Weekly Area Market Digest
A free weekly summary of your local property market. Mortgage rate changes, rental trends, and policy updates — delivered every Monday.
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Viven Weekly Market Digest
Mortgage Rate Snapshot
Nationwide
2-yr fixed (75% LTV)
3.79%
-10bps this week
HSBC
5-yr fixed (60% LTV)
3.69%
-6bps this week
Barclays
2-yr fixed (90% LTV)
4.29%
-15bps this week
NatWest
5-yr fixed (75% LTV)
3.89%
-8bps this week
Santander
2-yr fixed (60% LTV)
3.59%
-12bps this week
Halifax
2-yr fixed (95% LTV)
4.99%
Unchanged
BoE base rate: 4.50% — Next MPC decision: 20 March 2026. Consensus forecast: Hold at 4.50%.
Policy & Regulatory Updates
Stamp duty thresholds revert 1 April 2026
Nil-rate band returns to £125k (from £250k). First-time buyer threshold drops to £300k (from £425k). Estimated to add £2,500-£5,000 to costs for most buyers.
Mortgage guarantee scheme extended
95% LTV scheme confirmed to run until December 2027. Key for first-time buyers with 5% deposits.
Planning reform: fast-track for brownfield sites
Government announces streamlined planning permissions for previously developed land in London boroughs. Could boost supply by 15,000 homes/year.
Rental Market Update
| Area | Avg. Monthly Rent | Annual Change |
|---|---|---|
| Wales | £826/mo | +5.8% |
| Scotland | £1,021/mo | +2.5% |
| North East | £767/mo | +8.0% |
| North West | £941/mo | +6.0% |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | £843/mo | +4.2% |
| East Midlands | £906/mo | +5.2% |
| West Midlands | £962/mo | +5.5% |
| East of England | £1,268/mo | +4.9% |
| London | £2,253/mo | +1.1% |
| South East | £1,405/mo | +3.6% |
| South West | £1,224/mo | +4.9% |
Source: ONS Index of Private Housing Rental Prices (PIPR), January 2026.
This is a sample digest for London & South East. Your personalised digest will cover your chosen area.
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Market data sourced from ONS House Price Index, ONS Private Rental Index, and Bank of England interest rate decisions. The digest is compiled automatically and does not constitute financial advice.