Moving home with a mortgage: a question sheet for your adviser
Before planning a move, ask what happens to your existing mortgage deal as well as what you might borrow for the next home. Take your current offer documents to an appropriately authorised mortgage adviser and ask for a written comparison of the routes considered. Do not assume that keeping a rate means approval for a different property.
This is general preparation information, not a recommendation to port, switch lender or borrow more. The lender examples below illustrate questions to ask; they describe those lenders’ arrangements and should not be treated as rules for every lender. The worksheet is a preparation aid, not an application requirement.
Start with the deal you already have
Gather your latest mortgage offer, a recent statement and any correspondence about changes to the deal. Write down what you believe the balance, remaining term and deal end date are, then ask the lender to confirm the figures relevant to your proposed move.
Nationwide’s moving-home guidance explains that porting concerns a mortgage product or deal rather than transferring the existing loan itself. Its customers must still make a new application and meet its current lending criteria. Ask your own lender which part of your arrangement, if any, could be retained.
Keep a separate list of assumptions: that your rate is portable, that the new property is acceptable, and that your finances support the application. Ask which documents or assessments would resolve each point. Treat the old offer as something to discuss rather than confirmation of a future decision.
Separate the borrowing amounts
Ask the adviser to distinguish the amount you currently owe from the amount you would need for the proposed purchase. Use provisional figures clearly labelled as estimates until the relevant parties confirm them.
Halifax’s explanation of porting says additional borrowing may mean two mortgage parts: one on the ported rate and another on a different rate. It also says borrowing less may involve an early repayment charge on the difference. These are that lender’s explanations, not a calculation for your situation.
Request a comparison showing the borrowing parts, terms, fees and total costs for each route the adviser considers. Ask which period the cost comparison covers and what could change the figures. Ask the adviser to explain additional borrowing separately rather than assuming it would have the same terms as the retained deal.
Make uncertain dates visible
Tell the adviser and conveyancer whether you expect sale and purchase to complete together, or whether there might be a gap. Give a range of possible dates rather than presenting a hoped-for date as agreed.
For customers selling before buying again, Halifax says the existing mortgage must be repaid and any applicable early repayment charges paid. It says a subsequent application with it may allow porting, but a charge refund is not guaranteed. Ask your own lender what its rules require, including any deadlines or conditions. Do not rely on another lender’s policy for your move.
Ask who needs to know when a date changes, what must be rechecked and which information should be obtained before commitments are made. Keep mortgage suitability questions with the adviser and legal transaction questions with your conveyancer. The government’s How to buy a home guide, which applies to England and Wales, distinguishes those professional roles.
Copy this appointment worksheet
| Question | Written answer to request | Still unresolved |
| Is my particular deal portable? | Relevant offer terms and current lender confirmation | Documents or checks needed |
| What is being assessed again? | Application steps and information required | Changes in circumstances |
| How would extra or reduced borrowing be treated? | Separate amounts, terms and applicable costs | Figures awaiting confirmation |
| What if the dates do not align? | Conditions, charges and any refund rules | Deadlines and person to contact |
| Which alternatives were compared? | Explanation of the comparison, its period and limitations | Questions for further advice |
For example, record “purchase date not agreed” beside a cost estimate that assumes simultaneous completion. Ask for that estimate to be revisited when the dates become clearer. Add the date and source of each answer so you can distinguish a confirmed figure from an earlier assumption.
Confirm the adviser and next steps
Use the broker comparison guide to prepare questions about service and scope. The directory is a starting point for finding firms to investigate; a listing does not verify permissions or suitability.
Use the FCA Register guidance to investigate the actual firm and contact details. If the firm is an appointed representative and its permitted activities are unclear, ask its principal to confirm them. Finish the appointment with a dated list of answers, outstanding evidence and the person responsible for each follow-up.