Can Labour really cut mortgage rates?

Promise: Labour says mortgage rates will stay low, but can it also change the direction of the base rate?

Higher mortgage rates have been a thorn in the side of homeowners for almost two years. According to Moneyfacts, the average interest rate on five-year fixed-rate mortgages is still above 5%, while the interest rate on two-year fixed-rate mortgages is closer to 6%. That’s a lot lower than the 2.5% averages we saw at the … Read more

HSBC, Barclays and Yorkshire BS latest to cut mortgage rates

Drop: HSBC is one of three lenders to cut its mortgage rates

Three more mortgage lenders have announced that they will be lowering mortgage rates, marking a new shift towards lower mortgage costs. Barclays, HSBC and Yorkshire Building Society have all cut their rates, after Santander and Halifax earlier this week. Yorkshire BS has reduced its mortgage interest rate by up to 0.2 percentage points. Drop: HSBC … Read more

Mortgage arrears have risen by 45% in a year as the reality of interest rate increases presents itself

In red: According to official statistics, the number of borrowers with payment arrears of at least €1,500 has increased over the past two years

The amount of mortgage arrears has risen by 44.5 percent in the first three months of this year as homeowners struggle with higher interest rates, Bank of England data shows. Outstanding payment arrears rose to £21.3 billion, up 4.2 per cent on the last three months of 2023 and up 44.5 per cent on the … Read more