The Mortgage Industry Mental Health Charter (MIMHC)'s 2025 survey suggests green shoots in key areas: awareness and provision of workplace mental health support are up, work/life balance indicators have stabilised, and professional contentment has improved versus 2024. Yet material stressors persist — not least economic conditions and client pressures — and around one in five colleagues still report mental health that is poor or of concern.
Longer hours remain the norm — but the trend has eased
In 2024, 62% of respondents worked more than 45 hours per week. In 2025, that proportion has eased to 59% (48.4% work 45–60 hours; 6.3% 60–75; 4.5% 75+). This is directionally positive but still points to sustained intensity and burnout risk.
Sleep and recovery: still under pressure
Sleep adequacy remains inconsistent. Only a minority report five or more 'enough sleep' nights per week, reinforcing the need for workload and boundary-setting interventions.
Professional contentment rebounding from 2024 lows
Last year saw a sharp drop in career satisfaction. This year’s picture is healthier: 19.4% “love what I do & progressing well” and 31.6% are “happy with how things are going,” while only 14.2% describe themselves as “pretty disillusioned.” This reverses 2024’s deterioration and suggests confidence is rebuilding alongside improved employer support.
What are the three most important factors connected with health and wellbeing?
As in prior years, close personal relationships top the list (chosen by 65.6%). Financial independence (46.9%), enough sleep & rest (43.4%), and fitness & diet (40.3%) remain central pillars. Employers should note the continued salience of sleep and financial security as practical levers for wellbeing.
Work/life balance shows improvement from 2024
In 2024, 39% said balance had worsened. In 2025, that falls to 28.8% (23.3% somewhat, 5.6% greatly), while 34.4% report improvement (6.6% greatly, 27.8% somewhat). A plurality (36.8%) report “stayed the same”. This normalisation likely reflects steadier operations, better support, and maturing hybrid practices.
Overall mental wellbeing: stable but with a persistent at-risk cohort
41.3% rated their mental wellbeing as excellent/good, 36.8% satisfactory, and 21.9% poor or of concern — broadly consistent with 2024’s “one in five” finding, underscoring the need for sustained, targeted support for those at higher risk.
What’s driving stress?
Economic environment (27%) remains the single biggest defined driver, followed by client demands (21.4%) and keeping up with rate changes (14.4%). Product withdrawals (6.0%) and criteria changes (4.2%) have smaller, but real, impacts; “Other” (27%) captures organisational change, workload and service-friction themes (e.g., lender/solicitor service, internal systems).
Awareness and participation have stepped up significantly
In 2024, only 52% confirmed their employer participated in mental health initiatives; in 2025 that rises to 70%, with 'no' down to 22% and (the remaining 8% didn't know) — a meaningful improvement in both reality and communication of support.
Working patterns: hybrid is now the default
Hybrid has grown from 42% (2024) to 51% (2025). Full-time office has fallen to 16% (from 23%), while permanently home-based is 32% (c. flat vs 33%). 38.6% say current arrangements improved mental health (11.9% greatly; 26.7% somewhat) vs 27% in 2024, with 10.9% reporting worsened (down from 15%). Half (50.5%) say it stayed the same. The takeaway: flexibility helps, but needs active management to counter isolation, workload creep and role ambiguity.
Scott Howitt, sales director at Chartwell Mortgage Services, commented: "As an industry we pride ourselves on delivering exceptional service, but the survey highlights the hidden cost of that commitment. While most respondents work 45–60 hours a week, the rise in those working over 60 hours is concerning. In such a fast-paced, ever-changing market, long hours can quickly tip into burnout. Firms must be more proactive in helping colleagues manage workloads, set boundaries, and protect recovery time if we want to sustain both wellbeing and performance."
Nicola Firth, founder and CEO of Knowledge Bank, said: "One of the clearest signs of our industry’s health is how people feel about their work. Last year, nearly 1 in 4 respondents felt disillusioned or close to burnout. This year’s data shows improvement — more people say they love their work and fewer are disillusioned. That’s progress, but the story is still nuanced: the majority sit somewhere in the middle, feeling only moderately happy. This suggests passion for the profession remains strong, but the structures around it don’t always allow people to thrive. We must act on these signals by addressing pressure points and enabling greater fulfilment across the sector."
Jason Berry, group sales director at Crystal, added: "The 2025 results show a modest improvement in work/life balance compared to 2024, yet the underlying picture is still troubling. Despite more people working hybrid or from home, too many colleagues report worsening balance and mental health pressures. Flexibility alone is not enough — without strong cultural support, clearer boundaries, and practical workload management, remote and hybrid working can just as easily blur the lines further. Employers must be vigilant in ensuring flexibility truly enhances wellbeing, rather than masking new forms of imbalance."
