Mortgage Brokers: the power behind a growing market

After four years of running my own mortgage intermediary business, I wanted to reflect on something bigger than just a milestone.

One recent statistic has caught my attention: the vast majority of mortgages are now arranged through brokers. This got me thinking—why has the broker market grown so much since 2014?

When the Mortgage Market Review (MMR) was introduced in 2014 to tighten lending rules, someone I knew at the time remarked that it would be the “death knell for brokers.” At the time, brokers handled 54% of mortgage transactions. Today, brokers account for 87% of the market, with 89% projected for 2025

Why Has The Broker Market Share Grown?

🔹 Mortgage Complexity: More products, stricter criteria, and affordability tests require expert navigation.

🔹 Consumer Preference: Brokers compare lenders, securing better deals and guidance in volatile markets.

🔹 Lender Strategy: Many lenders now prioritise brokers, with some working exclusively through intermediaries.

🔹 Specialist Lending Growth: More borrowers need tailored solutions for self-employment, bad credit, or niche cases.

By 2026, brokers are expected to handle an astonishing 9 out of every 10 UK mortgage transactions. Meanwhile, UK Finance predicts £260bn in mortgage lending for 2025

Mortgage lending helps to fuel GDP, jobs, and consumer spending, making brokers more essential than ever. Far from being obsolete, intermediaries are thriving.