Banks and lenders are likely to face increasing pressure to cut fixed mortgage rates after a sharp rise in the government bond markets.

Banks and other lenders will become liable for home loans that cannot be repaid under new proposals from the City watchdog to "get rid of the irresponsible practices that put banks and consumers at risk". Lenders will have to carry out tougher checks on borrowers' income including existing loans and spending habits before giving them a mortgage. All mortgage borrowers will have to undertake a...

Banks appear to be cautiously increasing their mortgage lending, according to the latest data from the British Bankers' Association, but lending rates are still well below those at the peak of the market.

More signs are emerging that mortgage lending has stabilised for the main high street banks, the British Bankers' Association (BBA) has said. The number of mortgage approvals fell for the first time in seven months in August, but was up 81% compared to a year ago, its latest figures show. There were 38,095 mortgages approved for house purchases by banks in August, down from a 17-month high of...

Banks are pocketing extra cash rather than passing on lower interest rates to mortgage customers, a Daily Mail investigation revealed this week. Homeowners are paying an average of £1,788 per year more than they should be as banks use the historically low base rate of 0.5% to shore up their ailing coffers. Twelve months ago mortgage rates

Regulator see banks as "drugdealers" getting "consumer hooked on credit" claims Council of Mortgage Lenders

Mortgage rates increased during August as banks widened their profit margins at the expense of home owners.

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Banks have significantly increased the number of shorter term mortgage deals as experts warn about the high costs of arranging a home loan.

Mortgage lenders are showing continuing reluctance to reduce the cost of fixed rate mortgages, despite around a 30 basis point reduction in the cost of funding on the swap rates market.