Laura Purkess, Grace Gausden Major mortgage lenders are increasing rates in response to the escalating conflict in the Middle East – and more are set to follow, experts warn. Lenders including HSBC, Saffron Building Society and Coventry Building Society have confirmed they will be increasing fixed rates for new and existing borrowers in the coming days. David Hollingworth, associate director at L&C Mortgages, said: “We are now seeing the first big-name lender moves begin to feed through.