With the Bank of England raising interest rates for the first time in more than three years, Brian Murphy, head of lending at Mortgage Advice Bureau, shares his top tips homeowners should consider to help manage going forward.

Explore locking in a fixed-rate mortgage

Existing borrowers whose mortgages are directly linked to the bank rate may see an increase in monthly repayments. Those who are on lender revert rates or Standard Variable Rates (SVRs) will have to wait and see if their lender will pass on the rate increase in full or only in part, whereas those who have a tracker rate mortgage are more likely to see the rate passed on in full, and possibly as soon as their next mortgage payment.

A fixed-rate mortgage could provide a temporary safe haven against upcoming interest rate rises as their fixed interest rates are guaranteed for a set time period. If you’re remortgaging, make sure to speak to your lender about your mortgage terms as there may be exit fees or early repayment charges to consider.

Move quickly

It’s not uncommon to find that any hint of an increase can impact the market and therefore what mortgage deals are on offer and for how long. The sooner consumers act, the more likely they will be to secure a rate close to the lowest ever levels. For most people, a remortgage is a fairly straightforward process and certainly not something to be scared of.

Likewise, for those nearing the end of their current fixed-rate mortgage deal or who are considering new borrowing, it may pay to contact a broker or lender to start the process sooner rather than later in order to secure a competitive deal.

Shop around for the best deal

Whether you’re a new buyer or looking to remortgage, make sure you shop around. A mortgage broker can help you find the most suitable deal for your circumstances and factor in true costs. It’s important to not only think about headline rates, but also assess any additional fees that may be involved.

Work out what you can afford

Creating a budget based on your income and outgoings will help you to see any areas where you can potentially cut back on and make some savings, either to help boost your deposit or assess if you can overpay your mortgage. It can also help you create a savings buffer should any unexpected financial costs or bills arise in the future.

To help work out your monthly repayments on your mortgage or even your overall monthly spending, try our mortgage repayment calculator or budgeting calculator. A mortgage adviser can also help you with budgeting and affordability – this will be the first thing they look at to ensure you can afford mortgage payments both now and in the future.

Overpay your mortgage if and when you can

As mortgage interest accrues on the full amount of your mortgage over its entire term, consider overpaying to reduce the amount on which interest is charged.  Doing so may help not only pay off your mortgage debt faster, but also be a big money saver in the long run. For example, if you have a £100,000 mortgage over 25 years with an interest rate of 4%, and you pay off an extra £100 a month, you could reduce your mortgage term by six years and save £15,534 on interest. 

Keep in mind though whether you can overpay on your mortgage without a penalty. A 10% overpayment facility per annum without incurring penalties is fairly typical of many products. If there is an early repayment fee, it’s worth speaking to your mortgage adviser to see if the overpayment charge outweighs the other benefits of making overpayments. 

*Brian Murphy, head of lending at Mortgage Advice Bureau