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UK mortgage rate & interest-rate news

Bank of England decisions, mortgage pricing moves and everything affecting the cost of borrowing.

Mortgage and interest-rate news matters because it changes what buyers can afford and what sellers can realistically ask. Every rate move, pricing change and Bank of England decision that lands in the UK property market gets covered here in plain English. Scored by how much it actually matters to buyers, sellers and the wider market.

Latest rates stories

74 stories
  1. medium · 6/919 Oct 2026

    Average two-year fix rises to 5.93% as mortgage deals stay on sale for only 13 days, Moneyfacts finds

    Moneyfacts' UK Mortgage Trends Treasury Report, published on 19 October, puts the average two-year fixed rate at 5.93% and the five-year at 5.95% at the start of October, up from 5.59% and 5.63% a month earlier, while the average deal stayed on sale for 13 days. Lenders have been repeatedly repricing or withdrawing products as swap rates, the wholesale rates that underpin fixed mortgages, react to each escalation or easing in the Middle East conflict. For buyers, a quoted rate can vanish before an application goes in, so having a mortgage agreement in principle and acting quickly on a chosen product matters more than usual; for sellers, higher borrowing costs cap what buyers can stretch to, which strengthens the case for realistic pricing. Choice is not the constraint, with the product count up to 8,696 from 7,516, and these averages are a snapshot from the start of the month rather than a reading of where rates sit today.

    Source: Moneyfacts

  2. low · 4/915 Oct 2026

    Barclays raises six fixed rates by up to 22bps, mostly for existing customers, while trimming 90% LTV purchase fixes by up to 10bps

    From 16 October, Barclays is raising six fixed rates by between 13 and 22 basis points, mostly existing-customer and remortgage deals, taking its three-year 60% LTV fee-free existing-customer fix from 5.13% to 5.35%, while cutting 90% LTV purchase fixes by 5 to 10 basis points, with its five-year Premier purchase deal down from 5.23% to 5.13%. Repricing in both directions at once usually reflects a lender managing how much business it wants in each part of the market, and this round leans towards new purchase borrowers with smaller deposits. For buyers with a 10% deposit, it is a small saving; for homeowners coming to the end of a fix, it is a reason to compare a product-transfer offer against the wider market before accepting it. The moves are small and, alongside this week's cuts elsewhere, point to rates adjusting at the margins rather than a clear turn.

    Source: Mortgage Strategy

  3. medium · 5/914 Oct 2026

    NatWest and HSBC cut selected fixed mortgage rates from 15 October, with NatWest's 90% LTV five-year fix down to 5.39%

    NatWest and HSBC are both reducing selected fixed mortgage rates from Thursday 15 October, with NatWest trimming five-year remortgage deals at 85% and 90% loan-to-value by up to 0.17 percentage points and taking its 90% five-year fix to 5.39%. The cuts come even though swap rates, which lenders use to price fixed deals, have risen over the past month, with five-year swaps at 4.723% on 13 October against 4.619% a month earlier, which points to large lenders competing for business rather than passing on cheaper funding. For buyers and remortgagers, this means slightly better pricing this week, particularly at higher loan-to-value bands, and HSBC's changes reach remortgage and buy-to-let products as well as purchases. It is a modest easing, not a turn in the cycle: fixed rates remain well above where they were earlier this year, and further moves will depend on the next inflation figures and the Budget later this month.

    Source: The Intermediary

  4. medium · 5/98 Oct 2026

    Yorkshire Building Society cuts five-year 95% LTV purchase rate by 0.50 points to 5.79%

    Yorkshire Building Society cut rates across its range on 8 October, by up to 0.50 percentage points on five-year fixes for buyers with a 5% deposit, taking its 95% LTV deal from 6.29% to 5.79% with a £1,495 fee. Its five-year 75% LTV deal fell from 5.07% to 4.97%, and selected remortgage rates fell by up to 0.29 points. Lenders reprice like this when funding costs ease or they want volume, and the biggest cut landing on the highest-LTV product matters most for first-time buyers with small deposits, whose monthly payments fall most. Even at 5.79%, a 95% LTV loan stays expensive, and cuts of this size do little for sellers until more buyers can qualify.

    Source: Mortgage Strategy

  5. high · 8/95 Oct 2026

    Average five-year fixed mortgage rate hits 6% for the first time since 2023, as sub-5% deals fall from 1,494 to nine

    Moneyfacts data published on 5 October shows the average five-year fixed mortgage rate has reached 6.00%, with the average two-year fix at 5.98%, the highest levels since autumn 2023. Lenders have repriced repeatedly as swap rates (the market benchmark behind fixed-rate pricing) have stayed volatile: Barclays raised rates four times in September, and the number of fixed deals priced below 5% fell from 1,494 on 1 September to nine. For buyers, that means a smaller loan for the same monthly payment and less room in the budget, while sellers should expect some buyers to re-check affordability before committing to an offer. Bank Rate itself is unchanged at 3.75%, so this is a market repricing rather than a policy move, and pricing could settle if swap rates calm.

    Source: Mortgage Strategy (Moneyfacts data)

  6. high · 7/92 Oct 2026

    Average two- and five-year fixed mortgage rates climb to 5.96% and 5.98%, close to 6%

    Moneyfacts figures published on 2 October put the average two-year fix at 5.96% and the five-year fix at 5.98%, up from 5.92% and 5.94% a week earlier; the two-year rate is at its highest since late June 2024. In the week, 19 lenders raised fixed rates by between 10 and 76 basis points while only four made cuts, as lenders reprice against higher funding costs. For buyers, Moneyfacts calculates a £250,000 loan over 25 years now costs about £1,605 a month on the average two-year fix, £165 more than at 4.85% in February, which squeezes how much they can borrow; for sellers, that means fewer buyers able to stretch to the asking price. Pricing is volatile rather than one-way, with some lenders still cutting selected deals, so borrowers comparing offers this week may find gaps between lenders.

    Source: Mortgage Strategy (Moneyfacts data)

  7. medium · 6/91 Oct 2026

    Barclays raises 62 mortgage deals for the second time in a week, with some fixed rates up 40bps

    Barclays repriced 62 products on 1 October, 46 of them for a second time this week, taking the cumulative rise on some deals to 40bps: a two-year fix at 60% LTV has moved from 4.75% to 5.15%, and a five-year remortgage fix at 60% LTV from 5.02% to 5.32%. Halifax Intermediaries also pushed rates higher the same day, which points to a wider lender repricing rather than one lender's decision. For buyers, the cheapest fixed deals are being withdrawn and replaced at higher rates, so a rate secured now may be worth more than one planned for later; for sellers, a higher cost of borrowing can narrow what buyers are able to offer. Mortgage Strategy gave no stated reason for the Barclays moves, and the changes apply to selected products, not every deal on the market.

