Gross mortgage lending fell by nearly 12% in September compared with August to an estimated £30bn according to new data from the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML).

Although lending was up 2.5% on the £29.2bn figure for September 2006, the annual increase is the lowest in two years.

While lending typically falls between August and September, a 12% decline is larger than the norm of around 5%. This easing in the market is another sign of the expected consumer response to the five interest rate rises experienced since August 2006.

Commenting on the data, CML general director Michael Coogan said: “We have been expecting a slowdown in monthly lending levels in line with interest rate rises. In the coming months, we expect to see monthly lending levels dip below their 2006 levels for the first time this year as rate effects are exacerbated by the recent liquidity problems in the mortgage market.”