Editor's note: This brief was summarised by The Property AI Newsroom from a report by Mortgage Solutions. Read the original article for full details.

Mortgage Adviser Numbers Rise in H1 2026 as Market Shows Resilience

More than 300 new mortgage advice firms joined the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) register in the first half of 2026, according to industry analysis. Data from ISS Market Intelligence (ISS MI) shows that mortgage adviser numbers grew during this period, while the total number of UK advisers across all financial sectors fell.

The latest edition of The Landscape Report reveals that 36,764 individuals now hold mortgage-related permissions on the FCA Register, up from 36,604 at the end of 2025. This represents a 0.4% increase. In contrast, the number of individuals authorised to advise on equity release transactions fell to 5,934 from 6,142 at the end of 2025.

Mortgage advisers, defined as those who provide advice on both mortgages and protection, remain the largest specialist segment by both firm and individual numbers. This is in comparison to brokers who do not advise on protection, and those who advise on home reversion plans and equity release.

During the same period, 413 mortgage advisers moved from one advice firm to another. Among the largest mortgage firms, Stonebridge Mortgage Solutions retained its position as the UK’s largest specialist mortgage organisation, though its growth slowed compared to previous periods. Stonebridge added 19 registered individuals in the first half of 2026, following an increase of 60 advisers in the second half of 2025.

Mortgage Advice Bureau (Derby) Limited recorded the largest increase in adviser numbers among the top 30 firms, adding 137 registered individuals during the period and continuing a pattern of sustained growth.

For letting agents and inventory clerks, these trends indicate ongoing activity and resilience in the UK mortgage market, which may influence demand for rental properties and related services.