    Source: Mortgage Strategy

  8. medium · 5/923 Sept 2026

    NatWest cuts selected mortgage rates by up to 0.22 points, the first big lender to reverse September's hikes

    NatWest cut selected new-business mortgage rates by up to 0.22 percentage points from 24 September, taking its 90% LTV two-year purchase fix from 5.56% to 5.53%. It is the first major lender to trim pricing after a month of increases, a sign that swap-rate pressure may be easing at the margin. For buyers with smaller deposits, it is modest relief worth watching. It is not a turn yet: TSB and Principality raised rates the same day, and the average two-year fix sits near 5.9%.

    Source: Mortgage Solutions

  9. high · 7/922 Sept 2026

    Clydesdale and HSBC join a second wave of fixed-rate rises as the average two-year fix reaches 5.9%

    Clydesdale will raise two- and five-year fixed rates by up to 0.19% from 23 September, and HSBC has confirmed increases, after Barclays, Halifax and Santander repriced earlier this week. Rising swap rates are feeding straight into pricing: Moneyfacts puts the average two-year fix at 5.9% and the five-year at 5.92%, the highest since October 2023. For buyers, the same monthly budget now borrows less. This is lenders repricing, not a Bank Rate move; Bank Rate stays at 3.75%.

    Source: Mortgage Solutions (Moneyfacts data)

  10. high · 7/918 Sept 2026

    Average five-year fix reaches 5.88%, the highest since October 2023, after a week of lender rate rises

    Moneyfacts data published on 18 September shows the average five-year fixed mortgage rose 16 basis points in a week to 5.88%, matching its October 2023 level, while the average two-year fix rose 17 basis points to 5.84%. The rises follow repricing across the major lenders, including NatWest (up to 43bps), Santander (up to 45bps) and HSBC (up to 37bps), with swap rates, the benchmark lenders price fixed deals from, near 30-day highs. For buyers, especially those with small deposits, where the average two-year fix at 95% loan-to-value is now 6.33%, monthly costs are higher than a week ago, and for sellers that can mean fewer buyers able to stretch to the asking price. More rises are possible if lenders have not yet caught up with swap rates, and the Bank of England estimates 750,000 households on fixes below 3% expiring in 2026 face a sharp jump when they refinance.

    Source: Mortgage Strategy (Moneyfacts data)

  11. high · 7/916 Sept 2026

    NatWest, TSB, Coventry and Skipton push fixed mortgage rates higher ahead of today's Bank of England decision

    Several major lenders raised fixed rates on 15 and 16 September, with NatWest lifting pricing by up to 43bps (its two-year fix at 60% LTV with no fee rose 36bps to 5.36%), TSB increasing residential fixes by up to 0.25% for the second time in a week, and Coventry and Skipton repricing their entire fixed ranges. The driver is wholesale funding: swap rates have been climbing as markets price in a greater risk that Bank Rate stays higher for longer after August inflation rose to 3.1%. For buyers, a mortgage offer secured before a reprice is now worth more, and affordability at higher loan-to-value is tightening; for sellers, it points to more price-sensitive buyers this autumn. These are lender moves, not a Bank Rate change, and today's MPC announcement could either confirm or ease the pressure.

    Source: Mortgage Solutions

  12. high · 7/915 Sept 2026

    Five big lenders reprice for a second time in September as the average two-year fix reaches 5.73%

    NatWest, Santander, HSBC, Lloyds and TSB all repriced for the second time this month, lifting the average two-year fixed rate to 5.73% from 4.84% at the start of March, Moneyfacts said on 15 September. Fixed pricing tracks swap rates, now above 4.70%, rather than Bank Rate. For buyers that is roughly £131 more a month on a £250,000 loan over 25 years; for sellers it trims what offers can stretch to. The MPC is still expected to hold at 3.75% on 17 September.

    Source: The Intermediary

  13. medium · 5/910 Sept 2026

    Barclays cuts residential fixes by up to 20bps and adds 25bps to buy-to-let, a day after four lenders raised rates

    On 10 September Barclays cut selected residential fixes, taking its two-year fix at 60% loan-to-value with an 899 pound fee down 20 basis points to 4.55% and a fee-free two-year at 95% loan-to-value down 16 basis points to 5.37%, while raising two- and five-year buy-to-let purchase rates by 25 basis points; Atom Bank trimmed its residential range by 10 basis points the same day. That came 24 hours after Nationwide, Principality, Accord and TSB all repriced upwards, so lenders have stopped moving as a bloc, and with the Monetary Policy Committee not due until 17 September, pricing is being set by individual funding positions and lending targets rather than one shared market signal. For buyers, and particularly those borrowing at high loan-to-values, that makes the best available rate far more lender-specific than it has been in recent weeks, so comparing across the market is worth more this month than it usually is; for landlords buying, borrowing costs moved the other way. This is selective repricing rather than a change of direction, with cuts and rises landing inside the same week, so the average new fixed rate has not obviously shifted and Bank Rate remains at 3.75%.

    Source: Mortgage Solutions

  14. high · 7/99 Sept 2026

    Nationwide, TSB, Accord and Principality all raise mortgage rates as swap rates climb ahead of the September MPC

    Nationwide raised selected fixed and tracker rates by up to 0.20% on 9 September, taking its cheapest two-year fix from 4.48% to 4.63%, while TSB added 0.15% across its fixed-rate purchase range, Principality up to 0.18% on selected residential deals and Accord up to 0.16% on buy-to-let. Lenders price fixed deals off swap rates, and two-year swaps have drifted up to around 4.18% as markets reassess how far Bank Rate will fall from 3.75%, with the next MPC decision due on 17 September. For buyers, the practical effect is that the cheapest deals of recent weeks are being pulled rather than replaced, so anyone part-way through an application should check whether their quoted rate still stands; for sellers, dearer borrowing quietly trims what the same buyer can offer. This is a repricing rather than a reversal, measured in basis points on selected products rather than across whole ranges, and other lenders were still cutting in the same week.

    Source: Mortgage Solutions

  15. high · 7/97 Sept 2026

    HSBC and NatWest raise fixed mortgage rates as gilt yields hit an 18-year high above 5%

    Moneyfacts confirmed on 7 September that HSBC and NatWest have raised fixed rates since the start of the month. Fixed pricing follows swap rates, and the 10-year gilt yield has pushed above 5% to an 18-year high, lifting lenders' funding costs. For buyers, a 0.25% rise adds £38 a month on a £250,000 loan; for sellers, it trims what bidders can stretch to. Only a handful of lenders have pulled deals, so this is repricing, not a 2022-style withdrawal wave.

