Porting your mortgage

Who is this page for?

If you’ve ever wanted to know more about porting a mortgage, this page is for you. From a basic definition through to the process involved, you’ll find all the information you need around moving a current mortgage deal to a new home.

If you’re already a customer, you can find more information on porting your existing mortgage.

In this article

What is porting a mortgage?

When you move house, you may be able to move your mortgage deal as well. This is called porting a mortgage.

When you’re selling up and buying a new home, there are two main options for your current mortgage - pay it off and search for a new one, or port the deal you have over to your new home.

When porting, you won’t carry over your existing mortgage debt – as this is paid off from the sale of your house. But you may be able to carry across the interest rate you’re on and potentially other key terms of your existing deal.

How does mortgage porting work?

Mortgage porting is pretty similar to applying for a new mortgage as you’ll still need to submit a mortgage application form. Here’s how the porting process works:

  1. Reapply for your existing deal using the details of your new house and how much you’re paying for it.
  2. The property will be valued by the lender – just like if you were applying for a new deal – to check the house is worth enough for what you’re asking to borrow.
  3. A decision will be made and your lender will let you know whether you can move your mortgage deal.
  4. You’ll receive a new loan when you buy your new house and sell your old one.

The qualifying criteria for your current deal might have changed since you arranged your mortgage – check the terms to see if you are still eligible. You may not always be able to transfer the mortgage rate you currently have to a new property.

Why might you port a mortgage?

Everyone has their own preferences when it comes to moving mortgages, but there are a few factors that could mean you want to port your deal, instead of finding a new one. 

  • Keep your interest rate – Porting your mortgage could mean your new loan will have the same interest rate as your current deal.
  • No early repayment charges – Porting may mean you avoid paying early exit fees, which you may be charged with if you decide to leave for a new deal. Check your mortgage offer or contact your lender to see if this is the case.

Things to consider when porting a mortgage

As with any mortgage, it’s important to consider all your options before agreeing to port your mortgage. Some things to consider include: 

  • Changes in circumstances – Buying a more expensive or cheaper home will impact what deal is best for you, as will any changes to your income and regular outgoings.
  • Current interest rates – Make sure the interest rate you’re currently on is still the best deal for you.
  • Additional fees – These could include admin charges or early repayment charges. Check these are affordable and whether they’re likely to impact your decision.
  • What can you borrow? – Your new house may cost more than your current property, so you may need to borrow the difference on another mortgage deal. Some providers may not allow additional borrowing. 

What if you can’t port your mortgage?

If your application to port your mortgage is rejected, there are still some options you can consider.

Remortgaging

Remortgaging is another option. Check the interest rates on available deals and consider any early exit fees, early repayment fees or charges for your new home loan before deciding.

Stay where you are

If you can’t port your mortgage and are going to be hit with high fees if you move now, you may be better off staying put. The less time you have left on your current deal, the lower your exit fees and additional charges should be. In these cases, you can wait until you’re nearer the end of your mortgage deal and see if the circumstances change.

The content on this page is for reference and does not constitute finance advice.

For impartial financial advice, we recommend government bodies like the MoneyHelper.

Related pages

Find out more about mortgages.

Moving home >

Cost of moving home >

Cost of buying your first home >

Moving home checklist >

Home equity >

Calculators & tools

We have a range of mortgage calculators to help you:

  • Find out how much you could borrow from Lloyds Bank
  • See how much you could save if you make overpayments on your mortgage
  • Get an idea how a change to the Bank of England Base Rate could effect your monthly payments

Use our mortgage calculator and tools >

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