Remortgage activity picked up sharply during the third quarter, while sale and purchase business continued to grow, according to figures from conveybuddy.
The conveyancing distributor recorded a 19% increase in remortgage instructions between Q2 and Q3 2026, alongside an 8% rise in sale and purchase instructions.
Across the two categories combined, instructions were 12% higher quarter-on-quarter. Survey instructions increased by 13% over the same period.
The figures mark a change from Q2, when remortgage volumes had settled after a sharp increase in March, while sale and purchase activity had continued to strengthen.
SEPTEMBER REMORTGAGE SURGE
September accounted for much of the renewed momentum in remortgaging, coinciding with another period of mortgage product withdrawals and pricing changes.
Instructions for conveybuddy’s All-Inclusive Remortgage product jumped 61% between August and September, leaving monthly activity 11% below the unusually high level recorded in March.
Across Q3, instructions for the product were 22% higher than in Q2 and ended the quarter just 4% below the Q1 total, which included the March surge.
Harpal Singh (pictured), chief executive at conveybuddy, said: “Our Q2 figures gave us a clear indication that the sale and purchase market was proving more resilient than some of the commentary at the time suggested, while remortgage activity had settled following the exceptional spike we saw in March.
“Q3 has moved the story on again, because we have now seen strong growth in remortgage instructions, and importantly, that has not come at the expense of sale and purchase activity.
“September was particularly notable, with our All-Inclusive Remortgage activity increasing by more than 60% in a single month and returning close to the levels we saw in March, as advisers and their clients clearly responded to another period of lender product withdrawals and pricing changes.”
Singh added: “However, this isn’t simply a remortgage story. Sale and purchase instructions increased by 8% quarter-on-quarter, surveys were up 13%, and we also saw almost 10% growth in adviser usage.
“That suggests there continues to be a healthy level of activity across different parts of the mortgage and property market, and advisers remain central to supporting those clients with their conveyancing and survey needs.”
NATIONWIDE TAKES TOP SPOT
Nationwide accounted for 25% of conveybuddy’s All-Inclusive Remortgage instructions during Q3, making it the most-used lender for these cases after ranking second in Q2. Barclays, Santander and NatWest followed.
Conveybuddy attributed Nationwide’s position partly to its offer of either free standard legal fees or £500 cashback to remortgage customers.
Singh said: “The Nationwide figures are also interesting, with the lender now accounting for one in four of our All-Inclusive Remortgage instructions.
“Borrowers have a choice between free standard legals or £500 cashback with Nationwide, and advisers are clearly playing an important role here in helping clients understand the different conveyancing options available to them, rather than assuming the lender’s legal service will automatically be the right route.”
Broker usage of conveybuddy’s platform also increased during the quarter, with the number of advisers using it over the three-month period almost 10% higher than in Q2.
Singh said: “Overall, these are encouraging figures, both in terms of the activity we are seeing across the market and the continued growth in advisers using conveybuddy.
“It is particularly positive to see more advisers recognising the importance of providing conveyancing advice to their clients, not only because it gives them greater control over the process and helps deliver the right outcome, but because it also allows them to provide a broader service and generate additional income from the clients they are already servicing.”
