Spotlight: Woolwich 80% two-year mortgage

There's been more activity in the mortgage market. Woolwich, Barclays' lending arm, has cut its fixed rates by up to 0.6 percentage points.

Among Woolwich's new suite of fixed rates is a two-year deal at 5.49 per cent, available for loans up to 80 per cent of the property's value. It was previously priced at 5.99 per cent. It is available to purchasers and those remortgaging and there is a £999 arrangement fee.

Of the largest mortgage lenders, this is the leading two-year fix at 80 per cent, but it is beaten by Loughborough and Manchester building societies. Loughborough has a two-year deal at 4.75 per cent with a £475 arrangement fee, while Manchester's two-year fix has a rate of 4.99 per cent. The fee on this mortgage is £999.

If you're happy to take a gamble and go for a variable rate mortgage, NatWest has a two-year tracker at 2.99 per cent that is available for loans up to 80 per cent. The arrangement fee is £799.