Fixed rate on 95% loans

THE LEEDS Permanent's 9.85 per cent fixed rate is available on 95 per cent advances. This is an attractive feature in the light of the insurance industry's present concern about mortgage indemnity cover, which is discouraging loans to people with small deposits. Most other fixed rate mortgages are offered to a maximum of 90 per cent of the purchase price.

The Leeds fixed rate offer is conditional on borrowers taking two out of three insurance products covering building insurance, contents or income protection.

Among capped mortgages, one product which stands out is the Bank of Ireland offer capped to 8.99 per cent - but only until August next year.

Newcastle Building Society, meanwhile, has cut the capped rate on its three-year cap-and-collar mortgage from 10.2 to 9.99 per cent. The collar - the minimum rate the borrower will pay - remains at 9.5 per cent.