HDFC revises prime lending rate by 30 basis points - EMIs on housing loans to become expensive

Mortgage lender HDFC (Housing Development Finance Corporation) Ltd revised its prime lending rate on Saturday, an official statement of the company said in filing to exchanges. The monthly EMIs of housing loans are scheduled to rise for existing borrowers.

According to the filing, “HDFC increases its Retail Prime Lending Rate (RPLR) on Housing loans, on which its Adjustable Rate Home Loans (ARHL) are benchmarked, by 30 basis points, with effect from May 9, 2022.”

The non-banking finance company last week announced a hike in its benchmark lending rate by 5 basis points on May 1, 2022.

According to a May 1 filing to exchanges, “HDFC increases its Retail Prime Lending Rate (RPLR) on Housing loans, on which its Adjustable-Rate Home Loans (ARHL) are benchmarked, by 5 basis points, with effect from May 1, 2022.”

There is no change in the lending for new borrowers. The rates for new borrowers’ range between 6.70 per cent and 7.15 per cent, depending on credit and loan amount, the release said.

Last month, SBI and other lenders raised benchmark lending rates, pushing EMIs for the existing customers.

Interest rates are expected to harden in the coming months as global inflationary fears have been stoked due to geopolitical tensions, mainly due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. This prompted the Reserve Bank earlier this month to raise the inflation target.

Even as it kept unchanged the key repo rate or the short-term lending rates to banks, the RBI said going further it will focus on withdrawal of accommodation to ensure that inflation remains within the target.

The RBI has been mandated to keep the retail inflation at 4 per cent with a bias of 2 per cent on either side.