1. MESSAGE FROM SIMON DURANT BA, CeMAP, CeRER
You might have seen a mixture of mortgage headlines this week. One lender is trimming some rates, another is changing how much it might lend, and then we see news that inflation has risen again.
I can understand why that makes it difficult to know what to do, especially if you're hoping to move or your fixed mortgage is coming to an end.
If we were having a coffee, I'd say not to let a single headline make the decision for you.
The right mortgage is the one that works with your actual monthly budget and your plans, not a prediction about where rates might go next.
And alongside the mortgage itself, it is worth thinking about what would happen to the bills if illness stopped you working.
Here's what stood out to us this week.
2. MORTGAGE MARKET REVIEW AND CHANGES
Mortgage deals remain unsettled as inflation rises
New figures published on 21 October showed that UK inflation, the rate at which everyday prices are rising, reached 3.5% in September, up from 3.1% in August.
That matters because it can influence what lenders expect interest rates to do next.
But it does not mean every mortgage rate will immediately go up.
MoneySavingExpert also reported on 20 October that fixed mortgage deals below 5% had become harder to find after rises over recent months.
Even so, individual lenders are still making selected reductions.
The Bank of England's next base rate decision is due on 5 November, and nobody can know for certain what it will decide.
What this could mean for you
If your mortgage deal is ending, check the date, ask what your existing lender can offer and compare the full cost of other suitable deals.
A fixed rate offers more certainty over your monthly payment; a tracker rate can change when the Bank of England changes its rate.
Neither is automatically better for everyone.
How Durant & Co can help
We can compare the options with you, including the rate, fees, payment and any early repayment charges, so you can decide what fits your circumstances.
Source: Mortgage Solutions. Source: Financial Reporter. Source: MoneySavingExpert.
House prices are rising slowly overall, but the local picture varies
The latest official UK House Price Index, published on 21 October, shows average UK property prices were 0.9% higher in August than a year earlier.
In England, the annual increase was just 0.4%, with an average price of £294,000.
In Wales, the increase was 3.1%, with an average price of £216,000.
These figures describe sales from August, not what every property is worth today.
The type of home, the street and local demand can all make a big difference.
What this could mean for you
If you're buying, look at recent sold prices for similar homes rather than relying on a national headline.
If you're selling, a sensible asking price and realistic moving budget are more useful than guessing whether the whole market is going up or down.
Source: Financial Reporter.
A couple of new options for buyers
Family Building Society announced a change to the way it checks affordability on 22 October.
Some applicants may now be able to borrow more than they could under its previous calculations.
The amount still depends on income, regular commitments, the mortgage and the lender's checks.
Accord Mortgages has also reduced selected deals from 22 October, including its £5,000 Deposit Mortgage for eligible buyers.
The fee-free five-year fixed rate on that particular product moves from 6.58% to 6.52%.
A smaller deposit can be helpful, but a larger mortgage can also mean higher monthly payments and less breathing room if property values fall.
What this could mean for you
If you've been told you cannot borrow enough, or you're finding it hard to save a large deposit, these are reasons to review the options, not a guarantee that you will be accepted.
The sensible question is still whether the payments would be comfortable.
How Durant & Co can help
We can check which lenders and deposit options may suit your situation and talk through what the borrowing would cost.
Source: Mortgage Soup. Source: The Intermediary.
Some buy-to-let mortgage rates have been reduced
Accord is also cutting selected buy-to-let mortgage rates from 22 October, with some reductions of up to 0.69 percentage points.
That is the largest change on certain deals, not a market-wide reduction.
Separately, figures reported this week show more buy-to-let mortgages were completed in the second quarter of 2026 than in the same period last year.
What this could mean for you
If you own a rental property and your deal is ending, it is worth checking the whole cost, including fees, rental income requirements and any work the property needs.
A lower rate does not always mean a lower overall cost.
Source: The Intermediary. Source: Financial Reporter.
3. PROTECTION MARKET REVIEW AND CHANGES
A health condition may not rule out life insurance
New research reported on 21 October suggests that more people who disclose common health conditions are receiving an immediate decision when applying for life insurance through one application platform.
The findings included people reporting diabetes, high blood pressure, anxiety and depression.
An immediate decision is not the same as a promise of cover, and the findings do not mean every insurer treats every condition in the same way.
What it does show is that it may be worth checking the options rather than assuming a past diagnosis automatically rules insurance out.
What this could mean for you
If you've held off applying because of your medical history, be open about it and ask for help finding an insurer that will consider your circumstances.
Answer health questions fully and accurately, as missing information can affect a future claim.
How Durant & Co can help
We can talk through the types of cover you need and help identify insurers whose approach may be more suitable for your circumstances.
Source: Mortgage Soup. Source: COVER.
A new critical illness policy offers another choice
Beagle Street launched a policy called Critical Illness Plus on 19 October.
It includes 40 conditions for which a qualifying claim can receive the full insured amount, along with six additional conditions that may qualify for a smaller payment.
Optional children's cover is also available.
Critical illness insurance can pay a lump sum if you meet a policy's exact definition of a covered serious illness.
Two policies with similar names or prices can have quite different definitions and payment limits, so the detail matters more than the number of illnesses in a headline.
What this could mean for you
If you already have cover, there is no automatic reason to replace it because a new policy has launched.
If you're taking out cover for the first time, compare what each policy would actually pay, the cost and any exclusions.
Do not cancel existing protection until any replacement is in place and suitable.
Source: COVER. Source: Mortgage Soup.
4. THANK YOU
Thanks for taking a few minutes to read this week's update.
We hope it has made the headlines a little easier to understand.
If anything here relates to your mortgage, a possible move or how you'd protect your family, please feel free to get in touch for a chat.
There's no pressure and no expectation, just a chance to talk it through.
The Durant & Co Team