The Mortgage Branch

03/11/2026

🏡 You've had a pay rise. Your mortgage affordability has gone down. How does that make sense?

It sounds strange, but earning more doesn't always mean you can borrow more.

Imagine you've recently received a promotion, but you've also taken out car finance or increased your childcare commitments.

Your salary has improved, yet your monthly disposable income might actually be lower.

And here's where things get interesting.

Different mortgage lenders assess affordability differently. Some may be more flexible with certain income types, while others take a stricter approach to regular expenditure.

Before assuming what you can borrow, consider:

✅ Your basic salary, bonuses and overtime.

✅ Existing credit commitments and monthly outgoings.

✅ How different lenders assess your circumstances.

The latest Bank of England figures, published on 29 October, showed mortgage approvals for house purchases fell to 53,400 in September.

It's a reminder that understanding your options matters.

At The Mortgage Branch, we look beyond the headline salary to find lenders whose criteria suit your circumstances.

We can access over 12,000 mortgage products from nearly 100 lenders, including many only available through a broker.

Thinking about moving or buying your first home? Let's have a conversation. 💚

📅 [Book a chat here]([email protected]/?ismsaljsauthenabled=true&utm)" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://bookings.cloud.microsoft/book/[email protected]/?ismsaljsauthenabled=true&utm)

Source: Bank of England, Money and Credit, 29 October 2026.

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

02/11/2026

🏡 You love your mortgage rate. But you've found a home you'd rather live in.

Do you have to give up that rate to move?

Not always. Some mortgages can be ‘ported’, meaning you may be able to take your existing deal to your next property.

But portability isn't automatic approval. Your lender still needs to consider the new property and your circumstances. And if you're borrowing more, the extra amount may come with a different rate and end date.

That matters in today's market. Bank of England figures published on 29 October show the effective rate on newly drawn mortgages rose from 4.60% in August to 4.63% in September.

Before putting your home on the market, it's worth checking:

✅ Whether your existing deal is portable.

✅ Any early repayment charges if you switch.

✅ The cost of extra borrowing and overlapping fixed-rate periods.

At The Mortgage Branch, we compare porting with starting afresh, taking account of lender criteria, fees and your plans.

We can access over 12,000 mortgage products from nearly 100 lenders, including many only available via a broker.

Thinking of moving? We'd be happy to talk. 💚

📅 [Click here to book a chat]([email protected]/?ismsaljsauthenabled)" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://bookings.cloud.microsoft/book/[email protected]/?ismsaljsauthenabled)

Source: [Bank of England, Money and Credit, 29 October 2026](https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/statistics/money-and-credit/2026/september-2026?).

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

01/11/2026

🏡 You've paid your mortgage on time for five years. Surely your lender will reward you?

Not necessarily.

When a fixed rate ends, many homeowners accept the new deal their existing lender offers. It's familiar, paperwork can be simpler, and staying put may avoid a fresh affordability assessment.

But convenience and value aren't always the same thing.

In research published on 19 October, Which? asked 21 major UK mortgage lenders about preferential rates for existing customers.

Its finding? Loyalty rarely translates into a cheaper deal.

That doesn't mean switching is automatically better either. A new lender may assess your income, outgoings and property differently, and arrangement fees can change the overall cost.

Before choosing, compare:

✅ Your existing lender's product-transfer offer.

✅ The total cost of alternative deals, including fees.

✅ Whether a new affordability check could affect your options.

At The Mortgage Branch, we can look at both routes, explain the differences and help you make an informed decision.

We have access to over 12,000 mortgage products from nearly 100 lenders, including many only available through a broker.

If your deal ends in the next six months, we're happy to have a chat. 💚

Book a call now: [email protected]/?ismsaljsauthenabled=true" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://bookings.cloud.microsoft/book/[email protected]/?ismsaljsauthenabled=true

Source: [Which?, 19 October 2026](https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/should-you-remortgage-with-your-current-lender-aP5k56c1G7GA?).

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

Which? reveals which lenders offer cheaper deals to loyal customers

31/10/2026

It's important to let your mortgage broker know if you have any occupants that won't be on your mortgage!

