UK mortgage lending 'halved during August' » Housing » 24dash.com

Mortgage lending in the UK halved during August and the number of loans approved for house purchase slumped to a new record low, figures showed today.

Net mortgage lending, which strips out redemptions and repayments, dived to just £2.1 billion during the month, less than half of July's £4.8 billion, and the lowest level since February 2001.

The British Bankers' Association blamed the slump on the combination of falling house prices, the current economic problems and lenders' tighter lending criteria as a result of the credit crunch.

But the group added that speculation that the Government was going to make an announcement on stamp duty also curbed demand during August as people delayed buying a house in the hope that they would not have to pay the tax.

Chancellor Alistair Darling finally announced in the first week of September that stamp duty would be suspended on properties costing up to £185,000 for a year.

The National Association of Estate Agents yesterday blamed speculation over the future of the tax for a further drop in sales in August, with agents selling an average of just five properties each during the month.

The number of mortgages approved for house purchase continued its downward spiral during August, dropping to a new record low of 21,086, 5% less than in July and 64% fewer than in the same month of 2007, the BBA said.

Remortgage approvals fell for the fourth month in a row, dropping to 47,765, the lowest level since February 2001 and 27.8% fewer than 12 months ago.

Loans approved for equity withdrawal and buy-to-let properties were 35.3% lower than in August 2007.

Howard Archer, chief UK and European economist at Global Insight, said: "The BBA data graphically highlights that housing market activity continues to be throttled by stretched affordability and tight lending conditions.

"Widespread expectations that house prices will continue to fall markedly for some considerable time to come is also significantly limiting housing market activity, as is heightened concern over the economic outlook and job prospects.

"Furthermore, the current financial sector turmoil is likely to deepen the pressure on housing market activity through further tightening credit conditions and exerting upward pressure on interest rates."

Credit card spending remained in line with the recent monthly average at £7.3 billion during August.

Consumers continued to repay more than they spent, making payments of £7.4 billion during the month, but once interest and charges were taking into account, outstanding debt still rose by £400 million to reach £33.6 billion.

Borrowing through overdrafts fell slightly, with people repaying around £100 million of debt, while lending through loans remained subdued at £2.1 billion.

Savings levels were also low during the month with people depositing £200 million.

This was better than in July when they withdrew £100 million, but still well below the recent monthly average of saving £2.2 billion.

Simon Rubinsohn, chief economist at the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, said: "This (drop in mortgage approvals) is not altogether surprising given that speculation was rife during the month about a possible announcement on stamp duty.

"The subsequent decision by the Government to widen the zero band on stamp duty, albeit only temporarily, alongside the introduction of a series of more competitive mortgage products by lenders should have helped bolster interest in the housing market this month.

"But these developments are likely to have been overshadowed by concerns stemming from the turmoil in financial markets.

"In addition, the renewed focus on risk has lifted the cost of wholesale money which may well feed through back into higher mortgage rates before too much longer."