Will interest rates rise this year and how bad will it get for mortgages? This is Money Podcast

See more This is Money on Google - save us as a Preferred Source Updated: 11:25 EDT, 19 September 2026 The Bank of England held the base rate again on Thursday but mortgage rates have soared this week.Major lenders have made a wave of hikes and there are warnings that more are on the way, so what's going on?Is this just another temporary spike as the mortgage market throws one of the tantrums we've seen a number of times in recent years or serious bad news, with rates set to stick higher?On this week's podcast, Georgie Frost, Lee Boyce and Simon Lambert discuss interest rates, what this could cost people and what you can do if you need to remortgage. Plus, what does this all mean for gilts and the Budget and did the Bank of England quietly make a decision that could make things materially better?With more investors buying gilts direct, should you take advantage of the higher rates on offer and how do you invest in UK government bonds?Or should you choose a fixed rate savings account at 5.2 per cent instead.A This is Money reader question highlights how the worst inheritance tax trap that lies at £2million.And finally, would you do a Rokos and move to Greece – and other than the weather what are the attractions?Helpful links> Check the best mortgage rates you could apply> Check the best savings rates> Read Joanne Hart's Midas guide to investing in giltsTIME STAMPS00:00 Welcome to the podcast00:52 Interest rates held – so why are mortgages getting more expensive?03:30 Mortgage rates are rising again: how bad could it get?06:22 From 0.99% to 4.88%: the remortgage shock facing borrowers10:57 Savings rates are back above 5% – should you lock in?18:05 Five-year fix or invest instead?19:43 Gilts 101: what are government bonds and how do they work?24:24 Why are gilt yields so high – and how do they compare with savings?27:18 How do you actually buy gilts?29:59 Inheritance tax: could a £2m estate lose the home allowance?33:07 Pensions and inheritance tax: what changes from April 2027?36:02 The inheritance tax trap that could produce eye-watering tax rates39:48 Why are wealthy Britons moving to Greece?41:59 Greece's tax breaks – and who can benefit42:08 Thinking of moving to Greece? What you need to consider47:20 Seven energy deals that could beat the price cap rise48:04 That's all for this week This is Money podcast Listen to the This is Money podcast We publish the podcast every Friday on This is Money and at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and more. Search for it at your favourite podcast platform. To download Apple Podcasts go to the App store. On Android devices, go to the Google Play store to download the podcast app of your choice. You can press play to listen to this week's full episode on the player above, and wherever you get your podcasts please subscribe and review us if you like the podcast.You can also listen to the latest episode, find the archive and join in the debate in reader comments on the This is Money podcast page.