Compton Financial in the Press
Martin Rayner is a Mortgage Broker and Chartered Financial Adviser at Compton Financial Services. He is regularly quoted in national publications including Sky News, FT Adviser, This is Money and The Mirror, providing practical insight on mortgages, economics, and personal finance.
Sky News Finance
Money live: mortgage options and rate strategies explained
The Quote: “Some borrowers are using trackers as a short-term strategy, planning to switch to a fixed rate if rates fall. This can work well, particularly with a no early repayment charge deal, as it allows you to move without penalty. The downside is you remain exposed to further increases. While the lowest tracker rates often have fees of around £999, if used short-term (less than 6 months), a no-fee option is often more cost-effective, especially below £500,000.
For people whose mortgage starts in three to six months, Rayner said securing a fixed rate now might be a good option.
“This protects against further rises while still allowing you to switch to a better fixed rate or tracker before completion if the market improves. The key is balancing flexibility with protection – rates could fall, but they could just as easily rise further given current uncertainty,
— Martin Rayner, Compton Financial Services.
Insight:Martin Rayner outlines how mortgage borrowers can use tracker mortgages as a short-term strategy while maintaining flexibility, and explains why securing a fixed rate early can provide protection against further increases. His commentary highlights the importance of balancing flexibility with certainty in an uncertain interest rate environment.
Topic: Mortgage strategy, fixed vs tracker rates, and interest rate risk.
Published: 10 April 2026
Daily Mirror
New HMRC rule starting this week ‘could send costs up’
The Quote: “Making Tax Digital in isolation is manageable. Most landlords could adapt to it. The issue is that it’s arriving alongside a relentless stream of new pressures.
Higher tax through the additional surcharge, regulatory changes, EPC requirements, and licensing schemes are all adding to the burden. Each change on its own may be justifiable, but together they create a constant squeeze on landlords.
Making Tax Digital won’t force an immediate exodus on its own, but it adds to that cumulative pressure and, for many, will be the tipping point. The result is fewer landlords, less rental stock, and ultimately higher rents for tenants“
— Martin Rayner, Compton Financial Services.
Insight:Martin Rayner explains how the introduction of Making Tax Digital adds to a growing list of financial and regulatory pressures on landlords. His commentary highlights the cumulative impact of tax changes, compliance costs and legislation, and how these are likely to reduce rental supply and contribute to higher rents for tenants.
Topic: Landlord taxation, Making Tax Digital, and rental market pressures
Published: 10 April 2026
FT Adviser
‘Savvy’ borrowers using tracker mortgages amid chaotic market
The Quote: “Compton Financial Services director, Martin Rayner, said that locking into a high fixed-rate now could be a mistake amid the current chaotic environment.
“Some borrowers are using trackers as a short-term strategy, planning to switch to a fixed-rate if rates fall,” he detailed.
This can work well, particularly with a no early repayment charge deal, as it allows you to move without penalty.
The downside is you remain exposed to further increases”
— Martin Rayner, Compton Financial Services.
Insight:Martin Rayner highlights the trade-off between flexibility and risk when using tracker mortgages, providing expert advice when explaining that while they can offer short-term advantages, borrowers remain exposed to further increases in interest rate
Topic: Tracker mortgages, interest rate risk, and borrower strategy
Published: 09 April 2026
Daily Express
New HMRC rule this week ‘could send costs up’
The Quote: “Martin Rayner, director at Compton Financial Services, warned this could prove to be the “tipping point” for numerous landlords.
He added: “Making Tax Digital in isolation is manageable. Most landlords could adapt to it. The issue is that it’s arriving alongside a relentless stream of new pressures. Higher tax through the additional 2% surcharge, the Renters’ Rights Bill making it harder to regain possession or sell, costly EPC upgrades, and expensive licensing schemes in some areas – the list keeps growing.
“Each change on its own may be justifiable, but together they create a constant squeeze on landlords. Whether intentional or not, the direction of travel is clear. It’s becoming harder, more complex, and more expensive to be a landlord.
“Making Tax Digital won’t force an immediate exodus on its own, but it adds to that cumulative pressure and, for many, will be the tipping point. The result is fewer landlords, less rental stock, and ultimately higher rents for tenants.”
— Martin Rayner, Compton Financial Services.
Insight:Martin Rayner warns that while Making Tax Digital may be manageable on its own, it forms part of a broader shift in policy and regulation that is making the UK rental market increasingly complex and costly for landlords. He highlights the risk that this growing burden could act as a tipping point, accelerating landlord exits and tightening rental supply.
