Market Update - September 2026

Bond markets are under pressure across the UK, the US and much of the world. That sounds like a problem for economists, but it has a direct impact on your mortgage...

Rob & Rob explain what's pushing government borrowing costs up, and why that's already showing up in swap rates and lender pricing.

With the October Budget on the horizon, fresh data on prices and rents, as well as a striking number on where professional investors are putting their money - there's a lot here that could change the maths on your next purchase.

• (00:56) The bond market is moving, here's why that matters more than the Bank of England rate
• (04:30) Swap rates at their highest. What that means for your borrowing costs
• (05:22) The first lender has already repriced, so why moving fast on paperwork pays
• (08:14) The Budget lands in October, and the tax Rob D thinks is most exposed
• (11:57) House price growth looks flat, but the real-terms picture is very different
• (13:22) Rents up year on year, outpacing both inflation and house price growth
• (13:53) Why the number of professional investors who plan to buy in the next 12 months surprised Rob B
• (17:00) What England should read into rented homes in Wales
• (18:25) Hub Extra

Links mentioned:

• Bank of England holds at 3.75%
• NRLA: Budget 2026, what we know so far

House prices:

• Nationwide's House Price Index
• Lloyds' House Price Index

Mortgages and lending:

• Landlord mortgage rates fall across lenders
• Lender cuts buy-to-let rates to woo landlords
• Fewer buy-to-let applications

Rents:

• ONS private rent and house prices
• London landlords' latest tactic: inverse bidding wars

Landlord behaviour:

• Buy-to-let costs soar twice as fast as rental income
• Just 5% of Welsh landlords control a third of rental homes
• Handelsbanken Property Investor Report
• Investors missing the older-renter opportunity

Planning and supply:

• HBF: Planning on Empty 2026
• Centre for Cities: building near stations

Regulation:

• Renters demand rent and eviction data in the PRS Database
• Short-let landlord register coming soon
• NRLA warns of risk of unqualified agents
• UK CertifID trust mark for digital ID

Enjoy the show?

• Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts - it really helps others find us!
• Sign up for our free weekly newsletter, Property Pulse
• Find out more about Property Hub Invest