Around half (51 per cent) of UK homeowners are unconcerned about a rate rise and the impact that it could have on their monthly mortgage repayments over the next 12 months, a Halifax survey suggests.
Mortgage holders interviewed by Ipsos MORI on behalf of the bank found that while two in five mortgage holders (41 per cent) say they are concerned, there are wide regional variations.
Most likely to say they are not concerned are homeowners in the North East (61 per cent), Wales (60 per cent) and Scotland (58 per cent).
Homeowners in the South East (53 per cent) are the most concerned, followed by the South West (49 per cent).
Other groups who are more likely than others to say they are concerned about interest rate rises impacting their mortgage payments are women (45 per cent), those aged 35-44 (50 per cent), families with children (48 per cent), and those with variable rate mortgages (57 per cent, compared to 43 per cent of those with a fixed rate mortgage).
Nationally, one in ten mortgage holders (13 per cent) say they are concerned that they would find it difficult to afford their monthly mortgage repayments if the amount was up to £50 higher.
A third (33 per cent) say they would struggle if the amount was up to £100 higher, and this figure rises to 42 per cent for those on variable rate mortgages.
