Some of the biggest lenders in the UK met with MPs on the Treasury Select Committee last week, warning that more customers will suffer from financial stress over the next six months.
Lenders stated that mortgage rates between 6.25% and 6.5% could be the “tipping point” for homeowners’ finances. Mortgage costs have hit the highest level in 15 years after the rate on a two-year fixed deal reached 6.66% – a level not seen since August 2008 – leaving prospective homebuyers in limbo.
Data from Generation Rent shows that the average time it takes to save for a home deposit in England has climbed to almost 10 years, increasing from 6.8 years in 2012.
The rise in rates comes amidst nearly 10% of mortgage deals being taken off the market by lenders due to concerns about increasing interest rates. According to Moneyfacts, the figures indicate that approximately 800 residential and buy-to-let deals have been withdrawn in total.
Homeowners throughout the UK will now have to spend nearly an extra £9 billion in interest over 2023 and 2024 as they are forced to refinance at rates that are double what they used to be, according to the Centre for Economics and Business Research. The recent rises in mortgage costs are also likely to have a knock-on effect on renters who could face higher payments as landlords look to soften the cost of higher mortgages.
Data from trade association, UK Finance, found that 13% of new mortgages taken out in the three months to April were variable rate deals as homeowners are taking a chance that mortgage rates will fall in the long-term. However, new data from Knight Frank has revealed 41% of Brits are now locking-in their variable rate deals, in case borrowing costs climb further.
Shahram Shaida, CEO and founder of Allbricks, said:
“Jeremy Hunt on behalf of the government, openly asked the banks to make a change in their operating practices in June. However, the reality is while banks aren’t passing on the interest rate hikes to our saving accounts, they are very quick to raise our mortgage rates. Ultimately, banks don’t have to pass on the interest rate hikes to consumers, but as the rate hikes enable them to make a lot of money, they aren’t incentivised to do otherwise. And therein lies the problem. Unfortunately, interest rate hikes are a blunt instrument to adjust the economy that on the whole, negatively impacts anyone with a mortgage. Rising interest rates only hits 1/3 of the UK population, only the mortgage holders which seems incredibly unfair.
I believe conscientious capitalism is the way forward. With wealth should come responsibility and a duty to improve our neighbourhoods, communities, and the world. Money should not be the end goal; money should be the fuel to facilitate a better outcome. But banks are too large and too complicated to approach the mortgage industry this way until competition forces the change. Allbricks is that change. “
