In the current economic landscape, homeowners are grappling with a series of challenges that have significantly impacted household budgets. The initial blow came from the pandemic, followed by surging energy costs and an unprecedented 40-year high in inflation. To compound matters, interest rates have soared to levels not witnessed in over a decade. Just two years ago, homeowners reveled in historically low interest rates. However, those affordable rates are now a thing of the past.

Higher interest rates are continuing to impact the UK housing market. Demand is declining from home buyers and much of the lack of demand could possibly be from the lack of affordability. The decline in house prices, especially asking prices as reported by Rightmove, has both a positive and a negative side. Offering the bad news first, declining asking prices could result in a decline in property values which impacts homeowners and their loan to value ratios when seeking a remortgage, and some might encounter negative equity which occurs when the property value declines below the mortgage debt. The positive side of declining asking prices is that it could reach a point that brings buyers back into the market despite higher interest rates.

As feared, there are homeowners and landlords struggling with their mortgage repayments due to higher interest rates. According to a report, the mortgage holders in arrears have doubled in a year. Homeowners falling behind on repayments have also increased. A sharper look into the data reveals that landlords are struggling more than most. It is thought that those that are had increased their portfolios significantly when borrowing was cheaper, or they are new landlords taking advantage of the opportunity of cheap borrowing when it existed. For those homeowners and landlords struggling, new borrowers or not, the first step to the best strategy to surviving the current economic landscape is an easy one.

When considering a remortgage, the majority of homeowners are seeking stability to their financial health. It could bring savings, it could bring a block against paying more than necessary, and it might just bring peace of mind. According to a recent study, it was reported that four out of five UK homeowners felt the current lending market has impacted their mental health. Two out of five homeowners have sought counselling due to the stress brought on them due to the current mortgage lending situation.

House prices are forecasted to continue a downward trend. Hopeful home buyers are finding it difficult to navigate inflation, higher interest rates, and the still elevated house prices found in the housing market. The lack of demand from home buyers could lead to a decline in house prices by 10% in autumn of next year according to a research report from Finder.com. Other forecasts have house prices falling by anywhere between 5% to 10%, very few believe the housing market will see a boost or remain steady.

In today's challenging economic climate, many homeowners in the UK are facing a critical decision. Nearing or coming to the end of their current mortgage term, they have a choice to remortgage or allow their lenders to shift them to their standard variable rate (SVR). The Bank of England's recent decision to keep the standard base interest rate at 5.25% during their 2 November meeting underscores the importance of this choice. With the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) maintaining a steady rate amidst concerns of high inflation, homeowners must be proactive in securing their financial future and avoiding a SVR is the smarter strategy.