to read about a property, once you’ve stopped admiring the photos or searching for the nearest pub.

It doesn’t cover information like local school ratings or proximity to a train station, as these are seen as preferences rather than essentials.

What information should you see on a property listing?

Since May 2022, estate agents need to include all unavoidable costs associated with a property when they list it for sale or to rent.

This video from NTS explains what’s changed with the material information rules and how they’re benefitting buyers, sellers and renters.

You should see the following information on all listings for properties for sale:

• Sale price

• Council tax band (or domestic rate in Northern Ireland)

• Tenure (freehold, leasehold, share of leasehold, commonhold, feudal)

• For leasehold properties: length of lease, annual ground rent, ground rent review period, annual service charge amount and service charge review period

• For Shared Ownership properties: the percentage share being sold plus the  rent you’ll pay on the other proportion

And for rental properties, listings should include:

• Rental rate

• Deposit amount

• Length of tenancy (year/month)

• Council tax band (England, Wales and Scotland)

If you’re wondering about energy efficiency, you’re a step ahead. EPC ratings must be included on property listings under existing laws.

What if a listing is missing this information?

It’s the responsibility of estate agents to submit accurate material information on all their properties.

If they’ve missed something, NTS might get in touch with them to ask them to update or remove it.

If a property you’re interested in is missing some of the details, it’s best to contact the estate agent to ask them for more information.

There are no plans yet to remove property listings that don’t comply, but that might change in the future.

What does it mean if you’re selling your home?

The material information changes mean you’re required to provide certain details about your home and you might be liable if you misrepresent anything.

But it’s nothing to worry about.

Your estate agent will ask you for all the details they need and they’ll be responsible for adding it to the listing.

In fact, giving these details upfront will help encourage genuine enquiries. Potential buyers or tenants will be interested based on accurate information they’ve seen on the listing.

It can also help prevent a sale or rental agreement falling through at a later stage.

What material information will be shown on listings in the future?

When we reach the next steps of the process, you can also expect to see a property’s:

• Renewable or alternative energy sources

• Broadband options

• Parking details

• Locational information like flood risk

• Rights and restrictions affecting the property

…and maybe more. The NTS is working on exactly which information will be required in Parts B and C of the process and we’ll update you as soon as they’re good to go - or watch this space for the latest updates.

Key takeaways

• The term ‘material information’ covers the nitty-gritty details about a property that might impact your choices around it
• Estate agents now need to include all unavoidable costs associated with a property when they list it for sale or to rent
• There are plans for property listings to become even more detailed in the future.

by Blackstones

Gas and electricity: your common questions answered

Here at Uswitch, we're asked lots of questions about energy suppliers, bills and switching. Here are the answers to some of your most common queries.

Where does UK gas and electricity come from?

According to Ofgem, around half of UK gas supplies come from our own gas fields in the North Sea.

The rest is imported from a variety of sources including Norway, the Continent and across the world using liquefied natural gas (LNG).

The UK's electricity is generated from fossil fuels, nuclear, renewable and imported energy. There are more than 2,000 electricity generating stations in the UK.

Who is my gas and electricity supplier?

Check your latest energy bill to find out who supplies your gas or electricity.

If you don't have a bill to hand, find out the name of your gas or electricity supplier in this handy guide:

Who is my gas or electricity supplier?

What is dual fuel?

With a dual fuel plan you get your gas and electricity from the same energy supplier.

Dual fuel usually works out cheaper than a single fuel plan where you buy your gas and electricity from different suppliers.

This is because energy suppliers often offer discounts and reduced rates for dual fuel plans.

Plus, with a dual fuel plan, you only have to deal with one energy company if you have any queries or problems with your gas and electricity.

What is Economy 7?

Economy 7 refers to both the meter that tracks your electricity usage separately for day and night, and the tariff, which charges different rates for the day and night usage.

I've written in more detail about Economy 7 over on Uswitch:

Economy 7 meters and tariffs

What is green energy?

Green energy is electricity or gas derived from renewable sources such as hydro energy, wind energy, solar energy and biomass.

How are my gas and electricity bills calculated?

Your energy bills are calculated on the basis of how many units of energy you consume. You may also pay a standing charge.

