Middle East Conflict Prompts Brits To Rethink Housing Plans

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Barclays Property Insights reveals that global and economic uncertainty is impacting how UK homeowners are managing their household finances. Almost one in five UK adults (17 per cent) say their housing plans have been affected by the conflict in the Middle East, with many taking action to protect against interest rate and cost‑of‑living pressures.

To safeguard against future rate rises, over a quarter of homeowners (27 per cent) say they are overpaying on their mortgage, and a fifth (20 per cent) of those remortgaging are looking to lock in a new rate as soon as possible in case of future volatility.

Early signs of this behaviour appear in Barclays’ mortgage data from March, which shows that the share of customers borrowing for a remortgage – compared to other reasons for borrowing, such as a first-time purchase or a home move – rose 9 percentage points year-on-year1.

However, it’s important to note that most of the remortgages completed were initiated prior to the escalation of the conflict in Iran, so this increase is more likely driven by the high numbers of people in the UK rolling off five-year fixed rates taken out during the low-interest rate environment in 2021.

Movers adapt to macroeconomic conditions

Existing homeowners cited a number of factors which could delay or prevent their next move. The top barrier was economic uncertainty, with three in 10 (29 per cent) saying this could change their plans. Other factors include stamp duty (27 per cent), moving fees (28 per cent), mortgage rates (24 per cent), and the price gap between their current home and available properties (24 per cent). Nearly half of adults in work (45 per cent) say their wages are not keeping pace with rising costs, so many may find it harder to take the next step up the ladder.

Facing these barriers, Barclays Mortgage data shows that existing homeowners increasingly gravitate towards cheaper properties and larger mortgages. The proportion of home purchases below £500,000 rose to 73.2 per cent year‑on‑year (up from 70.5 per cent in March 2025), while the share of next-time buyers putting down a deposit of less than £20,000 increased to 56.7 per cent from 43.2 per cent over the same period.

Second‑steppers face the largest financial leap on the housing ladder

Two-in five (41 per cent) UK homeowners say they are living in the first property they’ve ever owned, but moving up to the next rung of the property ladder can be challenging.

First-time owners looking to move to their next home – also known as ‘second-steppers’ – estimate needing to save an average of £75,648 to fund the purchase, on top of any proceeds from the sale of their current home. That figure breaks down into £41,751 for a deposit, £28,112 in stamp duty, and £5,785 in third‑party costs such as legal fees.

In contrast, third‑steppers and beyond – i.e. homeowners buying their third or subsequent primary residence – estimate needing to save just £52,651 on average. This includes £19,835 for a deposit, £26,860 for stamp duty, and £5,996 in third‑party costs.

That is £22,998 less than second‑steppers, reflecting the greater equity this group has typically built up in their current home. Over two in five (43 per cent) of those further along the property ladder say they would not need to save anything for a deposit at all.

Jatin Patel, Head of Mortgages, Savings and Insurance at Barclays, said:

“Periods of geopolitical and economic uncertainty inevitably place greater focus on household finances, and we’re seeing homeowners and potential buyers respond in pragmatic ways. Borrowers are demonstrating resilience by overpaying where they can, reassessing their mortgage options, and thinking carefully about timing to maintain flexibility and control."

“For those moving from their first to their second primary residence, the challenge is more structural. Buyers at this stage often face the widest gap between properties, while still needing to fund deposits, stamp duty and moving costs largely from savings rather than equity alone. That makes second‑steppers particularly sensitive to economic pressures, even as they take considered steps to keep their housing plans on track.”

Barclays has solutions for homeowners at every stage of the property ladder, from Mortgage Boost for first-time buyers, or additional borrowing if customers need to fund a large purchase, renovation, or to consolidate debt. Find out more here.

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Aug 5, 2025
3 min read

As discussions intensify around tighter regulations and potential restrictions on VPN usage in the UK, an increasing number of businesses are turning to proxy services as a reliable alternative. Proxies are emerging as the preferred solution for companies seeking consistent access to geo-restricted content and enhanced control over their digital footprints without the regulatory risks associated with VPNs.

Decodo’s internal data reveals a remarkable 65% increase in UK proxy users, reflecting a broader change in how businesses approach online access and data operations.

“Companies around the globe are getting smarter about how they operate in highly competitive landscapes. Instead of just picking the most popular tools, they’re choosing what actually works best for them, whether that’s faster, easier to use, or works better with region-specific restrictions. It shows that people are thinking more critically about their options" explains Vytautas Savickas, CEO at Decodo.

The Technology Shift Driving Proxy Adoption

Unlike traditional VPNs, which use full encryption to route traffic through a single tunnel, proxies provide more granular routing options and operate with fewer regulatory hurdles. This makes them highly adaptable for use cases including location-specific data collection, overcoming geo-restrictions, competitor monitoring, and reducing the risk of triggering anti-bot protections.

Technical Advantages Fuelling Growth

Modern proxy services now boast enterprise-grade security features combined with user-friendly interfaces, making them attractive to a wide range of businesses, including Fortune 500 companies. Analysis of Decodo’s traffic shows an 88% increase in proxy traffic originating from the UK, confirming a clear preference for proxies over VPN alternatives.

“More organizations in the UK are investing time in understanding the tools that power secure and efficient online operations. Most companies test out different solutions, providers, and do their research on proxies and VPNs, and they’re also making more informed, strategic choices,” adds

Gabriele Verbickaitė, Product Marketing Manager at Decodo.

Increasing Awareness and Educational Investment

More UK firms are investing in understanding the tools that ensure secure, scalable, and efficient digital operations. This heightened awareness is driving demand for solutions that align with business goals and offer resilience against regulatory uncertainty.

As more IT leaders, data engineers, and digital marketing teams engage with industry resources and technical content, the bar for what qualifies as an effective solution is rising. This feedback loop is positioning the UK as one of the most advanced and discerning markets for enterprise-grade proxy technology.

UK Businesses Lead the Proxy Adoption Wave

Sectors such as eCommerce, finance, fintech, digital marketing, and cybersecurity are rapidly integrating proxies into daily operations for tasks like market research, competitor price tracking, localized ad verification, and SEO monitoring.

Companies are increasingly moving beyond basic VPNs to adopt sophisticated proxy types, including: residential, mobile, datacenter, and ISP proxies, that provide better location accuracy, stability, and higher success rates when accessing geo-restricted or bot-protected content.

“UK businesses are quickly adopting proxy services, moving beyond simple VPNs to more advanced setups that offer greater control over their online activity. It’s no longer just about staying private – performance and reliability are now just as important," continues Vaidotas Juknys, Head of Commerce at Decodo.

Looking Ahead: Strategic Decisions Amid Regulatory Uncertainty

The surge in proxy adoption is not a fleeting trend but a strategic response to potential VPN restrictions looming in the UK regulatory landscape. Businesses are proactively migrating to proxy services to maintain uninterrupted access and competitive advantage.

Decodo’s data highlights a 65% rise in UK proxy users and an 88% increase in proxy traffic, underscoring that companies of all sizes, from startups to enterprises, are making informed decisions to safeguard their digital operations now, rather than waiting for policy changes.

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