Remortgaging guidance

Remortgaging guidance

Remortgaging is when you get a new mortgage with a different provider. Switching your current mortgage plan to a new deal could help you to:

Lower your monthly payments
Overpay on your mortgage
Get a more flexible deal

Remortgaging or changing deals can introduce additional costs, such as early repayment charges, so it’s worth weighing up all pros and cons before making a decision.

Reasons for remortgaging

Before you start changing your deal, think about what you want to get out of it. There are a number of reasons people choose this route, such as:

Current mortgage has ended – When your current deal ends, your lender may place you on a standard variable rate (SVR). This may be a higher interest rate than you’re currently paying.
Get more flexibility – A new mortgage deal could allow you to overpay on your mortgage. Flexibility comes if you switch to a mortgage that has no fees or charges for overpaying, which obviously brings down the amount on your mortgage quicker.
Value of your home has risen – If the market value of your home has risen, you may be entitled to lower interest rates and smaller monthly payments.

How early can you remortgage?

You can remortgage at any time during your mortgage term. But there are things to think about if you’re looking to do so, including:

Early repayment charges – If you switch mortgages before your current plan ends, you may have to pay a fee to your current provider.
Change in rates – Interests rates can go up and down, which can affect your payments if you switch from a fixed to variable rate

The legal work to change your mortgage deal may take a few months, in which time you’ll be placed on a standard variable rate of interest (SVR). Standard variable rate is the default interest offered by lenders and is likely to be higher than the interest on a mortgage deal, so might cost more for this period.

Have a look around before you commit to a new deal – you can remortgage up to six months before your current deal ends. You won’t be able to remortgage before your deal ends without paying an early repayment charge. You can arrange a new mortgage deal to kick in once your existing one has come to a close.

If you arrange a mortgage deal before your existing deal runs out, you'll avoid been placed onto a standard variable rate.

Make sure you’re getting the best deal for your circumstances by planning ahead, then adding up the charges and costs.

How often can you remortgage?

You can remortgage your home as often as you want. Most people choose to hold off until they're out of the introductory period on their current deal.

As you’ll likely have to pay to remortgage – especially if you’re doing it early – it could cost more than the money you’ll save by switching to a better deal.

Researching the costs can show you if it’s worth remortgaging early or waiting until your current deal ends.

How much does remortgaging cost?

When switching deals, there are some expenses to keep an eye out for on top of your new monthly repayment plan. These include:

Early repayment charges – If you end your current mortgage deal early you might have to pay a percentage of the amount still to pay on your mortgage.
Valuation charges – A lender might charge you to carry out a valuation of your home, which may be needed if you are switching provider.
Legal fees – You may have to pay for legal work by a conveyancer when remortgaging.
Administration costs – When you take out a new mortgage, there might be an application fee for releasing your deeds from your current lender.
Mortgage fees – You may have to pay an arrangement or booking fee. These are fees paid to your provider that cover the admin of setting up a new mortgage. These range from a few hundred pounds to a percentage of the mortgage value, so check with your lender.

Before remortgaging, work out how much you’ll pay in fees compared to the money you’ll save, to give you a better idea of which is the best option. Not all providers will charge all of the above fees – Lloyds Bank don’t charge valuation, legal, admin or mortgage fees, for example.

Risks when remortgaging

There are some occasions where remortgaging might not be the right choice for you. Look out for:

Interest rates – Your current mortgage may already have the best rate available to you, so you won’t save by switching.
Early repayment payment periods – If you’re switching your mortgage early, you might have to pay an early repayment charge.
Negative equity – If you owe more on your mortgage than your house is worth, you’re in negative equity. Homeowners with negative or low equity might find it harder to remortgage.

Remortgaging in special circumstances

Changes in your job or life might change what kind of mortgage you can get. It’s important to be honest about your circumstances when applying for a new mortgage deal.

There are a few big life events that can impact your eligibility when remortgaging:

Going on maternity leave – Remortgaging when on maternity leave is possible, but your lender may require a letter from your employer or payslips to show your maternity pay.
Becoming self-employed – If you’re self-employed, you may need to provide your business accounts and tax returns.
Becoming unemployed – If you’ve become unemployed, it can be hard to remortgage. Talk with your mortgage advisor to see how they can help.

The content on this page is for reference and does not constitute finance advice.

For impartial financial advice, we recommend government bodies like the MoneyHelper.

Important legal information

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