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“Look to the future now. It’s only just begun,” sang Noddy Holder on Slade’s classic 1973 number one single, Merry Xmas Everybody.

And after a momentous first year for ModaMortgages, give or take a week or two, that’s exactly what we’re doing as we gear up for another exciting one in 2026.

But before I look ahead to the new year, I want to reflect for a moment on the last 12 months. I can’t believe it’s been almost a year since we went live. Where has the time gone?

When we first sat down and started to design a new buy to let lender, we put ourselves in brokers’ shoes and asked ourselves: “How can we make it as easy as possible to do business with us?” We believed we could differentiate ourselves from our competitors by offering a proposition that does the basic things that matter most to brokers – clear and transparent criteria, certainty upfront, and competitive rates, all backed up by a team that has bags of mortgage experience and industry knowledge, as well as the energy and tenacity needed to get cases over the line.

I’m pleased, and more than a little relieved, to say the response from the broker community has been incredible and vindicates our decision to launch a lender dedicated to making buy to let smarter, faster and simpler for you and your clients.

So, looking to the future, what does 2026 hold for both the wider buy to let market and for ModaMortgages?

Well, much of the hesitation that characterised the second half of the year now appears to have been replaced by a cautious sense of optimism. The Autumn Budget – despite all the noise surrounding it – ultimately delivered more clarity than disruption once it was announced. And with the Monetary Policy Committee deciding to cut the bank base rate to 3.75% - its lowest level since early 2023 - and inflation forecast to keep falling¹ I believe we’ll see more activity and more opportunities in 2026 than we have for some time.

Tenant demand stills remain high, as do average rental yields and landlord profitability², which means that many investors who sat watching from the sidelines waiting to see what would happen could now re-enter the market, creating a sizeable pool of potential new business owing to pent-up demand. In fact, IMLA predicts gross buy to let lending will increase 13% to £44 billion in 2026, and to £48 billion in 2027³.

Here at ModaMortgages, we’ll continue to create products and criteria designed to help you react to an ever-evolving market. But while the profile of landlords and the types of property they’re investing in may be morphing, one thing will never change - people will always need somewhere to live and homes to rent. So, as one door closes, another one opens. That’s why we’re here – to help you and your clients make the most of new openings. There are still real opportunities out there if only you know where to look, both today and in the longer term, and we’ll continue to help you make the most of them.

Thank you all so much for your kind words and support over the past 12 months. It’s been a pleasure serving you and your clients.
We’re looking forward to working with you in 2026.

We're looking forward to working with you again in 2026

Sources:

1 https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/monetary-policy-summary-and-minutes/2025/december-2025

2 Pegasus Insight Landlord Trends Report Q3 2025

3 https://www.imla.org.uk/perch/resources/publications/imla-the-new-normal-prospects-for-2026-and-2027.pdf