When your meter is read, the energy company will subtract the amount shown on the previous meter reading from the most recent one to work out your bill.

If your meter isn't read, you will get an estimated bill based on your past use or a standard rate.

Units of electricity are measured in kilowatt hours. This is shown on your electricity meter.

Gas meters measure the volume of gas you used in cubic feet or cubic meters and the gas companies convert this into kilowatt hours. The price charged for each unit of energy varies according to what pricing plan or tariff you are on.

What information should my gas and electricity bills contain?

Your gas and electricity bills should show:

• Your last meter reading (either estimated or based on your submission)

• The amount of electricity or gas you've used in the billing period as well as an annual consumption

• VAT charges

• The price you're paying per kWh (the unit rate)

• Your plan name

• Your meter number(s)

How do I read my gas and electricity meters?

This will depend on the kind of meter you have. Check out our guide to reading your meter, and why it's important to submit regular meter readings:

How to take an energy meter reading

Who should I contact if I have a complaint about my energy supplier?

First, you need to contact your energy supplier and go through their complaints procedure.

If you need to escalate your complaint, you can get in touch with Citizen's Advice and failing all else, contact the Energy Ombudsman.

by Blackstones

First-time buyer numbers hit second highest level in 14 years

More than half of all homes bought with a mortgage in 2022 were snapped up by first-time buyers.

The number of first-time buyers hit its second highest level for 14 years in 2022.

An estimated 370,000 people got on to the property ladder last year, according to Yorkshire Building Society.

The total was the highest for more than a decade, with the exception of 2021, when 400,000 people bought their first home.

2021 was an exceptional year for the housing market, as the pandemic-induced search for space and stamp duty holiday led to elevated levels of activity.

Despite the slight year-on-year fall between 2021 and 2022, the number of first-time buyers last year was still 5% higher than in 2019, before the pandemic struck.

First-time buyers accounted for 53% of all people purchasing a property with a mortgage during the year, up from 50% in 2021 and 41% a decade ago.

Why is this happening?

Demand from first-time buyers was fuelled by a combination of high employment levels and low borrowing costs for much of the year.

Low mortgage rates helped to offset the increase in the average price paid for a home, which rose 10% from 2021 to 2022 to stand at £272,500.

The total is also likely to have been boosted by first-time buyers rushing to take advantage of the government’s Help to Buy Equity loan scheme before it closed to new applicants on 31 October 2022.

The initiative enabled people to purchase a property with just a 5% deposit, which the government topped up with a 20% equity loan that was interest-free for the first five years.

New Right to Shared Ownership scheme launched

Who does it affect?

The fact that so many people were able to purchase their first home in 2022 is not just good news for those individuals, but also for the housing market as a whole.

First-time buyers play a vital role in the market by purchasing properties at the bottom of the ladder, enabling existing homeowners to trade up it.

However, first-time buyer numbers are likely to be lower this year due to higher mortgage rates, combined with the cost-of-living squeeze.

What help is available for first-time buyers?

While the government’s Help to Buy equity loan scheme may have closed, there is still plenty of help available to those purchasing their first home.

First Homes helps first-time buyers, key workers and local people to purchase a home at a 30% discount to its market price, while Shared Ownership enables people to buy a share in a property and pay rent on the rest.

Meanwhile, the Mortgage Guarantee Scheme enables both first-time buyers and home-movers to purchase a property with just a 5% deposit.

The scheme, which has been extended by a year to run until 31 December 2023, encourages lenders to offer 95% mortgages by having the government guarantee the portion of the loan over 80%.

First-time buyers saving for a deposit can also use the Lifetime ISA, under which you can save £4,000 a year. The government then adds a 25% bonus - up to a maximum of £1,000 annually. The money must be used to either purchase a first home or for retirement.

The government has also increased the threshold at which stamp duty kicks in for first-time buyers from £300,000 to £425,000 on homes costing up to £625,000 until April 2025.

