As usual (and I’m sure it will come as no surprise) I will expect the base rate to hold flat for the foreseeable future keeping rates down to minimum levels.

Brokers can expect to find lenders such as Kent Reliance coming forward to fill the gap in the market with niche products for individuals with difficult or complicated circumstances.

Pleasingly, we expect this will be part of a growing trend this year with other small lenders such as Precise coming up with more bespoke products for people in tricky circumstances such as being self employed or having a less than perfect credit score.

We are seeing other new entrants into the market including Metro Bank, who are working exclusively with us and a handful of other brokers as part of a wider initiative to increase lending levels. All eyes will be on them this year.

This is really encouraging for the industry as it means we will see increased competition in the market in 2013 as smaller lenders decide to create innovative products for the more difficult applicants rather than going head to head with mainstream lenders on reducing rates.

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All in all, my view is a positive one. We hope that as a result of increased lending and greater effort on behalf of the industry to meet the requirements of individuals with unusual circumstances that the housing market will get the much needed boost it has needed this year.

Henry Knight is managing director at Springtide Capital