Article 6CQ15 Risks of UK housing crash rising by the day as fixed-rate mortgage deals end

Risks of UK housing crash rising by the day as fixed-rate mortgage deals end

by
Larry Elliott
from on (#6CQ15)

The tipping point for the economy could come if fixed-rate mortgages rise above 7%

All things considered, Britain's housing market has held up pretty well so far in the face of a relentless rise in borrowing costs that has seen five-year fixed rate mortgages climb above 6%. House prices, according to the Nationwide Building Society, are down just 3.5% on a year ago and rose slightly in June. The Bank of England reported a small rise in mortgage approvals in May.

The key words, though, are so far". Just because there has yet to be a housing crash despite 13 consecutive increases in interest rates from Threadneedle Street's monetary policy committee doesn't mean there won't be one. There is still the chance of a soft landing but the risks of a hard landing are rising by the day.

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