Key takeaways

• An estimated 370,000 people stepped on to the property ladder in 2022
• The figure was the second highest in the past 14 years, behind only 2021 when the pandemic and stamp duty holiday elevated activity levels
• First-time buyers accounted for 53% of all people purchasing a property with a mortgage during 2022

by Blackstones

Latest Housing Census data: number of people renting soars by 28% 

More than one in five people now rent in the private sector, while the number of those who own a home has fallen, according to the latest Housing Census.

Key takeaways

• The number of people renting a home in the private sector in England and Wales has jumped by 28% during the past 10 years
• A third of people own their property outright, while 29.7% have a mortgage or own a stake in a shared ownership property
• The majority of people live in a house or bungalow, but the number living in flats has seen the biggest increase since 2011

by Blackstones

Mortgage Guarantee Scheme extended to end of 2023

The government-backed scheme to ensure 95% mortgages remain widely available will now run until December 2023.

The Mortgage Guarantee Scheme is being extended by a year to help more people with a 5% deposit to buy a home.

The government-backed scheme had been due to close at the end of 2022, but it will now run until 31 December 2023.

It has already helped more than 24,000 households to purchase a property, 85% of which were first-time buyers.

Chief Secretary to the Treasury, John Glen, said: “Extending this scheme means thousands more have the chance to benefit, and it supports the market as we navigate through these difficult times.”

Before the announcement was made, commentators had expressed concern that the end of the scheme would make it difficult for people with only a small deposit to get a mortgage, particularly as house prices in some areas are falling.

A number of lenders had recently withdrawn their mortgages for people borrowing 95% of their home’s value. But news that the scheme is being extended should boost the supply of these loans.

How does the scheme work?

The scheme encourages lenders to offer 95% mortgages by having the government guarantee the portion of the loan over 80%.

This means that if the borrower defaults on the mortgage, the government will cover up to 15% of the shortfall.

The scheme can be used by both first-time buyers and those trading up the property ladder on homes worth up to £600,000.

It can be used to purchase an existing or a new-build property, but the home must be bought with a repayment mortgage, not an interest-only one.

The Mortgage Guarantee Scheme was launched in April 2021, after lenders withdrew mortgages for people with small deposits in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic, leaving just eight 95% mortgages available on the market.

What other help is available to first-time buyers?

There are a number of government schemes to help people get on to the property ladder.

First Homes helps first-time buyers, key workers and local people to purchase a home at a 30% discount to its market price, while Shared Ownership enables people to buy a share in a property and pay rent on the rest.

First-time buyers saving for a deposit can also use the Lifetime ISA, under which you can save £4,000 a year. The government then adds a 25% bonus - up to a maximum of £1,000 annually - for free. The money must be used to either purchase a first home or for retirement.

The government has also increased the threshold at which stamp duty kicks in for first-time buyers from £300,000 to £425,000 on homes costing up to £625,000 until April 2025.

Lenders to offer mortgages on flats in high-rise buildings

There was also good news for people who own flats in high-rise buildings with cladding.

Six lenders have announced they will start accepting mortgage applications from people who live in buildings in England that are over five storeys high, or 11 metres tall, and have cladding from early next year.

The move follows new guidance from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors to enable valuations on properties impacted by cladding.

But lenders will still want to see evidence that dangerous cladding will be removed, either by the building’s developer or through a government scheme.

The lenders who will consider mortgage applications from people in high-rise buildings with cladding are Barclays Bank, HSBC, Lloyds Banking Group, Nationwide Building Society, NatWest and Santander.

Key takeaways

• The Mortgage Guarantee Scheme is being extended until 31 December 2023
• The scheme helps first-time buyers and home-movers with just a 5% deposit buy a home
• It has already helped more than 24,000 households purchase a property, 85% of which were first-time buyers

by Blackstones

Buyers on the hunt for affordable cities and flats in 2023

Apartments and urban areas set for a comeback as buyers prioritise affordability and value for money.

Affordability and value for money will be the big key drivers for the housing market in 2023.

These two factors are going to flip the flight to rural and coastal areas, which has dominated the housing market in recent years, into reverse.

Instead, apartments and urban areas, which lost some of their popularity during the pandemic as the nation began the search for more space in idyllic locations, are making a comeback.

Executive Director for Research, Richard Donnell says “The dynamics that have shaped the housing market over the last 5 years are shifting.

