As we move into 2026, mortgage rules are changing and the aim is clear to make it easier for borrowers to speak to lenders, change terms, and move lenders. But the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is also signalling that advice is still central to good outcomes.
As part of its Mortgage Rule Review, the FCA has proposed removing the “interactive dialogue” trigger that can force a sale down an advised route. The change is meant to give firms more room to interact with customers and support execution-only channels where suitable. The FCA has also pointed out that, since 2015, 97% of mortgage sales have been advised.
So we are starting from a market where advice is the norm, but if execution-only use rises, the real question is: will customers know when they need help, and will lenders spot when such support is needed? This is where brokers matter. They add checks, wider context and choice that a sole provider, digital tick-box route cannot.
In addition, the Intermediary Mortgage Lenders Association (IMLA) has said of The Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA’s) recent Feedback Statement and roadmap on DP25/2, that it was “encouraged by the tone of the statement”, as it reflected the broad range of views expressed by respondents. It also said it showed the regulator’s attempt to find the right balance between flexibility and prudence.
IMLA also welcomed plans to support first-time buyers and under-served groups, as well as its recognition that current approaches to affordability did not always reflect modern financial habits. Therefore, the FCA’s direction is not a simple shift to “do it yourself, but it does demonstrate that as an adviser/broker community, we must continue to articulate the value of advice and not take it for granted that customers or regulators also do.
BUY-TO-LET
Looking at buy-to-let, the sector is continually facing higher costs and tighter margins. Yet the idea that the sector is finished does not match the lending outlook.
IMLA expects buy-to-let lending to keep recovering. Its latest forecast has gross buy-to-let lending rising from about £39bn in 2025 to £44bn in 2026 and £48bn in 2027. IMLA links this to rising rental yields and more churn, with the Renters’ Rights Act pushing change in who owns and manages stock.
For investors, advice is not just about price. It is about keeping a portfolio working.
In 2026, good brokers will help landlords test rental cover and real costs, not just the headline rate. They will help to plan remortgages early and avoid rushed renewals which means managing risk across the whole portfolio, not one loan at a time.
My view is simple. The market may offer more execution-only routes. But the FCA is still talking about advice, and the numbers show the market still depends on brokers. In 2026, that will matter more, not less.
