Building societies offering better mortgagesNew research from Moneyfacts.co.uk has suggested that the majority of the best mortgage deals on the market are not in fact from the major lenders.

Of the 250 best mortgage deals as selected by the financial advice website, just 27 came from those adjudged by the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) to be the top ten lenders.

Moneyfacts has urged consumers to avoid making decisions based on brand names, a suggestion that implies that seeking mortgage advice could be of benefit to those unfamiliar with the market. Mortgage brokers seem to be the clear winners here.

"While some deals offered by [the main]mortgage providers may offer the best solution to an individual customers needs, the findings show that, for the majority of borrowers, the deals from building societies and smaller lenders are winning hands down," Moneyfacts.co.uk mortgage expert Julia Harris.

Mortgage lending dropped in September, according to the CML, in a sign that borrowers are finding it harder to secure the best mortgage deals.