Average two-year fixed mortgage rate surges to highest level in 15 years
The average two-year fixed-rate homeowner mortgage rate has surpassed the levels seen in the aftermath of last autumn’s mini-budget, reaching its highest level in 15 years.
The typical two-year fixed-rate residential mortgage on the market reached 6.66% on Tuesday, up from 6.63% on Monday, Moneyfactscompare.co.uk said.
The last time two-year rates were higher was in August 2008.
On October 20 2022, the average two-year fixed-rate mortgage hit a peak of 6.65%, amid the market volatility which followed September’s mini-budget.
The average five-year fixed-rate homeowner mortgage also peaked at 6.51% on that date, according to Moneyfactscompare.co.uk.
Mortgage rates later settled down, but then started to rise once more amid expectations that interest rates will be higher for longer as the Bank of England tries to subdue stubbornly high inflation.
Average two and five-year fixed-rate mortgages recently jumped back over the 6% mark.
The Bank of England uses base rate rises as a tool to try to subdue inflation and the base rate is currently sitting at 5%, following 13 rises in a row.
In further signs of the pressures on inflation, new figures showed that wages have increased at a record rate.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed on Tuesday that average regular pay, not including bonuses, was 7.3% higher in the three months to May compared with the same period last year.
Moneyfacts’ figures also show that the average five-year residential mortgage on Tuesday was 6.17%.
The website took the full range of mortgage deposit sizes into account.
Around 2.4 million fixed-rate mortgages are due to end between now and the end of 2024, according to figures from trade association UK Finance.
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt recently held a summit with mortgage lenders and a new mortgage charter was agreed to support those who are struggling.
Lenders will be able to offer borrowers a switch to interest-only payments for six months, and an extension to their mortgage term to reduce their monthly payments, with the option to switch back within six months.
Both options can now be offered without an affordability check.
A borrower will not be forced to leave their home without their consent unless in exceptional circumstances, in less than a year from their first missed payment.
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has moved quickly to make rulebook changes.
A new consumer duty, which takes effect at the end of July, will also compel lenders to offer support that meets a customer’s individual needs, communicate clearly with people about their options and provide decent customer service.
Rachel Springall, a finance expert at Moneyfactscompare.co.uk, said: “Borrowers may be disappointed to see the average two-year fixed mortgage rate has risen to its highest point in 15 years.
“Those borrowers concerned over (the) affordability of a deal might pause their homeownership plans, or indeed park the idea of refinancing.
“After the fiscal announcement, fixed mortgage rates rose sharply, which resulted in a worrying environment for potential buyers and those needing to remortgage.
“There are still some competitive deals out there for consumers to choose from, so it’s vital that borrowers seek advice to go through their options. Anyone struggling to pay their mortgage, or reaching the end of a low fixed rate, would be wise to speak to their lender immediately.”
Charlotte Nixon, mortgage and financial planning expert at wealth manager Quilter, said: “Unfortunately, the UK is in a difficult place with its battle against inflation and as such interest rates are going to have to keep going up in the short term. This is going to feed into the mortgage market and as such this is not the top of the peak – more pain is to come.
“The chaos in the mortgage market is hitting house prices and this is going to cause some uncertainty over the rest of the year as servicing costs become harder to manage and affordability is tested to its limits.”
She added: “Ultimately, this is a very uncertain time and it will pass with time, but for now people need to stay calm and speak to their lender or mortgage brokers if they have any issues.
“Lenders don’t want to deal with defaults on their loans and with the recent mortgage charter introduced by the Government, they are there to help in the first instance.”
Speaking on ITV’s Good Morning Britain, consumer champion Martin Lewis said rising mortgage rates are “one of the core ways” being used to fight inflation.
He said: “This is a huge bill shock and it is very difficult to square what’s going on.”
Published: by Radio NewsHub