Moving With Your Mortgage
Moving With
Your Mortgage
Thinking of moving home or upsizing? Explore moving home mortgages with our team, who can help you find the right deals and support you throughout.
Moving Home Mortgages: Where to Start
Before buying a new home, it’s important to understand the finer details of your existing mortgage, the level of equity held in the current property, and how your affordability might change.
Simply speak to one of our advisors at UK Mortgage Centre – we’ll be happy to review your current mortgage arrangement.
This includes identifying any Early Repayment Charges (ERCs) and assessing whether an existing mortgage can be ported and topped up for a new property, or whether taking out a new mortgage with a different lender may be more suitable.
Once we’ve clearly explained all available options, you’ll be able to make an informed decision about moving home mortgages, supported by expert advice from our genuinely helpful team of professionals.
moving home guide
What Are My Mortgage Options When Moving?
Porting a Mortgage When Moving Home
Eager to take your current mortgage deal with you?
Mortgage porting allows an existing mortgage to be transferred from a current property to a new one when moving home.
While the product itself may be portable, the borrower will still need to submit a full application and go through an affordability assessment with a lender.
If the new property is more expensive, it may be necessary to borrow additional funds.
In these cases, the lender might offer a separate mortgage for the extra amount, which could be subject to an arrangement fee and potentially different terms from the original loan.
Choosing A New Mortgage Deal
Looking for a change in home and mortgage arrangement?
An alternative option when moving home is to replace the existing mortgage entirely. This may involve borrowing more and arranging a new mortgage either with the current lender, or with a new one. However, changing a mortgage before the end of its agreed term may result in ERCs.
There may also be additional costs to consider, for example exit fees on the existing mortgage, as well as arrangement and valuation fees for the new mortgage. Don’t worry; we can help you to figure out which option is right for your circumstances.
We search 1000’s of products to find the best deal for you
Why choose UKMC to explore moving home mortgages?
Simple, Straightforward Approach
Simple, Straightforward ApproachWe make the moving home mortgages process easy to understand. From start to finish, we’ll guide you through every step of buying your first home, leaving you free to think about the fun parts, like choosing furniture, décor, or working out where the TV goes.
Thousands of Products
Thousands of Products We search the whole market, comparing thousands of moving home mortgages. Whether your income has changed or your deposit is smaller than expected, we’ll find a solution that fits your situation.
Dedicated Case Manager
Dedicated Case Manager From your first call, you’ll have a dedicated mortgage advisor and case manager. They’ll liaise with lenders, surveyors, and solicitors on your behalf, making the process smoother and saving you time.
Free Property Insights and Reports
Free Property Insights and Reports With our online portal, you can quickly access detailed reports about your chosen property, making it easier to make informed decisions.
Reports include:
- Energy efficiency rating – Know how much your bills might be
- Local property trends – See prices in your postcode and compare similar homes
- Area insights – Find out about crime rates, common professions, and property types nearby
- Environmental info – Flood risk, geology, radon, and nearby infrastructure projects
Plus, our handy home-buying checklist keeps you organised at every step.
Flexible Appointment Options
Flexible Appointment Options Life can be hectic, and we get it, especially if you’re juggling a 9–5.
That’s why we offer late-night appointments five days a week. We’ll work around your schedule, so getting advice on moving home mortgages is easy and stress-free.
The Moving Home Process
Moving home mortgages can be a complex journey but with clear guidance, it becomes far more manageable. UK Mortgage Centre supports clients at every stage of the moving process, helping them to understand their options, navigate paperwork and make decisions with confidence and clarity.
1. Contact an Estate Agent
Clients begin by appointing a chosen estate agent, who assists in preparing the current property for sale. This includes confirming the valuation, ensuring an up‑to‑date Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) and arranging professional images to present the home effectively on the market.
2. Contact a Mortgage Adviser
Early contact with a UKMC mortgage adviser ensures clients understand your mortgage options and affordability before progressing further. Expert advice at this stage provides clarity on the most suitable approach for your circumstances.
3. Obtain an Agreement in Principle (AIP)
We arrange an Agreement in Principle with your chosen lender. An AIP confirms, subject to checks, the amount the lender is willing to offer, helping strengthen an offer to buy a new property.
4. Search for a New Property
With an AIP in place, you can start your property search through estate agents or online portals and begin viewing potential homes that meet your needs and budget.
5. Offer Accepted and Legal Work Begins
Once an offer on a property is accepted, you will need to appoint a solicitor to manage the legal process, including searches and title checks. Our advisers can recommend solicitors, where needed, and coordinate with them throughout.
