Remortgaging can be a great way to improve your finances. Whether you want to avoid the standard variable rate, your property has increased in value, or you’ve just found a cheaper deal elsewhere, you’ll need to review the costs of getting out of your current mortgage. If the savings you’ll make outweigh any early repayment costs, then switching to a new provider could be a good option.
If you need a little help working out whether you need to remortgage, read our article about why and when you should remortgage.
How long does remortgaging take?
The remortgaging process typically takes between four and eight weeks, although it could be less if you’re staying with your current lender.
If you want to avoid moving onto a standard variable rate (SVR) – which is likely to involve much higher interest – you’ll need your new mortgage to align with the end of your current deal.
The good news is you can secure a new deal six months in advance, so start the process as early as possible. This gives you time to compare different deals, find the best rate and sort out your finances. You should also gather all your documents, like ID, bank statements, pay slips and proof of address. If you’re self-employed or a business owner, you’ll usually need to supply your last three years’ accounts or tax returns.
A conveyancer can help you with the remortgage conveyancing process.
How to remortgage your house?
A remortgaging conveyancer can help you switch from one mortgage supplier to another, taking care of the legal work and completing your transaction.
How remortgaging works:
- Instruct a conveyancer who’ll check the legal status and title of your home.
- Make any outstanding payments due on your current mortgage.
- Your conveyancer will check if your mortgage lenders needs them to carry out local, drainage or mining searches.
- Sign the necessary paperwork and return it to your conveyancer.
- Your conveyancer will register the new mortgage at the Land Registry and provide proof of this to your new lender.
Find out more on remortgage conveyancing fees here.
Instruct your conveyancer
First up, choose a conveyancer. Once you’ve given them permission to begin the process, they’ll check the legal status and title of your home to establish that your property fits the bill for a new mortgage.
Find out more about conveyancing and use our conveyancing quote calculator to get a personalised quote.
Check your current mortgage status
If there are any outstanding or overdue payments on your current mortgage, they must be repaid at completion. The total amount, which is effectively the cost of freeing yourself from your current deal, will be confirmed by your current lender and paid by your conveyancer.
Consider remortgage costs
Consider the following fees:
- Exit fee, this is the fee you’ll need to pay your current provider for closing your mortgage account. It’s typically between £50 – £300.
- Early repayment charge (ERC) is the fee for repaying your mortgage early. It’s usually the percentage of the total outstanding debt and could be up to 5% of what you borrowed.
- Arrangement fees, also known as product fees or admin fees, are the costs your lenders need to cover for arranging the mortgage and can be between £1000 – £1500.
- Legal fees, lenders cover most of the legal fees, but if there are any extra charges, you need to pay them before your new deal.
- Valuation fees depend on a property’s value and vary depending on each lender’s fee scale. They usually cost £200 – £300.
Carry out property checks
Some mortgage lenders ask for local, drainage or mining searches, which can make the transaction slower and more costly, whereas others are happy with taking out indemnity insurance that protects them during the conveyancing transactions. In either case, your conveyancer will take care of the process and inform you of any potential payments.
Consider the remortgage offer
One of the most important steps of the process is going through your lender’s mortgage offer. Check all your outstanding and new mortgage figures are accurate, and that your repayment method is correct. And review all remortgaging fees to make sure you can afford your new deal.
Make sure that you fully understand the terms and conditions of your new offer. For instance, if the new mortgage amount is less than your existing lender is owed, you’ll need to cover the difference, repaying it before the completion date.
Sign the remortgage offer
Once you’re happy with the terms of your remortgage, you’ll need to sign the new mortgage deed along with any other documents required by your new lender. Try to return these to your conveyancer as quickly as possible, to avoid any delays.
Update Land Registry
After completion, your conveyancer will register the new mortgage at the Land Registry and provide proof of this to your new lender, as well as deal with various mortgage security issues.
An experienced conveyancer can resolve any emerging problems during the remortgaging process, like transferring property following the breakdown of a relationship or rectifying any legal title issues. They can also handle complicated cases, like if your property is leasehold. If this is the case, your landlord will have to confirm that all ground rent, service charges and insurance premiums are up to date, where applicable. The wording of the lease will need to be approved by your conveyancer, while your landlord will be notified about your existing and new mortgage.
Whether the process is straightforward or has a quirk or two that needs ironing out, remortgaging your home can be a great way to improve your finances.
Frequently asked questions
Find answers to frequently asked questions, from how to get a mortgage with a different lender to how to improve your chances of getting a good remortgage deal. Can’t find the answer you need? Just get in touch – we’d be happy to help.
Can I get a mortgage with a different lender?
The short answer is yes. If you’ve found a cheaper, more flexible deal, you can switch to a different lender. But note that you might have to pay fees if your current deal hasn’t come to an end.
You’ll need to make an application for credit to prove you can repay your current mortgage and afford to take out a new loan.
Can I apply for a remortgage in advance?
You can remortgage any time but consider doing so as early as possible, since you can secure a new deal six months in advance of your existing one coming to an end.
How will my loan-to-value (LTV) affect remortgaging?
LTV is the ratio of a loan to the value of the property. If you have a low LTV, you’re more likely to get better rates on mortgage deals
How can I improve my chances of getting a good remortgage deal?
Look for a new mortgage with an introductory deal (they usually last between two and five years). After that period, you’ll probably get the lender’s SVR, which is usually higher.
