This week’s top headlines: Prices fall across 11 of London’s commuter towns and young adults turn to AI for mortgage advice.
Explore these and other major industry updates below:Prices fall across 11 of London’s commuter towns: Rightmove
Average asking prices have fallen across several London commuter belt towns, while more affordable locations near Glasgow and Manchester are seeing strong growth, according to Rightmove.
Falkirk recorded the largest rise at 13.5%, while Haywards Heath saw the steepest decline at 4.8%, highlighting how buyers are increasingly seeking better value in commuter areas with lower property prices.
YBS appoints Bryden as director of distribution and incoming MD of Accord
Yorkshire Building Society has appointed Amanda Bryden as director of distribution and incoming managing director of Accord Mortgages, bringing more than 25 years of mortgage and intermediary experience from roles at Lloyds Banking Group, HSBC, Santander and Coventry Building Society.
She will succeed Jeremy Duncombe, who will support the transition before retiring at the end of 2026, with Bryden pledging to build on Accord’s broker relationships and develop propositions that better meet changing customer needs.
Young adults turn to AI for mortgage advice: Lloyds
Young adults are increasingly using artificial intelligence to manage their finances, with 28% of AI users aged 35 to 44 turning to it for mortgage advice, according to Lloyds Banking Group.
While 18 to 24-year-olds are the most enthusiastic users of AI and digital financial tools, financial confidence appears to increase with age, highlighting the importance of combining technology with financial knowledge.
Buyers return to housing market as searches rise 7%: Zoopla
Home buyers are returning to the market ahead of an expected autumn rebound, with Zoopla reporting a 7% year-on-year rise in property searches over the past four weeks and growth across every UK region for the first time in a year.
However, affordability remains a major constraint as higher mortgage rates have reduced borrowing power, while increased housing supply and cautious buyer demand continue to keep house price growth subdued.
Planning refusals for HMOs have doubled since 2021
Planning refusals for HMOs in England more than doubled between 2021 and 2025, rising from 590 to 1,203, according to research by 1st Avenue.
As more councils introduce Article 4 directions restricting HMO conversions, the firm warns that tighter controls could reduce the supply of legitimate, regulated shared housing and leave tenants with fewer affordable options.
Accord and TSB trim rates by up to 37bps
Accord Mortgages has cut rates by up to 37bps across its residential product transfer and additional loan ranges, while TSB has reduced selected house purchase and remortgage rates by up to 20bps.
Accord’s biggest reductions are on three-year fixes, while TSB has cut two-, three- and five-year purchase fixes and three-year remortgage rates.
Almost half of UK buy-to-let is owned through companies
Almost half of UK buy-to-let properties are now owned through companies, with company ownership accounting for 45.1% of the market in Q3 2026, according to Lendlord.
The proportion rises to 57.6% among landlords with 20 or more properties, highlighting a clear shift towards company structures as portfolios grow, particularly in the North East, Yorkshire and Humberside and Scotland.
Mortgage terms of 30-40 years become norm for younger borrowers
Two-thirds of borrowers under 30 are taking out mortgages lasting between 30 and 40 years, according to Sprive, compared with just 6% of homeowners aged 40 to 49.
The longer terms are helping younger buyers manage affordability, but mean they are on course to repay their mortgages at an average age of 59 and face higher interest costs over the life of the loan.
Later life lending jumps in Q2: UK Finance
Lending to borrowers aged 55 and over rose 20.5% year on year to £6.2bn in Q2, with 37,300 new loans advanced, according to UK Finance.
However, the industry body cautioned that the increase was amplified by weak lending in Q2 2025 following the stamp duty deadline, while industry figures highlighted a continuing gap between mainstream residential lending to older borrowers and specialist later-life options such as lifetime mortgages and retirement interest-only deals.
Government puts £39bn into social and affordable housing
The government has announced almost £10bn of funding to deliver more than 70,000 social and affordable homes across England, as part of its £39bn housing programme.
Around 60% of the homes are expected to be for social rent, with the funding aimed at tackling temporary accommodation and council housing waiting lists, while industry figures stressed the need for a mix of social housing and affordable homeownership options.
