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Halifax cutting mortgages by up to 0.35%

ended 16. April 2026

Halifax are cutting its homemover and first-time buyer mortgages by up to 0.35% on Friday. This follows HSBC and Santander cutting rates this week.

  • Is this the start of a reduction in rates across the board by lenders?
  • Why are lenders cutting with Middle East tensions so high?
  • What other thoughts or advice to borrowers?

Responses asap please.

 

 

 

 

3 responses from the Newspage community

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Editor
Craig Fish
Director at Lodestone Mortgages
Halifax joining HSBC and Santander in cutting rates is genuinely positive news, and yes, this does feel like the start of a broader repricing as lenders compete for business in a quieter market. But let's keep perspective. Rates are still over 1% higher than before the Middle East conflict began, so whilst the direction of travel is welcome, we are a long way from where we were.Lenders are cutting because swap rates have ticked down slightly, giving them a little room to move. But swaps remain elevated, and with the US still using threatening language tensions could escalate quickly, and rates with them. My advice to borrowers? Don't wait for rates to fall back to where you think they should be. That may not happen anytime soon. If you're a first-time buyer or homemover, this window of competition between lenders is your opportunity. Speak to a broker, understand your options, and act while the market is working in your favour.
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Riz Malik
Independent Financial Adviser at R3 Wealth
Conditions have improved and Halifax is one of a number of lenders who are pairing back on some of their recent hikes. If Trump doesn’t start any more wars we should be able to take a breather. Thats a big ask.
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Elliott Culley
Director at Switch Mortgage Finance
Halifax are reducing their rates in line with other mortgage lenders. With tensions in the middle east still at large, it raises questions on why lenders are now willing to reduce rates. In reality the swap rates have been fairily consistent over the last 2 weeks and mortgage lenders priced in much higher swap rates. As this has not materialised some lenders are now reducing rates to make their prodcuts more competitive to borrowers.