If you are moving home, you may be able to take your mortgage with you, but it is not guaranteed. Most UK mortgages are portable, however you still have to reapply, meet current lending rules, and get the lender’s approval. Porting keeps your existing rate, but extra borrowing usually goes on a new deal and early repayment charges can still apply in some cases. Before deciding, compare porting against switching mortgages, as changing lender can sometimes be cheaper and simpler long term.
Dec 15, 2025
Short answer: yes, many mortgages are portable.
Real answer: porting is not guaranteed, you still have to reapply, and in some cases switching mortgages is the smarter move.
If you are moving home and wondering whether you can take your mortgage with you, this guide explains how mortgage porting works, when it makes sense, when it does not, and the mistakes that catch people out.
A portable mortgage allows you to move your existing mortgage deal to a new property when you move home.
You keep the same interest rate and product terms on the amount you port, but the lender treats this as a new application, not a simple transfer.
Important point most people miss:
You are not moving the loan itself. You are applying for a new mortgage with the same deal.
That is why porting can be refused.
No.
Most standard residential mortgages are portable, but there are exceptions, including:
Always check your original mortgage offer or ask your lender directly. If the word “portable” is not clearly stated, assume it may not be allowed.
This is the process in simple terms:
If anything has changed since you last applied, such as income, job type, debts, or property type, it can affect the outcome.
Yes. This is one of the biggest misconceptions.
A lender can refuse porting if:
Even borrowers with perfect payment history can be declined.
This is why checking affordability early matters, especially if you are upsizing.
This is very common.
If your new home costs more than your current one, you usually:
This creates two mortgage parts, often with different end dates and interest rates.
That extra borrowing is assessed under current lending rules, not the rules from when you first took your mortgage.
Yes, but there is a catch.
If you move to a cheaper home and need a smaller mortgage, you may have to repay part of your loan. That repayment can trigger an Early Repayment Charge on the portion you do not port.
This is called a partial port.
Some lenders refund the charge if the purchase completes quickly. Others do not.
Always check before assuming downsizing is penalty free.
Porting does not mean free.
You may still pay:
You usually avoid a new arrangement fee on the ported part, but not always on additional borrowing.
Porting is usually worth considering if:
In these cases, keeping the rate can save a lot of money.
Switching can be smarter if:
This is where people often lose money by defaulting to porting without doing the maths.
Porting
Switching
If you are unsure which route is cheaper, run both options through a calculator and then sanity check the numbers with an adviser.
These are the mistakes that cost people thousands.
Before committing to a purchase:
If you are moving for the first time or need help understanding your options, our first time buyer team can also help explain the process clearly:
https://www.mbnm.co.uk/services/first-time-buyers
If you are reviewing deals or borrowing again, see our remortgage advice here:
https://www.mbnm.co.uk/services/remortgage
Most mortgages are portable.
That does not mean porting is always the right move.
Treat porting as one option, not the default. Do the maths, check the rules, and make sure the decision fits your next five years, not just the next move.
If you want help comparing the numbers properly, speak to someone who looks at the full market, not just your current lender.
Your home, your call.
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