    Source: The Intermediary

  16. medium · 6/94 Sept 2026

    Five-year swap rates top 4.5% for the first time since October 2023, raising the risk of autumn mortgage repricing

    Five-year swap rates climbed above 4.5% in the week to 4 September, their highest level since October 2023, as a global bond sell-off pushed 10-year gilt yields to around 5.29% - a level last seen in 2008. Swaps are what lenders use to price fixed-rate deals, so moves of this size tend to feed through to fixed mortgage pricing within days rather than months. For buyers, particularly first-time buyers and anyone remortgaging this autumn, the affordability calculation could tighten just as the September market normally picks up; for sellers, it argues for pricing realistically rather than waiting on a bounce. The caveat is scale: swaps have risen roughly 0.1 percentage points over the week against around 0.5 points during March's volatility, and the average two-year fix still stands at 5.59% - a modest upward drift, not a repricing shock.

    Source: Property Industry Eye

  17. medium · 5/91 Sept 2026

    HSBC cuts fixed mortgage rates by up to 0.11% as lenders keep trimming into September

    HSBC reduced rates across its range by up to 0.11% from 1 September, with the largest cut on its two-year 60% LTV no-fee remortgage deal, now 4.83%. First-time buyer 95% LTV two-year fixes fell to 5.33%. Paragon, UTB and Newcastle also trimmed rates the same week, so the direction of travel is downward. These are moves of roughly 5 to 11 basis points, though — a modest easing rather than a meaningful shift in what buyers can afford.

    Source: The Intermediary

  18. medium · 5/91 Sept 2026

    More than one million homeowners come off two-year fixes this year, facing £283 a month more on standard variable rates

    Compare the Market found 1,095,905 homeowners who fixed in 2024 at an average 4.81% reach the end of their deals this year. Rolling onto the average 7.13% standard variable rate would lift repayments on a £200,250 balance from £1,149 to £1,432 a month. Remortgaging near the 4.79% average two-year fix removes most of that gap. For sellers, that payment shock is one reason some homes reach the market this autumn; these are averages, not individual quotes.

    Source: The Intermediary

  19. medium · 6/921 Aug 2026

    Halifax cuts fixed mortgage rates from 24 August, with 60% LTV remortgage deals down 0.13%

    Halifax cut selected fixed rates from 24 August, with reductions of up to 0.11% for homemovers and first-time buyers and 0.13% off its 60% LTV two-year remortgage deal. As one of the UK's largest lenders, its pricing tends to pull rivals along, extending the easing already seen from Nationwide, Santander and HSBC this month. For buyers that trims monthly costs modestly; for sellers it slightly widens the pool of affordable offers. These remain small cuts, not a turning point.

    Source: The Intermediary

  20. medium · 5/919 Aug 2026

    HSBC cuts mortgage rates by up to 0.20% and lifts lending limits as Gen H trims high-LTV pricing again

    HSBC cut selected residential rates by up to 0.20% from 19 August and raised its maximum loan at 75% LTV from £3m to £5m, a day after Gen H trimmed 0.15% across its 90% and 95% bands. Competition for smaller-deposit borrowers is driving both. For buyers with limited equity, that modestly lowers monthly costs; for sellers, it slightly widens the pool of viable offers. This is targeted repricing at the high-LTV end, not a broad fall in borrowing costs.

    Source: The Intermediary

  21. medium · 6/917 Aug 2026

    Santander cuts most residential fixed rates by up to 13bps from 19 August as lender easing broadens

    Santander cuts most residential fixed rates at 60% to 85% LTV by up to 0.13% from 19 August, with buy-to-let two- and five-year fixes down 0.10%. It follows cuts from Nationwide, HSBC and Gen H this week, and reflects funding costs easing after July's swap rate spike. For buyers, that trims monthly payments at the margin and widens choice; for sellers, cheaper borrowing steadies offers. It remains a modest unwinding of July's increases, not a return to cheap money.

    Source: The Intermediary

  22. medium · 5/917 Aug 2026

    Nationwide cuts fixed mortgage rates by up to 15bps from 18 August, taking its lowest rate back below 4.5%

    Nationwide cut fixed rates by up to 0.15% across two-, three- and five-year products from 18 August, taking its lowest home-mover rate to 4.48%. The move follows easing swap rates, which underpin fixed-rate pricing, and builds on cuts made earlier this month. For buyers — particularly first-time buyers at 95% LTV — it modestly widens what is affordable; for sellers, it helps support demand through a quiet August. This is one lender trimming at the margins, not a broad repricing.

    Source: The Intermediary

  23. medium · 5/913 Aug 2026

    Accord and Principality cut selected fixed mortgage rates by up to 18bps from 13 August as swap rates drift lower

    Accord trimmed residential and buy-to-let fixes by up to 18bps from 8am on 13 August, including a five-year remortgage fix at 5.01% at 65% LTV, while Principality Intermediaries cut across its ranges by up to 0.13% from 9am the same morning. Both moves follow a gentle easing in the swap rates that underpin fixed pricing, extending a run of small downward repricings from mid-sized lenders this week. For buyers and remortgagers this widens the pool of sub-5.1% five-year deals at lower loan-to-values, though the savings are measured in basis points rather than whole percentage points. For sellers the effect is marginal: this is modest easing, not a return to the sub-5% pricing seen in February, with the average two-year fix still around 5.63%.

    Source: Mortgage Strategy

  24. medium · 6/911 Aug 2026

    HSBC cuts fixed mortgage rates from 11 August as swap rates ease, with Santander and NatWest also trimming deals

    HSBC began cutting fixed mortgage rates from 11 August across its residential, buy-to-let and international ranges, with Santander and NatWest also trimming selected deals. The trigger is swap rates - which underpin fixed pricing - easing back from 30-day highs, even as the Bank of England held Bank Rate at 3.75% on 30 July. For buyers, fixed deals are edging cheaper again after rising earlier this month; for sellers, slightly better affordability may help support demand. It is a modest repricing, not a decisive fall.

    Source: Mortgage Solutions

  25. high · 7/910 Aug 2026

    Santander and NatWest cut over 200 mortgage rates each by up to 25bps as HSBC follows

    Santander is repricing over 200 products down by up to 25bps from Tuesday, NatWest cut more than 200 rates by up to 24bps today, and HSBC lowers rates from tomorrow. Easing swap rates and competition for volume are driving the moves after July's increases. For buyers, sub-5% deals are returning: a Santander 90% LTV two-year fix drops to 4.89%. For sellers, cheaper borrowing supports demand. But rates remain above spring levels, a partial recovery, not cheap money returning.