31/10/2026

🏡 Two first-time buyers. Same deposit. Different lender requirements.

One has saved every penny. The other has received help from family.

Both might be ready to buy, but the paperwork and lender options can differ.

A gifted deposit isn't necessarily a problem. Some lenders accept gifts from a wider range of relatives than others, and they'll want evidence of where the money came from. A genuine gift must also be distinguished from a repayable loan.

Latest figures published on 30 October show UK house prices were unchanged month on month in October, while annual growth slowed to just 0.5%. That national picture doesn't tell you what an individual home is worth, of course.

Before making an offer, check:

✅ Who is providing the deposit, and whether it's a gift or loan.

✅ What documents the lender may need.

✅ What you can afford alongside moving costs.

At The Mortgage Branch, we compare how lenders approach the whole application, not just the advertised rate.

We have access to over 12,000 mortgage products from nearly 100 lenders, including many that are only available via a broker.

Buying your first home? We're happy to talk it through. 💚

[email protected]/?ismsaljsauthenabled=true" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://bookings.cloud.microsoft/book/[email protected]/?ismsaljsauthenabled=true

Source: [Nationwide House Price Index, 30 October 2026](https://www.nationwide.co.uk/media/hpi/reports/annual-house-price-growth-slows-again-in-october?).

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

UK annual house price growth softened to 0.5% in October, the slowest pace since January 2024 House prices were unchanged month on month

30/10/2026

🏡 Same contractor. Same day rate. Two lenders looking at the income completely differently.

Imagine you’ve been contracting for years, earning consistently, and you’re ready to buy your next home.

One lender might want a track record of accounts or tax returns. Another may assess income using your current contract, day rate and working pattern.

That distinction matters, particularly if you’ve recently changed contracts or moved from employment into contracting.

Yesterday’s Bank of England figures add useful context: approvals for house purchases fell to 53,400 in September, while approvals for remortgaging with a different lender rose to 42,600.

In a market like this, understanding your options before making an application is worth the effort.

If you’re a contractor, gather:

• Your current contract and renewal history.
• Evidence of income and any gaps between contracts.
• Details of existing credit commitments.

At The Mortgage Branch, we check how individual lenders interpret your circumstances rather than treating every contractor as self-employed in exactly the same way.

We can compare over 12,000 mortgage products from nearly 100 lenders, including many that are only available via a broker.

Book a free discovery call: [email protected]/?ismsaljsauthenabled=true" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://bookings.cloud.microsoft/book/[email protected]/?ismsaljsauthenabled=true

Thinking about buying or remortgaging? We’re happy to have a conversation. 💚

Source: [Bank of England, Money and Credit, 29 October 2026](https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/statistics/money-and-credit/2026/september-2026).

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

29/10/2026

🏡 Same property. Same rent. Two lenders. Two very different remortgage calculations.

If you’re a landlord approaching the end of a fixed deal, it’s tempting to assume the lender offering the lowest rate will be the best fit.

But buy-to-let mortgages aren’t assessed on rate alone.

Lenders can use different rental stress tests, interest coverage requirements and rules for portfolio landlords. Whether you own the property personally or through a limited company can also affect your options.

The latest figures show why this matters.

Figures published by UK Finance on 21 October show that 39,631 buy-to-let remortgages completed in the second quarter of 2026. Of 58,051 new buy-to-let loans, most were remortgages.

Before your current deal ends, it’s worth checking:

✅ The rent your lender will use in its assessment.

✅ Your outstanding balance and current property value.

✅ Whether your ownership structure affects lender choice.

At The Mortgage Branch, we look beyond rates to understand lenders’ criteria and your plans.

We have access to over 12,000 mortgage products from nearly 100 lenders, including many that are only available via a broker.

If your landlord mortgage is coming up for renewal, we’re happy to talk through the possibilities. 💚

Source: [UK Finance, Buy-to-Let Lending, 21 October 2026](https://www.ukfinance.org.uk/data-and-research/data/buy-to-let-lending?).

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

28/10/2026

🏡 Two company directors. Similar businesses. Similar profits. Very different answers from mortgage lenders.

