Mortgage lender reveals ‘blockbuster month’ ahead of SDLT deadline

'The recovery in housing market activity is taking hold despite an uncertain start to the year for mortgage rates,' comments Simon Gammon, Managing Partner at Knight Frank Finance.

'A minor slip in mortgage approvals in February adds weight to the narrative that the housing market recovery has lost some momentum,' says Lucian Cook of Savills

Mortgage approvals were up 28% year-on-year in December, and the Bank of England thinks 'there is still optimism for further mortgage approval increases in the coming months, if bank rate cuts materialise.