Britain’s biggest bank has swooped to cash in on the home lone crisis.

As low fixed deals disappear and more and more banks are refusing to lend, HSBC are offering to match any other lender in the market.

Its Rate Matcher Deal will be available to new customers and match rates down to 4.54% for a further two years on fixed deals that mature before 30 June.

The bank is so confident of success that it has trebled the amount of staff working on home lone applications.

Head of mortgages Martjn Van Der Heijden said "we can help take away that anxiety."

At a price

Far from a good will gesture to beleaguered borrowers, people will have to front £5,000, though the bank claims most will pay £1,000.

Those desperate enough to take the deal will also the maximum advance at 80% the properties value and a lone cap at £250,000.

A spokesman said:

"The bank was strongly positioned to offer competitive lones because of the strength of its balance sheet."

The deal is not available through brokers so borrowers will have to come in person at their branch.