user.first_name
Menu

Mortgage News

Mortgage affordability pressures ease from 2023 peak – ONS

Mortgage affordability pressures ease from 2023 peak – ONS
Tania Ahmed
Written By:
Posted:
August 14, 2026
Updated:
August 14, 2026

The share of adults struggling to afford their rent or mortgage payments has fallen significantly from the highs seen during the cost-of-living crisis, according to Office for National Statistics (ONS) data.

Some 30% of adults who pay rent or mortgage bills said they found these payments very or somewhat difficult to afford.

This is considerably lower than the 46% reported between 28 June and 9 July 2023, when higher borrowing costs and rising bills placed increased pressure on household finances.

However, the latest figure suggests little change over the past year, remaining broadly in line with the 35% recorded between 2 and 27 July 2025.

For most households, mortgage and rent payments appeared to be manageable. Nearly two-thirds of adults said they found paying their housing costs very or somewhat easy.

The findings come as the cost of living continued to dominate public concerns. In July, 88% of adults said the cost of living was an important issue facing the UK, making it the most commonly reported concern.

Sponsored

Aldermore Insights with Jon Cooper: Edition 10 – The biggest barrier to homeownership isn’t affordability. It’s outdated lending.

Sponsored by Aldermore

Housing was cited by 54% of adults, reinforcing the continued focus on affordability.

The continued affordability pressures facing renters and mortgage holders come as many aspiring homeowners still struggle to save for a deposit.

In June, Skipton Group reported that a third of renters had such low levels of savings that it would take them 35 years to build up a house deposit.

As affordability concerns persist, both renters and homeowners alike face mounting pressures on affordability.