For all the talk of AI tools and comparison sites reshaping financial services, the latest data on the UK mortgage market tells a different story: human advice still matters, and it matters more than ever. If you're navigating a purchase or remortgage yourself, this is exactly the kind of support we're here to offer, get in touch and let's talk it through.
Santander's quarterly Broker Perception Barometer, a survey of 500 mortgage customers, found that nearly two-thirds of borrowers say they simply could not have gone through the homebuying or remortgage process without a broker, and this is now the third consecutive quarter the figure has landed in that range [1][2]. It's a striking number in an era when digital-first alternatives are supposedly meant to be replacing traditional advice.
Why now? The report points to three forces converging on borrowers' decision-making: rising prices, ongoing uncertainty over the path of interest rates, and, more unusually, the distraction of a major football tournament this summer [1][3]. Despite the World Cup dominating attention, the research found broker relationships have stayed remarkably resilient.
According to the Broker Perception Barometer, most borrowers said they would still expect their broker to reach out during a match if advice was needed, and around a quarter said they'd rather focus on their finances than the football. We’d love to hear from our customers… did the World Cup sway your financial planning?
The numbers behind why brokers remain indispensable are compelling. Most customers, 84%, said brokers gave them a sense of security in a shifting market, and nearly three-quarters said using a broker gave them greater confidence in their financial decisions [1][2]. On the practical side, most borrowers who bought, remortgaged or transferred products in the past year reported saving money by going through a broker, with average monthly savings running into the hundreds of pounds annually [2][5].
Even with digital mortgage tools becoming more common, most borrowers said they'd still choose a human broker over AI at every stage of the process [2][5].
Markets move, headlines change, and this summer has brought its share of distractions, from interest rate speculation to football fever. But the research is a reminder that in complex, high-stakes financial decisions, expert human advice isn't a nice-to-have. It's what most people say they genuinely cannot do without.
If you're weighing up a house purchase, a remortgage, or simply want a second opinion on your options, we'd love to help. Get in touch with our team today for clear, human advice you can trust, no jargon, no pressure, just honest guidance tailored to your circumstances.
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Your home or property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage or any other debts secured on it. A fee may be charged for mortgage advice. The exact amount will depend on your circumstances.
Sources
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Britannica, "Andy Burnham", https://www.britannica.com/biography/Andy-Burnham
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Bee Network launch, Greater Manchester Combined Authority, https://www.greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk/news/greater-manchester-becomes-first-place-in-england-to-retake-control-of-buses-after-40-years-of-deregulation-with-historic-bee-network-launch/
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Al Jazeera, "Andy Burnham in line to become British PM after securing party support", https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/7/13/andy-burnham-in-line-to-become-british-pm-after-securing-party-support
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The Irish Times, "Andy Burnham secures Labour leadership with landslide support", https://www.irishtimes.com/world/uk/2026/07/13/andy-burnham-secures-labour-leadership-with-landslide-support-paving-way-to-becoming-uk-pm/
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Reality Tea, "Britain's Likely Next Prime Minister Just Made a Huge Promise", https://www.realitytea.com/2026/06/29/andy-burnham-next-prime-minister-uk-britain-promise-council-housing-speech/