Square 1 Media, the PR and marketing agency for mortgages, specialist finance, and the wider financial services sector, has hosted its 2024 Mortgage Market Debate.
Held on 20th November at The Honourable Society of The Inner Temple, the invite-only event welcomed senior decision-makers from across the mortgage and housing sectors to a panel discussion.
With the theme ‘The UK mortgage and housing market five months into a Labour Government’, attendees gained insights from a panel of experts addressing key challenges and opportunities shaping the industry’s future.
Moderated by Victoria Hartley, director of client services at Square 1 Media, the debate addressed a range of pressing questions relevant to the UK mortgage and housing sectors.
The expert panel featured Esther Dijkstra, managing director, intermediaries, Lloyds Banking Group; Charles Roe, director of mortgages, UK Finance; Barry Carter, chief executive officer, Hinckley & Rugby Building Society; and Hamish Simmie, associate director of residential research and consultancy, Savills.
Key topics included how the Labour Government can realistically meet its ambitious housing targets and the role of industry consultation.
The discussion also explored insights from Savills’ forecast on house price growth and base rate reductions, along with the potential risks to market stability.
Other areas of focus were the evolving responsibilities of lenders towards brokers and customers under Consumer Duty regulations, the potential for specialist products – such as green and flexible mortgages – to shape the future of the lending market, and how technology and AI are reshaping the mortgage process, particularly in terms of innovation over legacy system constraints.
Spencer Wyer, strategic development director at CLSQ, said: “The Mortgage Market Debate is a vital forum for candid and constructive discussions about the challenges and opportunities in our industry.
“At CLSQ, we value the opportunity to engage with industry leaders and share ideas that can shape the market’s future.
“Square 1 Media has once again delivered an exceptional event that goes beyond surface-level discussions to tackle the real issues that matter to our industry.”
Paul Hunt, managing director of Square 1 Media, added: “The Mortgage Market Debate continues to be a unique space for industry leaders to share insights and challenge the status quo.
“We are grateful to our sponsors, panellists, and attendees for their contributions to this year’s success.
“As we look to 2025, we are excited to continue fostering these important conversations to drive progress across the mortgage and housing sectors.”