    Source: Mortgage Introducer

  26. medium · 6/910 Aug 2026

    Average two-year fixed rate climbs to 5.63% as lenders reverse July's cuts, wiping out most of 2026's falls

    The average two-year fixed mortgage rate has climbed to 5.63% in August, Moneyfacts reports — up from February's 4.85% low and erasing most of this year's falls after lenders reversed course in July. The driver is swap-rate volatility, the wholesale rates used to price fixed deals, as Middle East tensions lift energy prices and revive inflation fears. For buyers, that means tighter affordability on new fixes right now; for sellers, it trims what some buyers can stretch to, so realistic pricing matters more. It is a modest upward drift rather than a spike, with the Bank of England holding Bank Rate at 3.75% on 30 July.

    Source: The Intermediary

  27. medium · 6/93 Aug 2026

    Nationwide cuts selected fixed mortgage rates by up to 19bps, reversing July's hikes

    Nationwide, the UK's largest building society, cut selected two-, three- and five-year fixed rates by up to 0.19 percentage points on 3 August, unwinding part of July's increases. It moved even though swap rates - the wholesale funding costs that drive fixed pricing - held broadly flat, so this reads as competition on margin rather than a response to cheaper money. For buyers it modestly improves the biggest lender's deals this week; for sellers it lends slight support to demand after a thin summer. It is one lender's repricing, not a market-wide turn, and the Bank of England's hold at 3.75% still caps how far fixed rates can fall.

    Source: Mortgage Solutions

  28. medium · 6/92 Aug 2026

    Mortgage rates edge higher as rising swap rates prompt lenders to reprice fixed deals

    UK fixed mortgage rates have drifted higher into August, with the average two-year fix near 5.62% after lenders repriced through late July. The driver is swap rates — the wholesale funding costs lenders hedge — rising on firmer inflation expectations tied to higher oil prices, not a Bank of England move; the Bank held Bank Rate at 3.75% on 30 July. For buyers, that slightly trims affordability; for sellers, it can cool buyer urgency. A modest drift up, not a spike.

    Source: HomeOwners Alliance

  29. medium · 6/929 Jul 2026

    Bank of England decides Bank Rate on 30 July, with markets expecting a hold at 3.75%

    The Bank of England announces its next Bank Rate decision at noon on Thursday 30 July, alongside fresh forecasts and the meeting minutes; the rate stands at 3.75% and markets widely expect it to be held. That expectation matters less for mortgages than it sounds, because fixed rates track swap rates rather than Bank Rate directly, and swaps have edged up on renewed Middle East tension, prompting several lenders to reprice fixed deals higher this week. For buyers, waiting for a cut to feed through is the wrong strategy right now; the sub-4% deals seen earlier in the year are thinner on the ground and worth locking if the numbers work. For sellers, borrowing costs holding around current levels keeps demand steady but subdued, and with two MPC members voting for a hike as recently as June, the near-term risk sits with rates staying higher rather than falling.

    Source: Bank of England

  30. medium · 6/928 Jul 2026

    Halifax, TSB, BM Solutions and Leeds raise fixed rates by up to 20bps on 28 July as swap-rate pressure builds

    Halifax, TSB, BM Solutions and Leeds Building Society all lifted selected fixed rates by up to 20bps on 28 July, with Halifax's remortgage two-, three- and five-year fixes moving the most and homemover and first-time-buyer deals rising by as much as 15bps. The trigger is swap rates, which underpin fixed mortgage pricing: the two-year swap sat at 4.258% on 22 July against 3.993% a month earlier, and the five-year has climbed to 4.316%, pushing lenders to reprice upward. For buyers, deals secured earlier in the summer now look better than what is on the shelf today, so anyone mid-application may want to lock in before further moves; for sellers, marginally dearer borrowing trims buyer affordability at the edges. This is a repricing drift rather than a step-change, with Bank Rate unchanged and a single 20bps adjustment on selected products modest against the cuts seen earlier in the year.

    Source: Mortgage Strategy

  31. high · 7/924 Jul 2026

    Swap-rate surge pushes Nationwide, HSBC and TSB to raise fixed mortgage rates by up to 0.23%

    Two- and five-year swap rates climbed to 4.26% and 4.32% by 22 July, up from around 3.99% and 4.03% a month earlier, after the closure of the Strait of Hormuz pushed oil back to $100 a barrel and revived inflation fears (Chatham Financial). Because fixed mortgages are priced off swap rates rather than the base rate, lenders including Nationwide, HSBC, TSB, Accord and Virgin Money have repriced upward by roughly 0.10% to 0.23%, with several changes taking effect this week. For buyers that trims borrowing power at the margin, with first-time buyers on higher loan-to-values most exposed, and for sellers it strengthens the case to price realistically as budgets tighten ahead of Thursday's Bank of England decision. It is a nudge rather than a shock: fixed rates remain well below this year's peaks, and lenders have shown they bring pricing back down once funding costs settle.

    Source: Mortgage Solutions

  32. medium · 6/922 Jul 2026

    Santander, Halifax, HSBC and Barclays raise fixed mortgage rates by up to 0.30% as swap rates climb

    On 22 July, four of the UK's biggest lenders — Santander, Halifax, HSBC and Barclays — raised fixed mortgage rates, Santander by up to 0.30% and the others up to 0.20%. The trigger is a sharp climb in swap rates, the wholesale funding costs lenders price from, after renewed Middle East tensions lifted oil prices. For buyers, a run of falling rates has reversed almost overnight, so those mid-application may want to lock in a deal sooner; for sellers, dearer borrowing trims what buyers can stretch to on offers. This is swap-driven repricing, not a base rate move, and could steady if tensions ease before the Bank of England meets on 30 July.

    Source: Introducer Today

  33. high · 7/921 Jul 2026

    Barclays, Halifax, HSBC and TSB raise fixed rates by up to 20bps as swaps climb back above 4%

    Barclays, Halifax, HSBC and TSB all raised fixed mortgage rates by up to 20bps from 21 July, with Halifax lifting every two-, three- and five-year fix for movers and first-time buyers. Lenders price off swap rates, and two-year swaps have drifted from around 3.98% to 4.18% over the month as Middle East tension unsettles funding markets. For buyers, the sub-4% deals that briefly reappeared this month are largely gone, so anyone mid-application should weigh locking a rate sooner. This is repricing catching up with funding costs, not a Bank Rate move.

    Source: Mortgage Strategy

  34. medium · 5/920 Jul 2026

    Barclays cuts fixed rates by up to 66bps as Nationwide raises selected deals, with swaps back above 4%

    Barclays has cut two-year fixes by up to 66bps — its fee-free 90% LTV deal now 4.79% — while Nationwide moved the other way, raising selected fixed and tracker rates by up to 0.35%. The split follows swap rates rebounding after briefly dipping below 4% earlier in July, with two-year swaps back near 4.18% amid Middle East tensions. For higher-LTV buyers some fixes are cheaper this week, but the direction is no longer one-way; for sellers, borrowing conditions are steady rather than easing. This is repricing, not a clean downward trend.

