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Mortgage fees rise and cashback options reduce: Moneyfacts

Aaron Strutt Image
The average mortgage arrangement fee charged on fixed deals has risen since 2020 with analysis by Moneyfactscompare.co.uk showing the changing landscape of costs and incentives across the fixed mortgage market.
 
Mortgage product fees have risen on average. At £1,129, the average fee currently charged on a fixed rate mortgage deal (not including no-fee products) has risen by £89 since March 2020. While this average fee has fallen by £11 since March 2024, it has been above £1,000 since July 2017.
 
The proportion of the market offering fixed rate mortgage deals that offer a free or refunded valuation incentive has risen to 73%, from 72% at the start of March 2020. While the proportion of the market offering fixed rate mortgage deals that offer a free or refunded legal fees incentive has fallen to 42%, from 49% at the start of March 2020. The proportion of the market offering cashback has dropped by 9% since March 2020.
 
The lenders tend to charge higher arrangement fees when they want to offer slightly cheaper rates, so they have been bumping up the fees to have lower pay rates. There is no doubt borrowers have been calling out for cheaper rates, and by charging higher setup fees, the lenders can offer better deals.
 
Aaron Strutt, product director at Trinity Financial, says: "Some lenders charge higher fees than others, especially on their cheapest deals. The bigger lenders also tend to provide a free basic property valuation.
 
"While some lenders charge £1,499 or £1,999 to access their lowest rates, they also tend to have a choice of £999 fees for their less competitively priced deals. 
 
"Borrowers have to pay slightly more to benefit from the lower monthly repayments with some banks and building societies. A more typical mortgage setup fee is £999, often including a free property valuation."
 

Fixed mortgage market analysis

 

Mar-20

Mar-23

Mar-24

27-Feb-25

Average product fee £ (excluding deals with no fee)

£1,040

£1,095

£1,138

£1,129

Deals with no £ product fee

1,781 (41%)

1,551 (43%)

1,842 (35%)

2,119 (36%)

Deals with free/refunded legal fees

2,150 (49%)

1,646 (45%)

2,279 (41%)

2,486 (42%)

Deals with a free/refunded valuation

3,138 (72%)

2,748 (75%)

3,821 (73%)

4,322 (73%)

Deals with £ cashback

1,359 (31%)

1,235 (34%)

1,306 (25%)

1,330 (22%)

Average rate (deals with £ fee)

2.49%

5.07%

5.57%

5.31%

Average rate (deals with no £ fee)

2.66%

5.29%

5.59%

5.41%

The % shown is the proportion of deals out of the fixed mortgage market, which include adverse credit deals, but exclude % product fee deals. Average rates exclude adverse credit deals. Data shown is as at the first available day of the month, unless stated otherwise.

Source: Moneyfactscompare.co.uk 

 

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The information contained within was correct at the time of publication but is subject to change.

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