Commenting on latest Halifax house price data showing a 0.6% increase, Daniel Austin, CEO and co-founder at ASK Partners, said: “Today's modest uptick in UK house prices offers a flicker of optimism, but growth remains muted as elevated borrowing costs continue to weigh on affordability. The Bank of England's decision to hold rates at 4% provides little immediate relief, with stubbornly high fixed mortgage rates keeping pressure on homeowners and first-time buyers alike.

“With global volatility elevated and domestic policy direction uncertain ahead of the Autumn Statement, policymakers are holding back pending greater fiscal clarity. Inflation is unlikely to return to target this year, maintaining mortgage strain and dampening household confidence. As a result, the property market remains cautious, buyers are pausing, and developers are delaying projects amid uncertainty over taxation, build costs, and planning timelines.

“Proposed reductions in affordable housing requirements and efforts to streamline planning could boost scheme viability, yet high financing costs and tight margins continue to constrain delivery. Even so, resilient sectors such as co-living, build-to-rent, and storage remain attractive to investors, supported by robust fundamentals and a persistent supply-demand imbalance. For those seeking stability amid geopolitical risk and wider market volatility, UK real estate debt continues to stand out, offering capital preservation, steady income, and a degree of insulation from equity market swings.”

ENDS

About ASK Partners

ASK is a specialist, independent property lender, established by an experienced team of three partners in 2016 to provide bespoke and flexible real estate finance solutions. Building a team to complement their own unique blend of skills, they have now lent in excess of £1.45bn across over 110 transactions. Every transaction is underwritten by ASK and the company has earned a reputation as a trustworthy partner.