    Source: Mortgage Introducer

  35. medium · 6/916 Jul 2026

    NatWest lifts fixed rates up to 27bps from 17 July as lenders reverse July's price war

    NatWest is raising selected fixed rates by up to 27bps from 17 July, following increases from Barclays, Nationwide, Coventry and Virgin Money. Swap rates have climbed back above 4% on renewed Middle East tensions, lifting lenders' funding costs and reversing June's run of cuts. For buyers, some of the sub-4.3% deals from the price war are being pulled, so those mid-application may want to secure a rate soon; for sellers, dearer borrowing modestly trims what buyers can afford. This is a repricing off a low base, not a sharp reversal — fixes remain below last autumn's levels.

    Source: Mortgage Solutions

  36. medium · 6/915 Jul 2026

    Barclays cuts rates by up to 66bps but Nationwide raises fixes as swaps climb back above 4%

    Barclays cut selected residential rates by up to 0.66% from 16 July, but Nationwide went the other way, raising some fixed and tracker deals by up to 0.35% and lifting its two-year fix from 4.19% to 4.54%. The driver is funding costs: two- and five-year swap rates briefly dipped below 4% in early July but have climbed back to around 4.18-4.26% as renewed Middle East tensions unsettle markets, and lenders price off swaps. For buyers, the wave of cuts seen earlier this month has stalled and brokers are advising securing a rate rather than waiting for further falls; for sellers, affordability has stopped improving week on week. This is marginal repricing, not a Bank Rate move - fixes remain well below last year's levels and could ease again if swaps settle.

    Source: Mortgage Introducer

  37. high · 7/914 Jul 2026

    Average two- and five-year fixed rates both fall to 5.52%, lowest since March

    Moneyfacts data out on 14 July puts average two- and five-year fixed rates both at 5.52%, down 0.16 and 0.11 percentage points — the largest monthly fall since October 2024. Lenders are passing on June's lower swap rates. It bites where it matters: 60% LTV two-year deals now average 4.97%, and 95% LTV five-year deals sit below 6% for the first time since March. For buyers that is a genuine affordability shift; for sellers, a wider buyer pool. The Bank's 30 July decision could stall it.

    Source: PropertyWire (Moneyfacts data)

  38. medium · 6/99 Jul 2026

    NatWest, Landbay and Molo cut mortgage rates on 9 July as lender competition intensifies

    On 9 July, NatWest, Landbay and Molo became the latest lenders to cut fixed mortgage rates, after six lenders repriced within 24 hours earlier in the week. The cuts track falling swap rates, which lower lenders funding costs and sharpen competition. For buyers, that means slightly cheaper payments and more sub-4.4% five-year fixes; for sellers, firmer affordability can support demand. But this is competitive repricing, not a base-rate cut — the Bank holds at 3.75% until 30 July.

    Source: Mortgage Finance Gazette

  39. high · 7/97 Jul 2026

    Six lenders cut mortgage rates in 24 hours as swap rates fall below 4%

    Nationwide, Virgin Money, BM Solutions, Halifax, Kensington and Lloyds all repriced within 24 hours from 7 July, with cuts of up to 0.19% on fixed deals. Two-to-five-year swap rates — the funding costs behind fixed mortgages — have dropped below 4%, down from around 4.16% at the start of June. For buyers and remortgagers, cheaper fixed deals are landing week by week, with sub-4% headline rates edging closer. The Bank of England is still holding at 3.75%, so this is lender competition on funding costs, not a rate-cutting cycle.

    Source: PropertyWire

  40. medium · 5/96 Jul 2026

    Nationwide, Virgin Money and HSBC cut fixed mortgage rates by up to 0.19% as summer repricing spreads

    Nationwide cut fixed rates by up to 0.19% from 6 July, with Virgin Money down by up to 0.16%, HSBC by up to 0.16% and Accord trimming residential deals by up to 0.30%. Lenders are competing hard for summer business while markets expect the Bank of England to hold at 3.75% on 30 July. For buyers and remortgagers, sub-4% fixes are reappearing at larger deposits; for sellers, better-financed buyers help underpin demand. These are measured trims, not a step change in affordability.

    Source: Mortgage Solutions

  41. medium · 5/91 Jul 2026

    Barclays cuts fixed mortgage rates by up to 13bps from 2 July as Santander and TSB also reprice down

    Barclays reduces selected fixed and tracker rates by up to 0.13% from 2 July, its five-year fix at 60% LTV falling to 4.33%, following Santander cuts of up to 0.21% and TSB reductions a day earlier. Softer market rate expectations for the Bank of England's path are feeding through to fixed pricing via swap rates. For buyers, five-year money at 60% LTV now sits in the low 4s, modestly stretching budgets; for sellers, slightly deeper buyer affordability. These are trims, not a step change — pricing remains well above pre-2022 norms.

    Source: The Intermediary

  42. medium · 6/929 Jun 2026

    Mortgage rates drift lower as around 20 lenders cut fixed deals, three-year average at 5.28%

    Moneyfacts data published on 29 June shows the average three-year fixed rate slipped to 5.28% over the week, with around 20 lenders — Nationwide, NatWest, Barclays, TSB and Santander among them — repricing downwards. The moves track falling swap rates after the Bank of England held Bank Rate at 3.75% on 18 June. For buyers, that means slightly more borrowing headroom; for sellers, marginally steadier demand. This is a modest drift, not a return to sub-4% deals.

    Source: Mortgage Strategy (Moneyfacts data)

  43. low · 4/928 Jun 2026

    The Mortgage Works cuts buy-to-let switcher rates by up to 25bps as landlord competition builds

    The Mortgage Works cut selected buy-to-let and limited company switcher rates by up to 25bps on 28 June, with a five-year fix now at 4.44% to 65% LTV. The move tracks easing swap rates and sharper competition for landlord remortgage business rather than any base rate change, as the Bank held at 3.75%. For landlords rolling off a fixed deal it trims renewal costs; for the wider market it is a modest easing signal, not a turning point.

    Source: Mortgage Soup

  44. medium · 6/924 Jun 2026

    Average two-year fixed holds at 5.37% as lenders price cautiously with Bank Rate at 3.75%

    The average two-year fixed mortgage sits at 5.37% across all lenders this week, with the big six closer to 4.74%, while five-year fixes average 5.48% (Mojo/Uswitch data, 24 June). Pricing has held broadly flat since the Bank of England kept Bank Rate at 3.75% on 18 June, as swap-rate volatility linked to Middle East tensions keeps lenders cautious despite earlier cutting momentum. For buyers, borrowing costs are steady rather than easing further; for sellers, it argues for realistic pricing while buyer budgets stay capped. A market holding its breath, not turning.

