Remortgage applications up 46% in Q1 as 1.8m fixed deals mature in 2026

Remortgage applications jumped 46% in Q1 compared with the same period last year, according to broker network Stonebridge. House purchase applications dipped 3.6%. UK Finance expects 1.8 million fixed-rate deals to end in 2026, which is why remortgaging has taken over activity. Two-year fixes have overtaken five-year fixes in popularity, with borrowers betting that rates will fall further rather than locking in for longer.