The number of people having mortgage applications rejected has risen over the course of the last six months, according to new research. A study carried out found that 463,000 mortgage applications were rejected over the half a year to March - some 77,000 a month. The Bank of England's base rate has now reached 5.25 per cent, putting pressure on homeowners' ability to manage mortgage repayments. A recent study found that house prices in the UK rose 3.6 per cent between March and April, the highest monthly percentage rise for five years.