Bank of England interest rate decision - OSB Group comments

30 April 2026

Adrian Moloney, Group Lending Distribution Director, OSB Group, comments on today’s Bank of England interest rate decision:

"The Bank of England’s decision to hold interest rates was widely expected and reflects just how finely balanced the outlook remains. Inflation has increased in recent months, driven in part by rising energy costs, which reinforce the challenge policymakers face in bringing it back to target sustainably.

"Although a hold brings a degree of short-term stability, it doesn’t remove the uncertainty facing borrowers and brokers. Expectations around the future path of rates continue to shift, and it is this volatility, rather than the level of rates alone, that is shaping behaviour across the market.

"For borrowers, this is unlikely to translate into a material change in mortgage pricing in the near term, as much of that is already driven by forward-looking expectations and the crisis in the Middle East. At the same time, affordability pressures remain firmly in place, particularly for those coming off fixed-rate deals.

"In the rental market, landlords are still absorbing the cumulative impact of higher borrowing costs, which continues to influence rents and supply. Against this backdrop, the value of professional advice becomes even clearer, helping borrowers navigate a market that is holding steady for now, but far from settled."