“We expect affordable urban centres to fare better than average in 2023 but the inner London market may require another year before it is ready to rebound.”

Why are urban areas becoming popular again?

Influenced by higher mortgage rates, household incomes and the actual level of house prices, buyers are being priced out of the more expensive markets, preferring to look in areas where homes are more affordable.

Increasingly keen to secure homes in urban settings, where jobs are being created and more services are available, buyers are now showing a stronger preference for towns and cities.

The popularity of family homes in city suburbs and commuter areas is also rising, with demand for homes in these areas climbing to above average levels over the last year.

How rising mortgage rates are affecting where buyers choose to live

Mortgages are currently needed for seven out of every 10 home purchases.

Higher mortgage rates are currently affecting what many people can afford to buy, as they mean more income is needed to secure a sale.

The more expensive a market, the greater the number of households that are priced out.

This in turn weakens demand, leading to fewer sales and possible price reductions to secure those sales in these areas.

In affordable markets with lower average house prices, the opposite is true.

Why affordable markets will fare better in 2023

As demand for more affordable areas increases in 2023, these markets are likely to fare better than their more expensive counterparts in terms of price falls over the coming months.

Most housing markets have recorded house price gains of 25.4% over the last 5 years. That's above the level of consumer price inflation (+19%) and average earnings (+22%) over the same time period.

Economic growth, good affordability and low mortgage rates have all enabled above average price gains over this period.

The Oldham postal area recorded the highest price increases since 2017 at +47%, while Newport, Swansea and Bolton also enjoyed high value gains.

However, we expect house price growth to slow in these higher-growth markets in 2023.

UK house prices are predicted to fall by an average of 5% next year.

But in the more affordable markets, the falls are likely to be lower, as the hit to buying power from higher mortgage rates will be felt less keenly.

Which affordable cities are buyers interested in?

Major towns and cities, including Bradford, Swindon, Coventry, Crewe, Milton Keynes and Southend are all registering above-average demand.

These areas all have their own employment base, but they also enjoy good transport connections into much larger employment centres, such as London, Leeds, Manchester and Birmingham.

We believe employment growth will continue to stimulate housing demand in these affordable city regions throughout 2023.

Why flats are becoming better value for money

Apartments make up around 1 in 5 homes in the UK, but price inflation for them has lagged behind the growth enjoyed by houses.

Across the UK, houses are currently valued at just over twice the price of flats. That’s the highest price difference seen for 20 years.

In the capital, the average price of a house is 1.7x the price of a flat, up from 1.4x a decade ago.

Flats haven’t experienced those same value gains as houses partly because the search for space made them a less popular option during the pandemic, but also because buyers were experiencing concerns over cladding and leasehold charges.

The chart below tracks the average price of flats and houses since 2002.

However, we expect demand for flats to increase throughout 2023, as buyers seek better value for money.

The government’s moves to ensure cladding problems are remediated in most buildings will also help to boost their popularity further.

What should first time buyers do in 2023?

What will happen with the London housing market in 2023?

London and its commuter areas have under-performed in recent years.

With prices already at the highest end of the market, affordability is already stretched for buyers in the capital.

In central London - and the commuter areas surrounding it - the scope for price increases over the last 5 years has been limited, despite the ultra-low mortgage rates that were available until the middle of this year.

Prices have been falling slightly in central London since 2017 and are now 17% lower in real terms, allowing for inflation.

That said, earnings have been rising at a faster pace than prices since 2017, which is slowly improving affordability.

Still, average prices remain high by national standards and of course, mortgage rates are now higher than last year.

We expect the inner London housing market to rebound soon, but this requires a further improvement in housing affordability.

In the meantime, we expect London house prices to register above-average price falls of 5% to 8% in 2023, which will improve affordability, alongside our expectation of lower mortgage rates.

We also believe that a resurgence in employment growth will be the trigger for a turnaround in this under-performing market in the next 1-2 years.

Key takeaways

• Tide turns on the desire for coastal and rural areas as demand for affordable cities and apartments rises
• Buyers once again attracted to urban settings with plenty of jobs and services
• The dynamics that have shaped the housing market over the last 5 years are shifting

by Blackstones