Moving house, not starting over

A home mover mortgage is simply a mortgage taken out when you sell your current home and buy a new one. It can mean porting your existing mortgage deal to the new property, or applying for a brand new mortgage and paying off the old one.

Most lenders allow you to port your fixed rate to a new property, which means you avoid early repayment charges and keep your current rate — though you'll still need to pass affordability checks for any extra borrowing.

If your current deal no longer suits — or you're borrowing more — a new mortgage may be the better option. We compare both routes so you move with the cheapest, most flexible deal for your situation.

Porting lets you take your current mortgage — and its rate — to your new home, avoiding early repayment charges if you're still within a fixed period. It's often the cheapest option when rates have risen since you took your deal.

You'll need your lender's approval, and they'll reassess affordability on the new property. If you're borrowing more, the additional amount usually goes on a separate rate alongside your ported one.

Porting isn't guaranteed — some lenders restrict it to specific circumstances or don't allow it at all. We'll check your lender's policy early so you know your options before you commit to a sale.

If your new home costs more than your current one sells for, you'll need to borrow more. Lenders assess affordability on the new, higher amount, factoring in your income, outgoings and the equity you're putting down.

The deposit from your sale — plus any savings — determines your loan-to-value on the new property. A larger deposit unlocks better rates, so we'll help you model different scenarios before you set your budget.

If you're upsizing significantly, we can also look at longer terms, offset products, or joint borrower sole proprietor arrangements to make the numbers work.

Moving usually means selling and buying at the same time, and the mortgage on both needs to line up. We coordinate with your solicitor and the other parties so your ported or new mortgage completes in step with your sale.

If there's a gap between selling and buying, we can arrange short-term bridging or a let-to-buy mortgage so you're not forced into a rushed purchase or a temporary rental.

We'll also flag timing risks — a delayed sale can mean losing your new home, so we keep the finance ready to go and advise on how long your mortgage offer is valid for.