Why people remortgage
Most often because a fixed period ended and the loan quietly reverted to a standard variable rate, which is usually the most expensive rate in the building.
- Your initial period has ended, or ends within six months.
- Your property has risen in value, moving you into a lower loan-to-value band and a better rate.
- You want to release equity for a renovation or another purpose.
- You want to change the term, the repayment method, or move from variable to fixed.
- You want to consolidate more expensive borrowing — with care, because it secures unsecured debt against your home.
Consolidation is not free money
Moving a personal loan onto a mortgage lowers the monthly payment but stretches the debt over decades, usually costing far more in total — and your home is now at risk if you cannot pay. Take advice before doing it.
When to start
Six months before your deal ends
Rates can usually be reserved in advance. Starting here means you never touch the reversion rate.
Check for early repayment charges
Leaving before the initial period ends normally triggers a charge. Sometimes a better rate still justifies it; do the arithmetic first.
Get a current valuation view
If your property has risen since purchase, your loan-to-value may have improved more than you think.
Apply
Remortgages are usually quicker than purchases because there is no chain and no seller.
Switching versus moving lender
| Product switch (staying with us) | Remortgage (moving lender) | |
|---|---|---|
| Reassessment | Usually none, or light | Full affordability assessment |
| Valuation | Usually not required | Usually required, often free |
| Legal work | None | Required, sometimes included |
| Speed | Days | Weeks |
| Choice of rate | Our range | The whole market |
If you are already with us, switching is the simplest route and takes days. If you are elsewhere, moving to us is a full application but a straightforward one.
Releasing equity
Borrowing more against a property you already own. The new total is assessed against current affordability and loan-to-value limits, not the ones that applied when you first bought.
- Up to 85% loan-to-value on a remortgage.
- We will ask what the money is for, and evidence for larger amounts.
- Home improvement and debt consolidation are the most common purposes; both are assessed on their merits.
- The additional borrowing extends the debt secured on your home. Consider whether a shorter-term unsecured loan would actually cost less.
Next steps
Documents you may also need
Today's Mortgage Rates
Indicative rates across our fixed, variable and specialist mortgage ranges, and the factors that decide which one you are offered.
MortgagesFixed Rate Mortgages
Your rate and your monthly payment are locked for an agreed period, so the largest bill in your household is a known number.
MortgagesLending Criteria
What we can lend, to whom, and against what property — published in full so you can check before you apply rather than after.
This document was last updated on 1 August 2026. We publish the current version here at all times; superseded versions are available on request.
If anything on this page is unclear, write to us and we will explain it.