Since the beginning of 2007, some 300 regulated mortgage lenders and administrators have been required to submit a Mortgage Lending & Administration Return (MLAR) each quarter, providing data on their mortgage lending activities. We published the first set of statistics based on these data in August 2008.

This latest edition covers the period from 2008 Q3 to the end of 2009 Q4. As these new reporting and analytical processes have become more established, we now publish statistics approximately 2½ months after the end of each quarter. Provisional dates are shown under future editions.

The MLAR covers both regulated and non-regulated residential lending to individuals. Regulated loans are secured by a first charge on residential property, where the property is for the use of the borrower or a close relative. Non-regulated lending includes buy to let, second charge and, in some cases, further advances on loans that were originally taken out before regulation came into effect.

The MLAR provides a range of information on lending activities, including

  • balances of all outstanding loans
  • new advances and commitments, including purpose of loans
  • unsecuritised and securitised loans
  • interest rates on loans
  • lending criteria, including loan to value (LTV) and income multiples
  • lending to those with impaired credit histories; and
  • arrears and possessions

Key results: as at 2009 Q4

  • The total value of outstanding loans is now £1,207bn, an increase of 1% compared to a year earlier.
  • New advances in the quarter totalled £41bn, an increase of 2% on Q3, but 8% lower than the £45bn advanced in Q4 2008.
  • New commitments were 6% lower than last quarter, at £36bn.
  • Lending for house purchase continues to represent an increasing share of new lending, accounting for 62% of new advances and 63% of new commitments in this latest quarter.
  • The proportion of new lending done at an LTV of more than 90% accounted for less than 2% of new advances for the second quarter in succession, down from 6% in Q4 last year.
  • The use of combinations of high LTVs and high income multiples also continued to decrease, and accounted for less than 1% of new lending in Q4.
  • The proportion of loans to borrowers with an impaired credit history was little changed at 0.4%  from last quarter’s low of 0.3%.
  • The number of new arrears cases has reduced in each quarter of 2009 and was  down by a further 9% in the latest quarter to 41,000.
  • The total number of accounts in arrears had fallen to 378,000 by the end of 2009, a decrease of 4% in the quarter, and is similar to the level at the end of 2008.
  • The proportion of the residential loan book that is in arrears, and hence not fully performing, fell for the second successive quarter, to 3.42%.
  • The number of new possessions totalled 11,800, a decrease of  15% on last quarter and the lowest figure since Q2 2008.

Summary and full statistical tables are available below, and are accompanied by a commentary giving further technical information on the MLAR as well as further discussion of the results.

MLAR Statistics : March 2010 Edition

For any technical queries on the tables contact: MLAR Statistics