Why? Because the amount you take home isn't always the whole story.

Imagine you run a successful limited company but keep some profits in the business to fund growth.

Your salary and dividends may look modest on paper, even though the company is performing well.

Some lenders assess directors mainly using salary and dividends. Others may consider a share of company profits, subject to their criteria and evidence.

That's not a promise of more borrowing, but it can change which options are worth exploring.

The Bank of England reported 54,900 mortgage approvals for house purchases in August, down from 55,900 in July.

If you're a director thinking about moving or remortgaging, start with:

✅ Your latest company accounts.

✅ Salary and dividend records.

✅ A clear picture of retained profits and ongoing commitments.

At The Mortgage Branch, we look at how lenders assess your circumstances, not just the headline income figure.

We have access to over 12,000 mortgage products from nearly 100 lenders, including many that are only available via a broker.

Questions? We're always happy to talk. 💚

[email protected]/?ismsaljsauthenabled=true" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://bookings.cloud.microsoft/book/[email protected]/?ismsaljsauthenabled=true

Source: [Bank of England, Money and Credit, 29 September 2026](https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/statistics/money-and-credit/2026/august-2026?).

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

Our monthly Money and Credit statistical release is made up of three parts: broad money and credit, lending to individual and lending to businesses.

27/10/2026

🏡 FIRST-TIME BUYER? PAYING RENT BUT STRUGGLING TO SAVE A DEPOSIT? 👀

What if your rental payment history could help you buy your first home, even without a deposit?

Skipton Building Society's Track Record Mortgage could make that possible! 🔑

✅ Up to 100% mortgage, meaning no deposit may be needed.

✅ Aged 21 or over and haven't owned a UK property in the last 3 years.

✅ 12 consecutive months of rent payments within the last 18 months.

✅ Borrow up to £600,000, subject to affordability and lending criteria.

✅ Mortgage terms up to 40 years, helping to manage monthly repayments.

✅ Delayed repayment option, potentially giving you breathing space when you first move in. Interest still accrues.

💚 You've proved you can pay rent. Could you now be paying towards a home of your own?

At The Mortgage Branch, we can explore whether this mortgage is suitable for you and compare it with other options from nearly 100 lenders.

📲 Thinking about buying your first home?

Let's see what's possible!

👉 "Click here to speak with one of our friendly mortgage advisers." ([email protected]/?ismsaljsauthenabled=true)" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://bookings.cloud.microsoft/book/[email protected]/?ismsaljsauthenabled=true)



Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage. All mortgages are subject to eligibility, affordability assessments and lender criteria. Product availability and terms may change.

26/10/2026

🏡 Same deposit. Same house price. Different mortgage options.

One first-time buyer has saved their deposit. Another has been given the same amount by family.

You might expect lenders to treat them identically. They don't always.

For example, [Halifax](https://www.halifax-intermediaries.co.uk/products/ftb-support.html)'s £5,000 Deposit mortgage requires the money to come from the buyer's own savings. [Principality](https://www.principality.co.uk/intermediaries/our-mortgage-lending-criteria/our-full-lending-criteria), meanwhile, says family gifts can be acceptable under its lending criteria.

Neither approach tells you which lender is right for you. Affordability, deposit percentage, property type and the total mortgage cost still matter.

And preparation matters more than ever.

Moneyfacts reported on 19 October that mortgage products lasted just 13 days on average in October, as lenders repriced or withdrew deals.

Before you start house-hunting, check:

- Where your deposit is coming from.
- Whether the lender needs a gifted-deposit letter.
- What fees and monthly repayments look like, not just the rate.

At The Mortgage Branch, we compare the details behind each lender's criteria.

We have access to over 12,000 mortgage products from nearly 100 lenders, including many that are only available via a broker.

Buying your first home? We're always happy to talk it through. 💚

Source: [Moneyfacts Mortgage Market Report, 19 October 2026](https://www.moneyfactsgroup.co.uk/media-centre/group/mortgage-deals-lasting-just-13-days-as-market-faces-sustained-volatility/).

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

Find out we can help your clients get on the property ladder sooner.