Doug Crawford, CEO of My Home Move comments on the Bank of England interest rate rise announcement

“Although this is the first rate rise by the Bank of England in a decade, mortgage holders should be encouraged to remember that 0.5% is still a historically low rate and is simply a return to the rate that was in place in July 2016. For people saving a deposit to purchase a home, the rate rise should be welcomed news, as they should see a slightly better return on their savings.

“For the housing market, the developments and risk controls that Lenders have in place will continue to protect investment in housing and ensure that the market remains stable for the foreseeable future.

“As always, Banks and Building Societies will continue to offer their new and existing customers highly competitive rates and brokers will continue to find their customers the best deal for them. When taking out a mortgage borrowers should always think long-term when finding the best deal for them, taking into account possible rate rises and the financial implications this could have. As an industry we need to ensure that consumers have all the information they need to make an informed choice about which mortgage deal is best for them.”