Despite a slight dip in sector sentiment at the end of 2025, intermediary mortgage advisers remain confident, with increasing conversion rates and optimistic forecasts for mortgage lending growth in 2026, supported by falling interest rates and clearer fiscal policy.
According to the Intermediary Mortgage Lenders Association’s latest mortgage market tracker, intermediary advisers entered 2026 with firm confidence in their own businesses even as their view of the wider mortgage market softened slightly in the final quarter of 2025. The survey found adviser-level optimism strengthened through Q4, finishing December with 57% saying they felt “very” confident and 43% “fairly confident” about the outlook for their firm.
The tracker shows overall sector sentiment slipped a little during the quarter and remains below the averages recorded between 2015 and 2019. Despite that, advisers have been handling more business than a year earlier: the typical intermediary placed 89 mortgage cases over the prior 12 months, down from 92 in Q3 but ahead of the 80-case average in Q4 2024. IMLA notes this modest quarterly dip coincides with improved process efficiency across the mortgage pipeline.
Decisions in principle (DIPs) that converted to acceptances rose to 86%, the highest level seen in three years. Conversions from DIP to completion increased to 40%, up four percentage points on the previous quarter, while full-application-to-completion conversion rose from 62% to 65%. IMLA interprets these moves as evidence that a greater share of cases are successfully progressing to completion even if intermediaries are managing marginally fewer files.
IMLA’s executive director Kate Davies said: “It is understandable that confidence in the wider mortgage market was somewhat subdued at the end of last year. In Q4, advisers were operating against a backdrop of economic uncertainty exacerbated by the run-up to and announcement of November’s Budget, which put a dampener on investment and growth throughout the second half of 2025.” She added: “In fact, according to IMLA’s own figures as recorded in the New Normal Report, gross mortgage lending increased by 19% in 2025, and is forecast to grow another 11% this year.” Davies further argued: “As we move further into 2026, with the Budget (and Budget speculation) firmly behind us, falling interest rates and greater clarity around fiscal policy should help support a firmer recovery in sentiment regarding the wider mortgage market.” She also highlighted the resilience of intermediaries: “Broker confidence in their own businesses has remained extremely robust throughout, underlining the resilience of intermediary firms despite policy uncertainty and an unsettled economic environment.” Davies concluded: “As the market grows this year, intermediaries will continue to play a central role in guiding around 90% of borrowers through a complex and competitive lending landscape.”
Those growth expectations are echoed in IMLA’s lending forecasts. According to Mortgage Solutions’ reporting of IMLA’s outlook, gross mortgage lending is projected to rise by 11% year‑on‑year to about £320 billion in 2026. IMLA anticipates a 19% increase in house purchase lending to roughly £184 billion, a 20% rise in remortgaging to around £93 billion and a 15% expansion in buy‑to‑let activity to about £39 billion. The association attributes the anticipated uptick to easing interest rates and better affordability, noting that strong affordability checks and post‑crisis regulatory safeguards have left borrowers better positioned to cope with higher rates during the recent difficult period.
Taken together, the data sketch a market in which intermediary firms remain commercially confident and more efficient at converting enquiries into completions, even as broader sector sentiment awaits firmer signs of recovery. IMLA’s figures and forecasts suggest the industry could see meaningful lending growth in 2026 if rates continue to fall and fiscal policy stays on a clearer path.
- https://www.mortgagestrategy.co.uk/news/more-than-half-of-advisers-very-confident-about-business-outlook-imla/ – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.mortgagesolutions.co.uk/news/2026/02/11/gross-mortgage-lending-set-to-rise-11-yoy-to-320bn-in-2026-imla-finds – The Intermediary Mortgage Lenders Association (IMLA) forecasts that gross mortgage lending will increase by 11% year-on-year, reaching £320 billion in 2026. This growth is driven by a 19% rise in house purchase lending to £184 billion and a 20% increase in remortgaging to £93 billion. The buy-to-let sector is also expected to grow by 15% to £39 billion. IMLA attributes this growth to falling interest rates and improved affordability, which have bolstered the housing and mortgage markets. The association notes that the past two years have been the most challenging for the mortgage market since the financial crisis, but borrowers have been better prepared for higher rates due to robust affordability assessments and post-crisis safeguards. ([mortgagesolutions.co.uk](https://www.mortgagesolutions.co.uk/news/2026/02/11/gross-mortgage-lending-set-to-rise-11-yoy-to-320bn-in-2026-imla-finds?utm_source=openai))
- https://www.mortgagesolutions.co.uk/news/2026/02/11/gross-mortgage-lending-set-to-rise-11-yoy-to-320bn-in-2026-imla-finds – The Intermediary Mortgage Lenders Association (IMLA) forecasts that gross mortgage lending will increase by 11% year-on-year, reaching £320 billion in 2026. This growth is driven by a 19% rise in house purchase lending to £184 billion and a 20% increase in remortgaging to £93 billion. The buy-to-let sector is also expected to grow by 15% to £39 billion. IMLA attributes this growth to falling interest rates and improved affordability, which have bolstered the housing and mortgage markets. The association notes that the past two years have been the most challenging for the mortgage market since the financial crisis, but borrowers have been better prepared for higher rates due to robust affordability assessments and post-crisis safeguards. ([mortgagesolutions.co.uk](https://www.mortgagesolutions.co.uk/news/2026/02/11/gross-mortgage-lending-set-to-rise-11-yoy-to-320bn-in-2026-imla-finds?utm_source=openai))
