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Home movers

Moving on, without losing the deal you already have

Port it, top it up or start fresh. We work out which of those three actually leaves you better off, then keep the whole chain moving.

Three routes

Porting is not automatically the right answer

If you are inside a fixed rate, porting it to the new property avoids the early repayment charge. That sounds like the obvious move, and quite often it is not.

Porting means re-applying to your existing lender and passing their current affordability rules. If you need to borrow more, the extra usually sits on a separate rate. Sometimes paying the charge and moving lender entirely works out cheaper. We run both.

A large British brick house with two garage doors
What we handle

The moving parts of a move

A house move is two transactions bolted together, and the mortgage sits in the middle of both.

Porting your current deal

We check whether your lender will let you take the rate with you, and whether you still fit their criteria today.

Borrowing more

Additional borrowing for a bigger place, priced and stress tested properly, whether it sits with your lender or a new one.

Early repayment charges

We calculate the exact charge and weigh it against the saving from moving lender. Often the maths is closer than people expect.

Chain timing

Completion dates that line up, funds released when they need to be, and a lender who has already seen the paperwork.

Let to buy

Keeping the old place as a rental and buying the next one. Two applications, and they have to work together.

Stamp duty on the move

Including the surcharge trap if you complete on the new home before selling the old one, and how to reclaim it.

Worth knowing

Where home movers get caught out

These four come up again and again, and all four are avoidable with a bit of warning.

  • Your old lender re-assesses youPorting is a new application. If your income has dropped or your commitments have grown since, you may not fit the same lender any more.
  • Two rates on one mortgagePort the old deal and the extra borrowing usually sits on a separate product with its own end date. That can complicate the next remortgage.
  • The stamp duty surcharge trapComplete on the new home before selling the old one and you pay the additional property rates. It is reclaimable if you sell within three years.
  • Offers expireMortgage offers typically last three to six months. Long chains can outrun them, and an expired offer means re-applying at current rates.
A bright British living room with a dining table
How it works

How a move works with us

Step 01

Review what you have

We pull the details of your existing mortgage, the early repayment charge and the porting rules, then work out your real budget for the next place.

Step 02

Compare port against switch

Two full illustrations, side by side, including the charge. You see the actual cost of each route rather than a rule of thumb.

Step 03

Run it to completion

We manage the application, the valuation and the lender, and keep your solicitor and the chain in step until the keys change hands.

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

Can I take my mortgage with me?
Most residential mortgages are portable, but portability is a feature of the product and not a right. You still have to pass the lender's current affordability and credit checks, and the new property has to be acceptable security. We check all three before you commit to anything.
What happens if I am borrowing more?
The additional amount is a separate application. Your existing lender may offer it on one of their current products, so you end up with two sub-accounts at different rates and often different end dates. A whole of market comparison sometimes shows a single new mortgage is simpler and cheaper.
How much is the early repayment charge?
Usually one to five percent of the balance, tapering as you move through the fixed period. On a £200,000 balance a three percent charge is £6,000, which is often less than people assume when weighed against a materially better rate over five years.
Can I buy before I sell?
Yes, through a bridging loan or a let to buy arrangement, though both are more expensive than a standard move. If you complete on the new home while still owning the old one you will pay the additional property stamp duty rates, reclaimable if you sell within three years.
What if my move falls through?
It happens, and it is not the end of the road. Mortgage offers usually survive a few weeks while you find another property, and where an offer has expired we re-apply. There is no additional fee from us for doing that.
Important. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.
Let's talk

Work out your best route

A short, friendly chat is all it takes to see what you could save. No jargon, no pressure, just clear advice.