    Source: Uswitch (Mojo Mortgages data)

  45. medium · 6/922 Jun 2026

    Lenders extend June rate cuts: Principality, Kensington and HSBC reprice fixed deals by up to 50bps

    On 22 June another wave of lenders trimmed fixed rates — Principality by up to 50bps, Kensington up to 25bps and HSBC up to 10bps — extending a month of cuts that also drew in Barclays and Santander. Swap rates have eased after CPI held at 2.8% in May and the Bank kept Bank Rate at 3.75%, giving lenders room to move. For buyers that means modestly cheaper fixes and some sub-4% deals returning at lower loan-to-values; for sellers, firmer affordability supports demand. This is gradual easing, not a return to pre-2022 pricing.

    Source: Mortgage Strategy

  46. medium · 5/919 Jun 2026

    Barclays cuts five-year fixes by up to 33bps as lenders compete through a busy remortgage season

    Barclays has cut residential fixed rates by up to 33bps, taking its 60% LTV five-year fix from 4.76% to 4.43%, with Nationwide, Atom and Gen H also trimming over the past week. With Bank Rate held at 3.75%, this reflects easing swap rates and competition ahead of a heavy remortgage season, not a base-rate move. For buyers and remortgagers acting now, monthly costs ease slightly; for sellers, cheaper finance supports demand. Rates still sit well above pre-2022 norms — gentle relief, not cheap money.

    Source: Mortgage Introducer

  47. high · 8/918 Jun 2026

    Bank of England holds Bank Rate at 3.75% for a fourth time as lenders keep trimming fixed deals

    The Bank of England held Bank Rate at 3.75% on 18 June, its fourth consecutive hold, with inflation expected to stay just below 3% for most of 2026. Even without a base-rate move, easing swap rates have let lenders including NatWest and Barclays keep trimming fixed mortgage deals. For buyers, fixed pricing is drifting down regardless of the hold; for sellers, borrowing costs are easing at the margin, not transforming demand. The hold caps how far those cuts can run.

    Source: Bank of England

  48. medium · 5/910 Jun 2026

    HSBC cuts mortgage rates by up to 0.11% across residential and buy-to-let ranges

    HSBC reduced rates by up to 0.11% across its residential and buy-to-let fixed and tracker ranges on 10 June, with standard residential fixes now starting at 4.47% against a 3.75% base rate. The move follows a week of repricing by Lloyds, Halifax and NatWest as lenders position ahead of the 18 June Bank Rate decision. For buyers and remortgagers, headline pricing keeps drifting down. These are modest trims, though, and affordability remains stretched.

    Source: The Intermediary

  49. medium · 5/99 Jun 2026

    Average two-year fixed rate falls 0.10 points to 5.68% as mortgage choice tops 7,000 for first time since March

    Moneyfacts data shows the average two-year fixed rate fell 0.10 percentage points to 5.68% in June — its biggest monthly drop in over a year — with product choice back above 7,000 deals for the first time since March. Swap-rate volatility from the Middle East conflict has eased, so lenders are repricing down as competition returns. For buyers that means more choice and cheaper fixes; for sellers, a deeper pool of mortgage-ready demand. Rates sit well above December levels — recovering choice, not cheap borrowing.

    Source: Property Industry Eye

  50. medium · 6/98 Jun 2026

    NatWest cuts mortgage rates for a third time in a fortnight as lenders keep trimming fixed deals

    NatWest cut selected residential and buy-to-let rates by up to 15bps from 8 June, its third reduction in a fortnight, with TSB, Halifax and Santander also repricing down. The moves track easing swap rates and competition ahead of remortgage season, not any Bank Rate change, which holds at 3.75%. For buyers, more sub-5% two-year fixes improve affordability at the margin; for sellers, cheaper finance supports demand. But this is margin-trimming, not a base-rate fall, and could stall if swaps turn.

    Source: Mortgage Solutions

  51. medium · 6/95 Jun 2026

    Average fixed mortgage rates edge lower again as 14 lenders trim pricing

    Moneyfacts data showed the average two-year fix easing to 5.65% and the five-year to 5.61% in the week to 5 June, with 14 lenders cutting rates against one notable rise. The moves track easing swap rates and competition ahead of remortgage season, not a base rate cut — the Bank held at 3.75%. For buyers and remortgagers, deals are inching cheaper; for sellers, easier borrowing supports demand. The falls are modest and could stall if swaps drift back up.

    Source: Mortgage Strategy

  52. high · 7/93 Jun 2026

    HSBC joins Halifax, NatWest and Leeds in week-long wave of fixed mortgage rate cuts

    HSBC's latest cuts took effect on 3 June, the newest in a week-long wave that has also seen Halifax, Lloyds, Coventry, NatWest and Leeds trim fixed rates. Swap rates have eased as markets settle on Bank Rate holding at 3.75% on 18 June rather than rising. For buyers, monthly budgets stretch a little further; for sellers, firmer affordability supports demand. It is a drift lower, not a return to the cheap rates of recent years.

    Source: Mortgage Strategy

  53. medium · 6/92 Jun 2026

    Lenders cut fixed mortgage rates again, with HSBC repricing residential and buy-to-let deals from 3 June

    HSBC cut rates across its residential, first-time buyer, remortgage and buy-to-let ranges from 3 June, after Gen H trimmed up to 0.20% on 1 June and Allica and ModaMortgages followed. The moves track easing swap rates - lenders' wholesale funding costs - which had spiked earlier on Middle East tensions. For buyers, that means slightly cheaper fixes to lock in now; for sellers, modest support for demand at the margin. It is a gradual easing, not a sharp fall, and brokers warn the cuts could stall before the Bank of England's 18 June decision.

    Source: Mortgage Soup

  54. medium · 6/930 May 2026

    UK lenders trim fixed rates again as swap rate pressure eases

    In the week ending 29 May, NatWest cut its 90% LTV two-year fix from 5.56% to 5.35% and Leek Building Society trimmed residential products by up to 20bps, while Newcastle launched a fresh tracker range from 4.55%. Swap rates have eased from their post-Middle East spike, giving lenders modest headroom to reprice. For buyers, the early-month softening continues but only by single basis points; for sellers, affordability is loosening at the margin rather than meaningfully recovering.

