Interest rates are rising, but we're not alone

Interest rates are rising, but we're not alone

In the September meeting, the Bank of England increased its bank rate to 2.25%. Its seventh consecutive rise and again increasing the rate by a significant amount (+0.5 percentage points).

Many UK borrowers are protected from any immediate increase by fixed rates (representing 94% of new mortgages*) but borrowing costs are rising for many existing and all new borrowers.

The Bank of England needed to take decisive action to ensure high inflation doesn’t become entrenched. The UK is certainly not alone in this; the Federal Reserve in the US also increased rates significantly this month, so too the
European Central Bank.

Consensus forecasts, compiled by HM Treasury, suggest that UK inflation could be back to more normal levels for 2023 at 4.5%. Source: Dataloft, Financial Conduct Authority, Q1 2022 data, Federal Reserve, European Central Bank, Bank of England, FT


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There's no getting around the fact that April has been an unusual month to try to read the property market. The ripple effects of the conflict in the Middle East — higher energy prices, inflation concerns, rising mortgage rates — have introduced a level of uncertainty that nobody was anticipating at the start of the year.

Buying a home can feel easier when you know your budget, priorities and next steps. With mortgage costs still influencing decisions, preparation is one of the biggest advantages buyers have.

For tenants, April is a useful point to pause and plan. With rents still rising across the UK and the first phase of rental reform approaching in England, this is a good time to review your budget, renewal options and next move.

More homes are competing for buyer attention, so sellers need more than a hopeful asking price. A smart launch, realistic valuation and strong presentation can help attract serious interest.