Out-of-cycle changes to variable mortgage rates are becoming standard business practice. Not so long ago it was controversial for a lender to change its variable rate without reference to movements in the cash rate, but now such changes go unremarked.According to data supplied by Infochoice, eight mortgage lenders have changed their standard variable rates so far this month. They include Westpac, Suncorp, ING Direct, Nationwide Mortgage, Newcastle Permanent Building Society, People's Choice Credit Union, Resi Home Loans and HSBC.Among those cutting rates, ING Direct has reduced the rate on its Mortgage Simplifier and Orange Advantage loans by between five and 10 basis points (depending on the size of the loan and the loan-to-valuation ratio).ING Direct's head of third party distribution, Mark Woolnough, told The Adviser that the bank, which has had very little growth in its mortgage book over the past few years, was looking for "a strong start to 2014".Suncorp has cut the rate on its Back to Basics loan by five basis points; Resi has cut the rate on its Break Thru 90 loan by 18 bps; Nationwide Mortgage has cut its True Saver Home Loan by 11 bps; and Newcastle Permanent has cut its Tier 1 Package home loan by five basis points.Westpac, HSBC and People's Choice have increased their standard variable rates on some products by between four and 54 basis points.