"The market doesn’t need short-term signals or headline policies; it needs delivery." - HTB comments on ONS Private Rent and House Price data

22 October 2025

Alex Upton, Managing Director, Specialist Mortgages & Bridging Finance, Hampshire Trust Bank:

“Zoopla has suggested that current conditions in the rental market are the softest seen in five years, yet rents are still edging upwards. That says everything about the underlying strength of tenant demand and the structural imbalance between supply and availability.

All eyes are now on the upcoming Budget. We are still well short of the rental stock needed, and without clear, practical measures to boost supply, that imbalance will keep rents under pressure. The market doesn’t need short-term signals or headline policies; it needs delivery.

Speculation around Stamp Duty reform is another factor weighing on activity, with some landlords holding back while they wait for more certainty. But for professional investors who understand the long-term opportunity in property, this is a time for measured planning. They are investing in the right properties, managing their portfolios carefully and preparing for what comes next.

This is where brokers and lenders have a real role to play. Strategic support and well-structured funding can make all the difference to landlords navigating this next phase. The market always rewards those who stay focused and think long term.”