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Porting your mortgage: How to take your mortgage with you when you move

  • Uncategorised
Jul 07, 2025
House buying
Whether you are looking to upsize or downsize your home, moving into a new house likely means you have an existing mortgage from a previous property. 

 

To ensure you keep the same rates, many mortgage providers allow you to ‘port’ your repayment rate when you move into your new home. 

 

Despite being a common feature in UK mortgage agreements, just over one in five Brits (22%) have ever checked whether they can port their mortgage.

 

To help those who may be thinking about their next move, we've spoken to Terry Higgins, MD at the New Homes Group, to answer the most common questions about moving with a mortgage 
 

What does porting a mortgage mean?

When moving house, you’ve got two main mortgage options to either start fresh with a new deal or "port" your existing mortgage to your new home. 

 

Porting lets you hang on to your current mortgage rate and features; however, it will technically be classified as a new mortgage, meaning you will likely need to complete a mortgage application with your existing lender.

 

Can I port my mortgage? 

Many mortgage providers in the UK offer the chance to move or ‘port’ your mortgage over to another property; however, as Terry explains, there are a few key things to consider. 

 

Terry said, “Before speaking to your lender, it's important to assess whether you’ll meet the affordability checks. Even though you're an existing customer, you'll still need to reapply to prove you can afford the new mortgage.”

 

“It's also important to consider whether your new property is more expensive, as borrowing more will likely require a top-up mortgage to match the value.”

 

How does porting a mortgage work? 

 

Terry explains: 

 

“Porting a mortgage means transferring your existing mortgage product to your new property, allowing you to keep the same repayments and retain the original interest rate you agreed to. 

 

“If your new property is more expensive, you’ll need to take out an additional loan to cover the difference, though most lenders will let you keep the terms of your original mortgage for the rest of the loan.

 

“If your new property is cheaper, you can still port the same interest rate. However, you may be charged an Early Repayment Charge on the portion of the mortgage you're not transferring.”

 

How to port your mortgage: 

1. Check if you can port your mortgage:  Have a chat with your lender to see if they offer the opportunity to port a mortgage onto a new property. Most providers allow for mortgage porting, but it’s always best to check.

 

2. Review your current financial standing: You may have had a change in your monetary circumstances, which could lead to your request to port being declined, as lenders will require a full financial check. 

 

3. Consider whether you will need to borrow more: If your new home is going to be more expensive, then it’s important to consider how much your repayments will change with additional borrowing

 

4. Contact your lender: It’s best to do this early so that you can find out early if you are going to be able to port your mortgage, as it typically takes between 1 – 3 months to get approval.

 

5. Gather your application documents: You will need the same documents you used when initially applying for a mortgage, so things like ID’s, proof of earning and proof of address will all be considered. 

 

6. Submit your application: Once you have all your documents in order, you can submit your application and wait for the response from your lender.

 

What are the benefits of porting a mortgage?

According to a David Wilson survey of 500 UK homeowners, 68% would prefer to keep their current mortgage deal in place. As Terry explains, this can be beneficial for several reasons: 

 

“If you secured favourable interest rates on your previous home, porting your mortgage could be a smart move. It allows you to continue benefiting from your current rates while potentially extending them to any additional borrowing required if your new property is more expensive.”


“Porting a mortgage can also help you avoid hefty Early Repayment Charges (ERC), which are typically applied if you end your mortgage early. These charges can range from 1% to 5% of your total mortgage amount, meaning porting could save you thousands.”

 

Are there any cons of porting a mortgage?

Porting a mortgage may not be suitable for everyone, so it is important to weigh up the pros and cons of doing so. As Terry explains, there are many factors to consider: 

 

“While there are many benefits to porting a mortgage, there are other important factors to consider. First, think about whether your financial situation has changed since your original mortgage was approved.
You’ll need to fully reapply, so a loss of income, a lower credit score, or even life changes such as having children could lead to your application being declined.


“It’s also worth keeping an eye on current interest rates, as you could be missing out on a better deal by sticking with your existing repayment plan. Your lender should be able to help you assess whether porting will save you money.


“If you're moving to a more expensive property and need to borrow more, the extra loan may be on a separate deal from your existing mortgage. This could mean having two different end dates, which might be harder to manage over time.”

 

Available schemes to help sell a home

If you’re ready to sell your home, you can benefit from unique offers and help-to-sell schemes, including: 

 

• Movemaker – With Movemaker, we’ll work with an estate agent to help you evaluate and sell your home. We’ll cover the fees. 

 

• Part Exchange – Part Exchange helps you sell your home faster because we’ll be your guaranteed buyer. This way, you won’t be part of a chain and won’t need to pay the estate agent fees.

 

•Part Exchange Xtra – We’ll put you in contact with an estate agent to facilitate the sale. If your home doesn’t sell, we’ll be your guaranteed buyer.

 

You can explore our range of new-build homes for sale, or check out our available offers, including low deposit and Help to Sell schemes.
 

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