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Daily Mail Money (This is Money) · 17 September 2026 source

“‘Five-year fixed rate mortgages hit the highest levels since 2023 after a ‘dark week’ for borrowers’”

R2/ 10
Lightly altered
Rubbish Rating — 1 = base fact, 10 = pure rubbish
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In short
Rubbish Talk rates Daily Mail Money's claim that five-year fixed mortgages hit their highest level since 2023 a 2/10 because the Moneyfacts figure and the "dark week" quote are both accurately sourced and attributed, with only a slightly dramatic borrower-quote lifted into the headline.
The Verdict
Lightly altered. The core number checks out against Moneyfacts and independent trackers, and the punchy "dark week" phrase is a direct, correctly attributed quote from a named broker rather than the paper's own editorial spin. The only nudge away from base fact is putting a source's colourful framing in the headline instead of a neutral description.

What actually happened

Moneyfacts data cited in the article shows the average five-year fixed mortgage rate reaching its highest level since November 2023. The rise follows two rounds of rate hikes from all six major UK lenders since early September, driven by higher Sonia swap rates that lenders use to price fixed deals.

Key facts

  • Average five-year fix: the average five-year fixed rate hit 5.87 per cent today, the highest level since November 6, 2023
  • Six-month move: since early March this year, the average five-year fix has risen by almost 1 percentage point from 4.94 per cent to where it is today, adding £111 more each month than they were six months ago on a £200,000/25-year mortgage
  • Lender activity: all of the UK's big six mortgage lenders have hiked rates this week, all for the second time since the start of September, largely due to higher Sonia swap rates, which are used by lenders to price fixed-rate mortgages… put pressure on funding costs amid volatility in financial markets
  • Bank Rate context: the Bank of England held interest rates today at 3.75 per cent, while investors are now betting that rates will jump from the current rate of 3.75 per cent to 5 per cent by November next year
  • Independent corroboration: HomeOwners Alliance separately reported the average 5-year fixed rate at 5.83% on 16 September via Moneyfacts, consistent with the Mail's 5.87% the following day
  • The "dark week" line is a direct quote: broker Rohit Kohli of The Mortgage Stop described what he sees as a 'dark week for borrowers,' adding "Every one of the big six has now hiked, and some of those increases are big ones"

What to watch for

Watch whether the Bank of England actually moves toward the 5% market is pricing by November 2027, since that expectation, not a confirmed hike, is doing a lot of work in justifying further mortgage rises. Also watch sub-5% deals, which brokers in the piece warn are disappearing fast, a leading indicator ahead of the next Moneyfacts average update.

About this scoreThe R-Score is Rubbish Talk's editorial opinion on how far a headline's framing sits from what the underlying facts support. It is a judgement about presentation and emphasis, not an allegation that any outlet has acted dishonestly. Every figure we rely on is linked under Receipts so you can check it yourself.
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