    Source: Mortgage Introducer

  55. medium · 5/922 May 2026

    TSB, Together, Santander and Skipton trim selected mortgage rates as May repricing wave extends

    TSB and Together cut selected fixed-rate mortgages on 22 May, joining Santander's reductions of up to 27 basis points and Skipton's 14bps average trim earlier the same week. These are individual lenders trimming margins where competition is sharpest — not a wholesale repricing on cheaper funding. For buyers and remortgagers, headline pricing eases modestly on selected deals. The caveat: swap rates remain volatile and gains could reverse if energy or inflation data surprise upward.

    Source: Mortgage Solutions

  56. low · 4/918 May 2026

    Skipton cuts residential mortgage rates by up to 32bps across 90%, 95% and 100% LTV deals

    Skipton Building Society cut rates on its two-, three- and five-year residential fixes from 9am on Tuesday 19 May, with the largest reduction at 32bps and an average of 14bps. The cuts target the higher 90%, 95% and 100% LTV bands where affordability has been tightest. For buyers near the top of their borrowing, that shaves a small but real chunk off monthly costs. With wider rate-cut momentum stalling, this looks like a single-lender push rather than a market-wide shift.

    Source: Mortgage Solutions

  57. medium · 6/916 May 2026

    26 UK lenders shift pricing in a week as Moneyfacts says the rate-cut run has stalled

    Moneyfacts's latest weekly rate watch (week to 15 May) shows 26 lenders moved pricing — 10 cuts, 8 increases and 12 product refreshes — with the average two-year fix easing slightly while the five-year fix edged up to 5.70%. Swap-rate volatility is splitting the field: larger lenders like NatWest and Santander keep competing hard, while smaller mutuals pass increases through. For buyers, the broad-based cut run that ran through March and April has plainly stalled; sellers should not assume affordability is on its way back. The 20 May CPI print will set the next direction.

    Source: Mortgage Strategy

  58. medium · 6/914 May 2026

    Mortgage rate cuts stall as average two-year fix holds at 5.78% and five-year edges up to 5.70%

    Moneyfacts said the average UK two-year fixed rate held at 5.78% this week and the five-year nudged up to 5.70%, with Lloyds and Scottish Building Society trimming by up to 24bps but Skipton and United Trust Bank lifting prices, including a 140bps jump at UTB. Swap rates have stopped falling, so lenders are pulling cuts that no longer pay back. For buyers planning to fix, headline rates have settled in the 5.7-5.8% range. April CPI on 20 May and the next Bank of England decision on 18 June will set direction from here.

    Source: Mortgage Strategy

  59. high · 7/912 May 2026

    Nationwide cuts fixed mortgage rates by up to 36bps as lenders extend May repricing wave

    Nationwide, NatWest, Virgin Money and TMW all trimmed selected fixed rates on 11 and 12 May, with Nationwide leading at cuts of up to 36bps and its five-year fix at 90% loan-to-value now 4.89%. Swap rates have eased rather than collapsed, so this looks like competitive trimming, not a full repricing. For buyers at higher loan-to-value, monthly costs nudge down; for sellers, the bidding pool widens slightly this week. The wave could pause if inflation data pushes swaps back up.

    Source: Mortgage Solutions

  60. medium · 6/911 May 2026

    Santander and HSBC lead UK mortgage rate cuts as lenders ease pricing in early May

    Santander cut selected fixed, tracker and product transfer rates by up to 50bps from Monday 11 May, following HSBC's reductions of up to 30bps on 8 May. Swap rates have eased as markets digest a Middle East ceasefire after weeks of pricier funding. For buyers this is a modest reopening of pricing; for sellers, slightly better affordability may nudge enquiries back into stale stock. Cuts could stall or reverse if swaps push higher — not a sustained downtrend yet.

    Source: Mortgage Introducer

  61. medium · 5/97 May 2026

    HSBC cuts mortgage rates as Foundation and Leek raise specialist deals up to 17bps

    HSBC will lower rates across its residential and buy-to-let ranges on 8 May, while Foundation, Leek Building Society, Vida and Interbay are repricing on the same day, with Leek raising holiday-let fixes by up to 17bps and limited-company buy-to-let by up to 15bps. Lenders are not moving in lockstep: mainstream residential pricing is softening, while specialist landlord products are hardening as funding costs and risk views diverge across ranges. For mainstream residential buyers the direction of travel is still mildly favourable, so a short pause to reshop a quote can be worthwhile; for landlords looking at holiday-let or limited-company structures, the window for current pricing closes today. This is product-by-product repricing rather than a coordinated direction shift, and swap rates plus the next MPC meeting on 18 June will set the broader path.

    Source: Mortgage Strategy

  62. medium · 5/97 May 2026

    Santander trims selected fixed and tracker rates from today as repricing rolls into a fourth week

    Santander reprices selected residential and buy-to-let deals from this morning, cutting up to 0.15% on 10-year first-time buyer fixes and up to 0.23% on selected BTL product transfers, with one 85% LTV FTB two-year fix moving the other way by 0.05%. It is the fourth week of selective trimming since the Bank held Bank Rate at 3.75% on 30 April, with swap rates giving pricing teams room only on the deals where competition is sharpest. For buyers there is fractionally better headline pricing on longer fixes; for sellers it is not enough to change asking-price strategy. Swap rates remain elevated, and a further drift on inflation or energy could pause this run before it builds.

    Source: Mortgage Solutions

  63. medium · 5/95 May 2026

    Halifax and BM Solutions trim selected fixed rates by up to 0.25% as funding costs rise

    Halifax and BM Solutions both trimmed selected fixed rates by up to 0.25% on 5 May 2026, with the bulk targeting remortgage, product transfer and further-advance products. Funding costs have actually risen and Foundation pulls its entire residential range tomorrow, so brokers are calling this the last leg of cheaper pricing rather than a wider trend. For buyers, today's headline rates may be the floor for now; for sellers, affordability looks set to tighten again before it eases.

    Source: Mortgage Strategy

  64. high · 7/91 May 2026

    TSB, Halifax, Santander and HSBC cut fixed mortgage rates by up to 45bps as swap rates ease back from April highs

    On Friday 1 May, TSB cut two-year fixed house purchase rates by up to 45bps, Halifax trimmed fixes by up to 35bps and Santander by up to 28bps, with HSBC also repricing. The trigger is five-year swap rates falling back towards 4% from highs near 4.4% in April, giving lenders room to ease pricing. For buyers, that puts Halifax's leading 2-year fix at 4.64% and starts to unwind the affordability hit from the April spike; for sellers, it is the first sign in weeks that conditions are moving the right way for offers. The cuts come off elevated April pricing, not pre-spike levels, and a reversal stays on the table if Middle East-driven inflation fears resurface.

