Full list of lenders offering major mortgage help within weeks – is yours one of them?

OVER 30 lenders have signed up to a new mortgage charter to help offer struggling households more support within weeks.

The providers represent around 85% of the mortgage market giving new hope for millions.

It will mean that from July 10, customers approaching the end of a fixed-rate deal will have the chance to lock in a deal up to six months ahead.

Sarah Coles, head of personal finance at Hargreaves Lansdown said: "Plenty of mortgage lenders already let you lock in a mortgage rate six months in advance.

"However, having the certainty that your lender will definitely allow it will ease some remortgage anxiety."

Here's a full list of lenders who have signed up to the Mortgage Charter and will allow customers to lock in a fixed deal for six months from July 10:

• Barclays
• NatWest, including RBS and Ulster Bank
• Lloyds, including Halifax and Scottish Widows
• Nationwide Building Society
• HSBC, including First Direct
• Santander
• Virgin Money, including Clydesdale Bank and Yorkshire Bank
• TSB
• Scottish Building Society
• Buckinghamshire Building Society
• Newcastle Building Society
• Hinkley & Rugby Building Society
• Nottingham Building Society
• Principality Building Society
• Suffolk Building Society
• West Bromwich Building Society
• Loughborough Building Society
• Family Building Society
• Coventry Building Society
• Yorkshire Building Society
• Skipton Building Society
• Leeds Building Society
• Bath Building Society
• Ecology Building Society
• The Vernon Building Society
• Leek Building Society
• Furness Building Society
• Melton Mowbray Building Society
• Glasgow Credit Union
• Darlington Building Society
• Progressive Building Society

However, experts remain uncertain over whether or not this measure will protect people from rises in the future.

This is because lenders have already priced a number of deals into the market already.

Sarah said: "An awful lot of rate rises being forecast are already priced into the market.

"If we get all of these rises, and inflation still refuses to budge, then having secured a rate could be invaluable.

"However, this isn't widely expected. In fact, we may not get all the rises that are currently being priced in."

However, even if a borrower was to secure a mortgage deal now, locking in a rate in advance doesn't mean you're obliged to stick with it.

Homeowners will also be able to manage their new deal and request a better like-for-like deal with their lender right up until their new term starts if one is available.

But this only one part of a raft of support measures now outlined in the Mortgage Charter.

How else does the Mortgage Charter help homeowners?

The scope of the agreement also means that from July 10, any homeowner will be able to approach their lender for advice on repayments without impacting their credit score.

Homeowners will be able to change their mortgage to interest only and extend the terms of their loan.

This change will also have no impact on the homeowner's credit score.

But if homeowners then want to go back to their original plan within six months they will be free to do so.

But a new clause on rules around home repossessions already came into force yesterday (June 26).

The rules stipulate that a borrower will not be forced to leave their home without their consent unless in exceptional circumstances.

Under the rule, homes cannont be repossed if it's been less than a since the homeowner made their first missed payment.

Banks and building societies have also been instructed by the government to deploy highly trained staff to help customers to ensure that tailored support is given to anyone struggling.

The measures come after the Bank of England upped the base rate from 4.5% to 5% last week in a bid to slow soaring inflation, which stood at 8.7% in May.

But while the measure is designed to make the cost of everyday essentials cheaper, a higher base rate is passed on to mortgage owners.

The rise means homeowners on tracker or standard variable rate mortgages are likely to see their monthly repayments spike soon.

Meanwhile, anyone coming to the end of a fixed deal over the next year will find their payments have shot up when it comes to remortgaging.

Rapid interest rate rises have placed homeowners under huge pressure, with many arguing they can no longer afford their house.

The average rate on a two-year fixed deal has now soared to 6.19%.

And a typical five-year fixed deal has hit 5.82%.

What other help is already available?

As soon as you think you will have a problem with your monthly mortgage repayment - whether you can’t pay anything, can't pay all of your monthly payment or can’t pay it on time - get in touch with your lender straight away.