6. Formal Mortgage Application
We submit the formal mortgage application to the lender. Additional documentation such as payslips and bank statements may be required at this stage. We make sure to keep clients informed throughout the process.
7. Exchange and Completion
When conveyancing is complete and contracts are agreed, exchange and completion dates are confirmed. On completion, ownership of the property transfers and you will get the keys to your new home. Your adviser remain available throughout to provide support and answer questions as needed.
6. Mortgage Offer Issued
Once the lender formally approves the mortgage, a mortgage offer is issued. Copies are shared with you and your solicitor so that legal work and conveyancing can progress towards completion.
what our clients saying about us
At the end of my tether I was introduced to Sam from UKMC.
Previous advisors had failed to find me any deals worth looking at and I was feeling most despondent. Destined to continue paying waaaay too much for my mortgage.
Creative Director, TUX Creative Co
At the end of my tether I was introduced to Sam from UKMC.
Previous advisors had failed to find me any deals worth looking at and I was feeling most despondent. Destined to continue paying waaaay too much for my mortgage.
Independent Art Director
At the end of my tether I was introduced to Sam from UKMC.
Previous advisors had failed to find me any deals worth looking at and I was feeling most despondent. Destined to continue paying waaaay too much for my mortgage.
Creative Developer, Studio Gusto
Frequently asked questions
Got questions? Let’s answer them
Do I need to get a new mortgage when I move home?
In short – no you don’t.
However, when moving house, we suggest looking at both your existing deal and a new deal with a new lender. You can compare the two and work out which is better for YOU.
Adding up the fees associated with taking out a new mortgage, such as a product fee, and then comparing it to the cost of leaving your existing mortgage can help you identify which is the better option.
You may find the additional fees cost less than the extra interest you would pay with your current mortgage. Equally, you may find it is much more cost effective to stay with your current deal.
Can I stay with my current mortgage lender when I move?
Yes. In fact, a lot of people do.
The reason this works for some people is if you have recently just taken out a new mortgage product – it might have some hefty Early Repayment Charges (ERCs). You can avoid these if you take your current mortgage with you and then top-up (if needed!)
In some cases, though, current interest rates might mean you’ll get a better deal – so it’s worth considering both options with an advisor and seeing which is the most cost-effective for you.
How much can I borrow when moving house?
Typically, you’ll be able to borrow between 4 and 4.5 times your gross annual income to put towards purchasing a new home. However, this varies depending on your affordability.
A mortgage calculator (like the one at the top of this page!) can be incredibly helpful for understanding how much you may be able to borrow when moving house. After using the calculator, applying for a mortgage in principle is often the next step.
What is a mortgage in principle for moving home?
A mortgage in principle (also known as an agreement in principle) shows you how much you would potentially be able to borrow to purchase a home, before you formally apply for mortgage from a lender.
How long will my mortgage in principle last for?
This is a question we tick off right at the start of the process with our clients.
A mortgage in principle typically lasts between 30 and 90 days, while a mortgage offer – which is the lender agreeing to grant you the funds towards the purchase – lasts significantly longer.
Typically, with high-street lenders this can last for around 6 months on a standard home purchase.
If you’re buying a new build and the development takes a little longer, some lenders will actually allow your mortgage offer up to 9 (and in some cases 12) months before it runs out.
So, it gives you plenty of time from the moment a mortgage offer is approved to make sure the rest of the home-buying chain can get sorted too.
Can I use equity as a deposit for moving a house?
Yes, it’s actually very common for homeowners to use equity as a deposit for moving to a new home as this allows you to lower the borrowing amount for your new mortgage.
When should I contact an advisor once I know I want to move?
Before you start looking into your next home purchase, it’s important to understand your existing mortgage contract, the potential equity your property has and all the future mortgage considerations.
By working with an advisor, they’ll help you understand if there are any Early Repayment Charges on your current mortgage, if it’s better to port your existing deal and top-up your mortgage onto the new property, if it’s better to take a new mortgage out with a new lender, or to just make some overall changes.
By working with a local mortgage advisor, it’ll give you peace of mind and confidence in the next steps you’re about to take.
How long does it take to move home?
The length of time it takes to move home can be affected by so many different things!
A typically straightforward sale and purchase can take anywhere between 3-4 months. This could take longer if you’re in a large chain of house purchases, or if one person decides to withdraw from a purchase in your chain – you could all be delayed.
In order to help keep your part of the chain running smoothly, it’s really important before you get looking at new houses, you have everything in order ready to make an offer.
It’s also super important to choose a reliable Estate Agent that will help find you a buyer in double quick time and they will give you hints and tips on how to sell your home quickly.
