Can I take my current mortgage with me?

Sometimes arrangements can be portable, subject to a lender's own assessment and criteria. Ask a qualified adviser and your lender directly.

Do I need all my paperwork again?

Usually yes, and it typically needs to be current. Our checklist builder produces a printable starting list.

Preparation hub

Preparing to move home

Moving usually means running two processes at once: ending one mortgage arrangement and preparing a new application. This hub focuses on what to organise and clarify in advance.

Build my document checklist Explore preparation guides

What to focus on

Six areas worth organising first

Educational preparation areas, not requirements. Every lender sets its own criteria and only a qualified adviser can tell you what matters in your case.

Existing mortgage terms

Locate your current mortgage paperwork and note the product end date and any early repayment charge conditions.

Equity and LTV

Understand how an estimated sale price and outstanding balance affect the loan-to-value of your next application.

Chain and timing

Map the sequence you expect, and where delays commonly arise, so your preparation is not the bottleneck.

Updated income evidence

Refresh payslips, tax documents and statements — evidence from a previous application is usually out of date.

Costs of moving

List legal fees, estate agent fees, surveys, removals and any product fees separately.

Portability questions

Note questions about whether an existing arrangement could move with you, for an adviser to answer.

Guides for this situation

Read these next

Each guide covers what tends to be asked for, what varies and which questions are worth taking to a qualified adviser.

Documents · 8 min

What documents are usually needed for a mortgage application?

A plain-English list of the paperwork commonly requested during a UK mortgage application, how to organise it and what to confirm with a qualified adviser.

Deposit & LTV · 6 min

Understanding loan-to-value (LTV)

What loan-to-value means, how to calculate it, and why the percentage matters when preparing for a UK mortgage application. Educational only — no product recommendations.

Income · 7 min

New job or on probation before a mortgage application

Changing jobs does not create a universal waiting period. What facts and documents you can organise now if you have just started a role, are on probation, have a future start date or work on a contract. Educational only.

Applications · 7 min

Joint applications: three things people mix up

Separating the mortgage application, credit-file financial association and legal property ownership when two or more people prepare together in the UK. Educational only.

Planning · 8 min

A 90-day mortgage preparation framework

A Before You Apply organisational framework for getting your own information in order before a UK mortgage conversation. It is not a lender timetable, a legal timetable or a prediction of how long anything takes.

Documents · 7 min

Bank statements: what to review before you apply

Why bank statements may be requested during a UK mortgage application, how to reconcile your own statements against what you have declared, and what to confirm with your lender or a qualified adviser.

Preparation tools

Work it through yourself

Free educational tools. Nothing is submitted to a lender and no credit search is performed.

Readiness checker
Broad preparation questions, educational result bands
LTV calculator
Work out loan-to-value from value and loan amount
Document checklist builder
Build a printable paperwork list
Application timeline
Educational milestones from a target month

An optional resource for this situation

Optional educational preparation resources. Nothing here is mortgage advice, a lender or product recommendation, an eligibility assessment or a prediction of whether an application would be accepted.

Mortgage Preparation Starter Checklist — free
A one-page starting point for the paperwork most people are asked for.
Readiness checker
Eight broad preparation questions. It never says whether you would be eligible, approved or declined.
All-Access Preparation Bundle — £19.99
A preparation resource, not mortgage advice or a lender recommendation. Purchases are not switched on yet.

Browse all resources

Common questions

Questions people ask at this stage

Can I take my current mortgage with me?: Sometimes arrangements can be portable, subject to a lender's own assessment and criteria. Ask a qualified adviser and your lender directly.
Do I need all my paperwork again?: Usually yes, and it typically needs to be current. Our checklist builder produces a printable starting list.

Independent advice

When you need personal advice

Preparation and advice are two different things. We can help you get organised; only a suitably qualified, FCA-authorised mortgage adviser can advise you on your own circumstances, assess what you may be able to borrow or recommend a product.

Before You Apply is not authorised or regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and is not a mortgage adviser, broker or lender. We provide educational preparation resources only. We do not give mortgage advice, recommend lenders or products, assess eligibility, arrange mortgages or introduce you to advisers. If you need advice about your own circumstances, contact a suitably qualified FCA-authorised mortgage adviser directly.

Choose and contact an adviser independently. We do not introduce you to anyone, name any firm or receive any payment for anyone you contact.
You can check whether a firm or individual is authorised on the Financial Conduct Authority’s public register before you share any information.
Take your prepared documents and written questions with you — that is what this site is for.

Questions to ask an adviser Build your document checklist

What this hub does not do

It does not assess eligibility, estimate what you could borrow, compare or recommend lenders or products, arrange a mortgage or introduce you to an adviser. Those are regulated activities and Before You Apply is not FCA authorised.