News Rates and the market
What is happening to rates and prices, and what it could mean for your mortgage.
Mortgage rates move with the Bank of England, swap rates and competition between lenders. The guides here explain how those links work. The news updates record what happened at the time they were written.
Rates and prices change quickly, so older news may be out of date. For the latest picture, start with our current rates update.
Guide · Updated September 2026 · 22 min
The Bank of England base rate is 3.75%, held on 17 September 2026, yet fixed mortgage rates keep climbing. We look at average two- and five-year fixes, what’s driving them and what could come next.
News · Updated September 2026 · 8 min
A day after the US raised rates, the Bank of England held at 3.75%. But three of nine rate-setters wanted a rise, and the Bank warned rates may need to go up. What was decided, and what it could mean for your mortgage.
Guide · Updated September 2026 · 6 min
Swap rates are what lenders use to price fixed mortgages. Here’s what UK swap rates are, why they rise and fall, how they differ from Bank Rate, and what September 2026’s rise means for you.
These articles reflect the market and rules when they were published, so rates, schemes and thresholds may have changed since.
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