High-net-worth borrowers are increasingly using finance as a strategic wealth management tool rather than simply a means of accessing capital, according to the latest Private Client Finance Report by Enness Global.
The report reveals that borrowers are placing greater emphasis on preserving liquidity, securing certainty of execution and accessing bespoke lending solutions, even as market volatility continues. During the first half of 2026, UK outstanding residential mortgage balances reached £1.746 trillion while new mortgage commitments increased to £78 billion, signalling improving borrower confidence despite a more selective lending environment (Source: FCA Mortgage Lending Statistics, Q1 2026).
Prime London also remained attractive to international buyers. Although transaction volumes softened, housing supply increased by 13.8% year-on-year, creating greater choice for buyers, while average discounts to asking prices widened to 10.5%, providing favourable purchasing opportunities.
Despite continued demand for traditional mortgage products, the report identifies a structural shift in borrowing behaviour, with affluent clients increasingly using debt to preserve liquidity, fund investments and optimise their wider balance sheets rather than simply to access capital. As a result, specialist lending—including securities-backed finance, bridging loans and cross-border facilities—continued to gain momentum.
Other key findings include:
- Mortgage product availability reached its highest level since 2007, despite more than 530 fixed-rate products being withdrawn during March as lenders repriced rapidly.
- Prime Central London house prices remain around 7% below last year, reinforcing buyer opportunities in the luxury market.
- US buyers remained among the most active overseas purchasers, particularly those from the technology, AI and private equity sectors.
- Enness expects around 1.8 million fixed-rate mortgages to expire during 2026, supporting continued refinancing activity and demand for specialist mortgage advice through the second half of the year.
- Transactions above £5 million remain comfortably above pre-pandemic averages, despite a year-on-year decline, highlighting the resilience of the super-prime market.
- Prime London housing supply increased by 13.8% year-on-year, giving buyers significantly greater negotiating power.
Commenting on the findings, Islay Robinson, CEO of Enness Global, said:
"The strongest borrowers are often not the simplest. Increasingly, successful borrowing is less about accessing capital and more about structuring it intelligently around a client's broader wealth position. Sophisticated borrowers are placing greater value on certainty of execution and preserving liquidity than simply achieving the lowest possible rate."
Looking ahead, Enness expects demand for bespoke lending solutions to continue growing throughout H2 2026 as wealth structures become increasingly international and complex, reinforcing the shift towards strategic borrowing as a core component of modern wealth management.