    Source: Mortgage Strategy

  65. high · 8/930 Apr 2026

    Bank of England holds Bank Rate at 3.75% in 8-1 vote as Pill dissents for a hike to 4%

    The MPC voted 8-1 on 30 April to maintain Bank Rate at 3.75%, with Huw Pill the lone dissenter calling for a 25bps rise to 4%. The Committee cited Middle East energy-price pressure pushing CPI to 3.3% in March, with inflation projected to dip to 3.1% in Q2 before rising back to 3.3% in Q3. The market-implied path now slopes upward, suggesting some increase in Bank Rate this year. For buyers, that pushes the cheap-money window further out; for sellers, expect lender repricing to firm up rather than fall.

    Source: Bank of England

  66. high · 7/929 Apr 2026

    Barclays brings back sub-4% deal as HSBC, NatWest and Coventry BS join 30 April rate cut wave

    Barclays relaunched a sub-4% mortgage on 29 April, pricing a two-year tracker at 3.96% for Premier purchase borrowers at 75% LTV. HSBC, NatWest and Coventry Building Society followed with cuts of up to 19 basis points across residential and BTL ranges from 30 April. The coordinated easing follows weeks of swap-rate volatility tied to the Iran conflict. For buyers, headline pricing is loosening at the top end; for sellers, it widens the pool of affordable borrowers. The caveat: sub-4% is gated to Premier borrowers, not yet a market-wide return.

    Source: Mortgage Solutions

  67. high · 8/927 Apr 2026

    Average UK two-year fixed mortgage rate jumps to 5.81% on 24 April, up from 4.84% in March

    Moneyfacts data shows the average two-year fixed mortgage rate hit 5.81% on 24 April, up from 4.84% at the start of March — the sharpest monthly rise since July 2023. The driver is swap rate volatility tied to the Middle East conflict. For buyers, that is roughly £100 a month extra on a £200,000 loan against March pricing. For sellers, expect more cautious offers; economists now see no Bank of England cut until 2027.

    Source: Property Industry Eye

  68. high · 7/922 Apr 2026

    HSBC, Santander, Virgin Money and Principality cut fixed rates by up to 45bps as lender repricing accelerates

    Virgin Money trimmed fixed rates by up to 45 basis points on 22 April, HSBC and Principality followed with cuts from the next day, and Santander reduced first-time buyer, home mover and remortgage fixes by up to 0.25%, including its 95% LTV three-year deal from 5.55%. Lenders are passing through lower swap rates and competing harder for purchase business after weeks of repricing. For buyers, monthly payments on new fixes are edging down and higher-LTV deals are getting a sharper look. The caveat: Virgin lifted some tracker rates by 25bps on the same day, so this is a fixed-rate story rather than a broad easing.

    Source: Mortgage Strategy

  69. medium · 6/921 Apr 2026

    Reuters poll finds economists expect Bank of England to hold rates through 2026

    A Reuters poll of economists published yesterday found most expect the Bank of England to leave the base rate unchanged at next week's meeting and through the rest of 2026, even after recent inflation pressure tied to the Iran conflict. For buyers, that means fixed-rate pricing is unlikely to fall sharply in the near term. For sellers, demand levels look set to stay roughly where they are.

    Source: Reuters

  70. high · 7/921 Apr 2026

    Barclays cuts mortgage rates by up to 36bps across more than 20 fixed deals

    Barclays is cutting more than 20 of its fixed-rate mortgages by up to 36 basis points from today, covering 2- and 5-year deals at a range of loan-to-value bands. It is one of the bigger moves from a major UK lender this month and follows a similar cut from NatWest earlier in the week. For buyers, monthly payments on new fixes drop modestly. For sellers, slightly cheaper borrowing tends to support demand at the margins.

    Source: Mortgage Strategy

  71. medium · 5/920 Apr 2026

    NatWest cuts mortgage rates by up to 37bps across residential and buy-to-let

    NatWest is cutting mortgage rates by up to 37 basis points, covering both residential and buy-to-let. The biggest move is on its 95% LTV five-year fix, down from 5.76% to 5.39%. It follows HSBC last week. For buyers, it's the first run of meaningful cuts since rates rose in February after the Iran conflict. The picture stays unsettled — swap rates remain higher than the start of the year.

    Source: Mortgage Strategy

  72. medium · 6/918 Apr 2026

    Mortgage rates show signs of falling after Iran war peak

    Several large UK lenders are cutting mortgage rates this week, with Halifax — the country's biggest lender — among them. Markets eased after geopolitical tensions cooled, pulling down the swap rates that fixed mortgages are priced against. Buyers comparing fixed-rate deals over the next few weeks will see slightly cheaper headline rates. The Bank of England base rate has not moved — this is a market-led shift, and lenders can pull rates back if conditions change.

    Source: BBC

  73. high · 7/918 Apr 2026

    Mortgage rates show signs of falling after Iran war peak

    Major lenders including Halifax, HSBC and Santander have started cutting fixed mortgage rates as swap rates ease on hopes of a long-term truce in the Iran war. The average two-year fixed rate has edged down from a wartime peak of 5.90% to 5.87%, though still well above the 4.83% seen before the conflict. Around 1,000 fewer deals are available than pre-war, but lenders are offering larger loan amounts.

    Source: BBC News

  74. high · 8/918 Apr 2026

    Fixed mortgage rates fall for first time since Iran war peak

    Average fixed mortgage rates have fallen for the first time since the spike that followed the Iran war, according to Moneyfacts. HSBC cut some deals by up to 34 basis points last week and several other lenders — Halifax, Atom, Family and Cambridge — followed. For buyers, monthly payments on a new fixed deal are a touch lower. The market reads it as the start of a slow easing, though nothing is guaranteed.

    Source: BBC News

Frequently asked about rates

How do Bank of England rate decisions affect UK house prices?

When the Bank of England cuts its base rate, mortgage lenders usually follow with cheaper fixed and tracker products within a few weeks. Cheaper borrowing means buyers can afford higher prices, which tends to support or lift house prices. When rates rise, the reverse happens. Buyers can borrow less, so demand softens and prices can stall or fall. The effect isn't instant, but rate decisions are usually the single biggest short-term influence on UK housing demand.

Why do mortgage rates sometimes move without a Bank of England decision?

Mortgage rates are priced off 'swap rates'. The rate at which banks lend to each other over a set term. Swap rates move every day based on what the market expects the Bank of England to do next, not just what the Bank has already done. So lenders can cut (or raise) rates even if the base rate hasn't moved. Because the market has changed its mind about what's coming.

Does a mortgage rate cut always mean house prices go up?

Not always, but it usually helps. A rate cut makes monthly payments more affordable, so buyers who were priced out can come back in. That typically increases demand faster than supply can respond, which nudges prices up. But if the cut comes at the same time as bad economic news. Rising unemployment, weak wages. Buyer confidence can stay low even as rates fall. Rates are one big lever, not the only one.

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