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UK gross mortgage lending slows, latest figures show

The latest figures from the British Banking Association (BBA) also shows that approvals have dipped. Some £9.2 billion was approved in October, down from £9.5 billion in September.

Compared to the same time a year earlier, approvals in October for house purchase were down 16%, remortgaging down 21% and equity withdrawal down 34%.

The total number of mortgage approvals in October was 61,097, down 2.9% from 62,900 in September.

According to David Newnes, director of Reeds Rains and Your Move estate agents, believes all looks okay for next year. ‘Since the dark days of the recession the UK property market has improved unrecognisably and leaving aside seasonal factors, there is still some momentum in the pipeline for 2015,’ he said.

‘However, today’s sharper than expected slowdown underlines the need for continued support. The majority of aspiring home owners still haven’t felt the benefits of a burgeoning economic recovery, and those households still deserve a leg up onto the property ladder,’ he explained.

While the Bank of England and the Government have an admirable desire for long term sustainability in the British property market, that should be tempered with a balanced look at the next six months. Otherwise, until pay packets pick up, home ownership could remain a dream for too many families,’ he added.

 

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