How will H2 compare to the first six months of the year?

Last week marked the end of the first half of 2026, making it the perfect opportunity to reflect on what has been another eventful six months for the mortgage industry.

It’s certainly been a turbulent start to the year. From changing market conditions and lender activity to ongoing political and economic uncertainty, there’s been no shortage of challenges. Yet, as always, our industry has shown remarkable resilience.

Time and time again, brokers have adapted, lenders have responded, and partnerships have strengthened. That’s something worth recognising. A huge thank you goes to the brokers who continue to guide clients through increasingly complex decisions, and to those lender partners who have genuinely gone the extra mile to support advisers – not just with competitive pricing, but through service, communication and innovation.

As we move into the second half of the year, we naturally head towards what many consider the quieter months. But quieter doesn’t mean easier, and it certainly doesn’t mean there isn’t work to do. If anything, H2 is shaping up to be one of the biggest opportunities of the year.

With thousands of borrowers approaching the end of fixed-rate deals, retention is going to dominate conversations. First time buyers still need more support than ever, landlords continue to navigate an evolving market, and affordability remains one of the biggest barriers for aspiring homeowners.

The real question is: what is everyone else in the industry going to do to help brokers support more clients? We know that more consumers are turning to brokers for guidance – not just to arrange a mortgage, but to navigate every stage of the homeownership journey. Yet there’s still huge potential for us as an industry to increase the number of consumers who see a broker as their trusted adviser.

This week also brought the announcement that Halifax will rebrand to Lloyds in 2027. From an intermediary perspective, this appears to be a positive step.

Greater alignment with Lloyds’ proposition and funding has the potential to create new opportunities for brokers, and it’ll be fascinating to see how that develops. It’s also another reminder that lender consolidation is becoming one of the defining stories of 2026.

As we head into H2, it’ll be interesting to see what further developments lie ahead, and how lenders continue to evolve their propositions in an increasingly competitive market.

The market will continue to evolve, but one thing remains constant: brokers will continue to be at the heart of helping clients navigate whatever comes next.