Topic: Landlord policy changes, regulatory pressure, and housing supply
Published: 10 April 2026
This Is Money
What next for mortgage rates – and how long should you fix for?
The Quote: “Martin Rayner, director at Compton Financial Services, urged borrowers to secure a deal now before it’s too late.
‘With mortgage shelf-lives collapsing to just 14 days, borrowers cannot afford to be complacent and wait until the last minute.
‘The smartest move right now is to secure a rate up to six months early. This acts as an insurance policy: if rates go up, you’re protected; if they come down, you can switch to the lower rate before you complete.
‘It’s the only way to guarantee you get the best rate over the next six months, rather than gambling on a single day.
‘In this volatile market, even a small rate change makes a huge difference. The difference between waiting and acting now could be massive.
‘On a typical £300,000 mortgage, shaving just 0.2 per cent off your rate saves you £1,200 over two years.’
” — Martin Rayner, Compton Financial Services.
Insight: Martin Rayner explains that comparing mortgage deals requires more than focusing on headline rates, as fees and product structure can significantly affect the true cost. He highlights the importance of having a clear mortgage strategy when assessing options and identifying the most suitable deal.
Topic: Mortgage strategy, deal comparison, and borrower decision-making
Published: 8 April 2026
Daily Mirror
Virgin Money customers get new update in ‘shock’ to borrowers from tomorrow
The Quote: ” Martin Rayner, Director at Compton Financial Services, said borrowing costs may stay higher in the short term. He noted: “Swap rates have risen by nearly 1% in a month, and mortgage pricing closely follows these movements. Lenders aren’t acting in isolation, they’re responding to the cost of funding, so when swap rates move this quickly, repricing is inevitable.
“The real question isn’t whether lenders are overreacting, but whether the swap markets have moved too far, too fast. Much of this volatility is being driven by geopolitical risk, particularly the situation involving Iran. Markets tend to price in worst-case scenarios, especially around oil supply disruption, which feeds into inflation and rate expectations.“
— Martin Rayner, Compton Financial Services.
Insight: Martin Rayner highlights how changes from lenders such as Virgin Money reflect the speed at which mortgage pricing can shift in response to market conditions. His commentary emphasises the importance of having a clear mortgage strategy, as borrowers may need to act quickly to secure suitable deals in a volatile rate environment.
Topic: Mortgage strategy, lender rate changes, and market volatility
Published: 25 March 2026
This Is Money
More than 300,000 Britons are at risk of redundancy this year as businesses battle higher costs amid Iran war
The Quote: “‘UK businesses are facing something of a perfect storm, with higher National Insurance, rising minimum wages pushing up pay across the board, new employment costs and still-elevated borrowing and overheads all feeding through at once.’
He added: ‘There had been some hope that falling interest rates would ease that pressure, but geopolitical tensions such as the Iran situation could delay rate cuts and keep financing costs higher for longer.
‘Continued cost pressures are likely to drive more restructuring, particularly in sectors already operating on tight margins, which will lead to job losses. The hospitality sector is likely to be one of the most affected.’
” — Martin Rayner, Compton Financial Services.
Insight: Martin Rayner highlights how rising global uncertainty and increasing business costs are beginning to filter through to the UK economy, with potential job losses creating additional pressure on household finances. His commentary emphasises how economic instability can influence borrower confidence, affordability and mortgage decision-making.
Topic: Economic uncertainty, mortgage affordability, and borrower confidence
Published: 21 March 2026
This Is Money
Nationwide and Virgin Money customers ‘hit with new £360 charge’
The Quote: “‘Martin Rayner, director at Compton Financial Services, explained why rising swap rates are being passed on to borrowers.
He added: “Rising swap rates lead to higher mortgage rates and also signal that markets expect interest rates to stay higher for longer, which can reduce affordability for borrowers and increase borrowing costs for businesses, potentially slowing housing activity and wider economic growth.
Markets are becoming less confident that interest rates will fall soon, with geopolitical tensions and inflation risks pushing expectations towards rates staying higher for longer.”
— Martin Rayner, Compton Financial Services.
Insight:Martin Rayner explains how rising swap rates are driving increases in mortgage rates, reflecting market expectations that interest rates may remain higher for longer. His commentary highlights the impact on affordability, borrowing costs and housing activity, linking mortgage pricing to wider economic conditions and market sentiment.
Topic: Mortgage rates, swap rates, and affordability
Published: 12 March 2026