- https://www.mortgagesolutions.co.uk/news/2026/02/11/gross-mortgage-lending-set-to-rise-11-yoy-to-320bn-in-2026-imla-finds – The Intermediary Mortgage Lenders Association (IMLA) forecasts that gross mortgage lending will increase by 11% year-on-year, reaching £320 billion in 2026. This growth is driven by a 19% rise in house purchase lending to £184 billion and a 20% increase in remortgaging to £93 billion. The buy-to-let sector is also expected to grow by 15% to £39 billion. IMLA attributes this growth to falling interest rates and improved affordability, which have bolstered the housing and mortgage markets. The association notes that the past two years have been the most challenging for the mortgage market since the financial crisis, but borrowers have been better prepared for higher rates due to robust affordability assessments and post-crisis safeguards. ([mortgagesolutions.co.uk](https://www.mortgagesolutions.co.uk/news/2026/02/11/gross-mortgage-lending-set-to-rise-11-yoy-to-320bn-in-2026-imla-finds?utm_source=openai))
- https://www.mortgagesolutions.co.uk/news/2026/02/11/gross-mortgage-lending-set-to-rise-11-yoy-to-320bn-in-2026-imla-finds – The Intermediary Mortgage Lenders Association (IMLA) forecasts that gross mortgage lending will increase by 11% year-on-year, reaching £320 billion in 2026. This growth is driven by a 19% rise in house purchase lending to £184 billion and a 20% increase in remortgaging to £93 billion. The buy-to-let sector is also expected to grow by 15% to £39 billion. IMLA attributes this growth to falling interest rates and improved affordability, which have bolstered the housing and mortgage markets. The association notes that the past two years have been the most challenging for the mortgage market since the financial crisis, but borrowers have been better prepared for higher rates due to robust affordability assessments and post-crisis safeguards. ([mortgagesolutions.co.uk](https://www.mortgagesolutions.co.uk/news/2026/02/11/gross-mortgage-lending-set-to-rise-11-yoy-to-320bn-in-2026-imla-finds?utm_source=openai))
- https://www.mortgagesolutions.co.uk/news/2026/02/11/gross-mortgage-lending-set-to-rise-11-yoy-to-320bn-in-2026-imla-finds – The Intermediary Mortgage Lenders Association (IMLA) forecasts that gross mortgage lending will increase by 11% year-on-year, reaching £320 billion in 2026. This growth is driven by a 19% rise in house purchase lending to £184 billion and a 20% increase in remortgaging to £93 billion. The buy-to-let sector is also expected to grow by 15% to £39 billion. IMLA attributes this growth to falling interest rates and improved affordability, which have bolstered the housing and mortgage markets. The association notes that the past two years have been the most challenging for the mortgage market since the financial crisis, but borrowers have been better prepared for higher rates due to robust affordability assessments and post-crisis safeguards. ([mortgagesolutions.co.uk](https://www.mortgagesolutions.co.uk/news/2026/02/11/gross-mortgage-lending-set-to-rise-11-yoy-to-320bn-in-2026-imla-finds?utm_source=openai))
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
9
Notes:
The article was published on 2 March 2026, which is recent. The data referenced pertains to Q4 2025, with forecasts extending into 2026 and 2027. The Intermediary Mortgage Lenders Association (IMLA) has a history of releasing quarterly reports, with the most recent being the Q4 2024 report published in December 2024. ([imla.org.uk](https://www.imla.org.uk/perch/resources/publications/imla-mortgage-market-tracker-q4-2024.pdf?utm_source=openai)) Therefore, the data in this article appears to be current and not recycled.
Quotes check
Score:
8
Notes:
The article includes direct quotes from Kate Davies, IMLA’s executive director. A search for these quotes reveals that they have not been used in earlier publications, suggesting originality. However, without access to the original IMLA report, it’s challenging to verify the exact wording and context of these quotes. Therefore, while the quotes appear original, their verification is limited.
Source reliability
Score:
7
Notes:
The article is published on Mortgage Strategy, a UK-based publication focusing on the mortgage industry. While it is a niche publication, it is known for its coverage of mortgage-related news. The article cites IMLA, a reputable industry body, as the source of the data. However, without access to the original IMLA report, it’s difficult to fully assess the accuracy of the information presented.
Plausibility check
Score:
8
Notes:
The claims about adviser confidence and business volumes align with industry trends and previous reports from IMLA. However, the article’s reliance on a single source (IMLA) without independent verification raises concerns about the completeness and objectivity of the information. Additionally, the article does not provide specific data points or comparisons to previous periods, making it difficult to fully assess the claims’ validity.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): FAIL
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
While the article is recent and presents plausible claims, it heavily relies on a single source (IMLA) without independent verification. The lack of access to the original IMLA report and the absence of additional independent sources raise concerns about the information’s accuracy and completeness. Therefore, the content cannot be fully verified, leading to a FAIL verdict.