22-01-2008
CML data shows gross lending decline
News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages.
The UK's Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) has released data showing a decline in gross mortgage lending figures.
Statistics released by the CML, a UK-based trade association, shows that in December 2007, total gross lending figures declined to a monthly rate not seen since May 2005.
"The tougher lending environment is likely to be particularly problematic for first time buyers," said a representative from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.
"With many lenders scaling back on loan to value ratios, the need to find even larger deposits could prove a more powerful."
CML estimates that the total gross figure dropped to £22.6 billion, which compares with gross mortgage lending of £28.6 billion during the final month of 2006.
In November 2007, gross mortgage lending reached a total of £29.9 billion.
The CML's membership base is made up of a number of organisations, including banks and building societies.
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