UK lenders rush to pull mortgage deals amid Iran war inflation fears

WorldBusiness & Finance
20 Mar 2026 • 10:09 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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  • Conflict in the Middle East has led to over 500 mortgage deals being withdrawn from the UK market in the past week.
  • The average rate for two-year fixed mortgage deals has surpassed 5 per cent, marking the first time since August.
  • The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee unanimously voted to hold the base rate at 3.75 per cent, citing concerns that the US-Iran conflict will increase inflation through rising energy costs.
  • This decision comes despite earlier expectations for a base rate cut, with experts now anticipating a rise in inflation due to global oil trade disruption.
  • Major lenders, including Nationwide, Barclays, and HSBC, have removed their sub-4 per cent mortgage offerings, and there is a possibility of a base rate increase later this year if current uncertainty persists.

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