Quick interest rate poll - when does everyone think they will start rising?

[RobinsonOnTheA24]

And if you were looking for a mortgage now, would you go for a low variable rate or try to get a fix at a higher rate for as long as possible?

tia

I'd go for a fix - even if the rates don't actually go up I can see that the banks could start pushing up the rates. What sort of fixed rate term could you get?

Oh it's anybody's guess! They will keep them low for as long as they can but if inflation gets out of control they'll have to put them up.
Personally I would fix but I'm cautious.

Fix or tracker. I think bank variable rates will rise longer before the BoE base rate.

we had a letter from ours (santander) last week to say from october our was going up from 4.24 to 4.74% .

Thanks everyone. HSBC are offering a 7 year fix with no fee for 4.89% although we haven't actually been able to get through to them yet to find out whether we can get one.

Cumberdick, yes that's how I'm thinking. Good point about trackers vs variable though, RCheshire.

Is inflation the only thing that will provoke a base rate rise? They certainly seem to have wage inflation well under control to say the least, and this is the kind of inflation they worry about isn't it, as opposed to the price of butter? But are there other factors which might make a rise more likely?

We are on the base rate with Nationwide. Luckily because the mortgage was taken out before a certain date they can not put the rate up unless the BofE do.
We can not get a mortgage rate fixed at less than 6% because of our LTV. Well now we probably can't get one less than 10%. Here's hoping the rate stays low for a good while.

Depends on your circumstances and if you like certainty about outgoings. Bank mortgage rates rising does not necessarily mean the BoE rate will rise. It's just lenders trying to recoup so money. Whatever rate they offer means that they don't actaully expect them to rise to that rate though; they're not trying to lose money.

Another Santander victim here. I'm furious and about to investigate remortgages elsewhere.

If you can get a fixed rate for under 5% I would definitely go for it.

Yes good point Swedish, the fact that HSBC are offering this long fix does suggest that they expect rates to stay low for quite some time.

However, the security of a 7 year fix is very appealing.

How about a capped tracker?