Base Rate cut will boost buy-to-let market - Steve Cox, Fleet Mortgages

08 May 2025

Steve Cox, Chief Commercial Officer at Fleet Mortgages:

“The Bank of England’s decision to cut Bank Base Rate today marks a further pivotal moment for the mortgage market and comes off the back of a steady downward trend in swap rates over recent months. We’ve already seen this reflected in product pricing, with Fleet ourselves having made a number of reductions to our buy-to-let product rates recently. For lenders and advisers operating in the buy-to-let sector, this provides a welcome boost — a clearer signal that affordability continues to improve, giving more landlord borrowers the opportunity to secure the funding they need.

“Of course, we can never be absolutely certain of the long-term direction of travel, but the recent trend does suggest rates will continue to edge downwards, which will only strengthen landlord confidence. Lower rates not only make deals more accessible but also ease the ongoing pressure on monthly mortgage payments — something that’s been front and centre for borrowers since the post-Mini Budget turmoil. The rate shift since the summer of last year has shifted that dynamic, supporting landlords in maintaining sustainable portfolios and opening up options for remortgaging and further investment.”