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Working through a checklist before your current deal ends helps you avoid drifting onto your lender’s standard variable rate (SVR) by default, and gives you time to sort out anything on your credit file that might affect your options. The list below covers the practical steps most homeowners need to work through, with extra points to add if you have a CCJ, defaults, missed payments or another form of adverse credit.
Check your current deal and its end date
Find your current mortgage offer or annual statement and note down when your fixed or tracker rate ends, and whether an early repayment charge would apply if you moved before then. Many lenders let you arrange a new deal a few months ahead of the end date, often 3 to 6 months depending on the lender, so knowing this date is the starting point for the rest of the checklist.
Work out why you want to remortgage
Are you simply looking for a new rate when your current one ends, or do you want to borrow more, change the mortgage term, or add or remove someone from the mortgage? Being clear on this before you start comparing deals helps you and any adviser narrow down which lenders and products are relevant, rather than looking at everything on the market.
Check your credit file
Get your statutory credit report free from each of the main credit reference agencies and check it carefully. Look for anything you were not expecting, including old defaults, CCJs or missed payments, and check the dates recorded against them, since most negative information stays on file for 6 years from when it was recorded. Our guide on what credit score you need for a mortgage explains how lenders use this information more broadly.
Gather your documents
| Document | Why you need it |
|---|---|
| Proof of identity and address | Standard requirement for any mortgage application |
| Recent payslips or accounts | To evidence income; self-employed applicants are often asked for 2 years of accounts or an SA302, though some lenders consider 1 year |
| Bank statements | Lenders commonly check recent statements as part of affordability |
| Current mortgage statement | Shows your outstanding balance and current rate |
| Details of other debts | Needed to assess your overall outgoings and affordability |
Our guide on what documents you need to remortgage goes into more detail on each of these.
Compare a full remortgage against a product transfer
Before assuming you need to move lenders, compare a product transfer with your existing lender against remortgaging elsewhere. A product transfer is often quicker, may need less paperwork, and where you are not borrowing more, FCA rules allow lenders to switch existing customers without a full affordability reassessment (MCOB 11.6.3R). A full remortgage opens up the wider market, which can be worth it if your circumstances or credit file have improved since you last applied.
Get a decision in principle and speak to an adviser
A decision (or mortgage) in principle gives an early indication of what a lender might offer, though it is not a guarantee of a final approval. A mortgage adviser who can search across multiple lenders, including specialist ones if needed, can save you approaching lenders one by one and being declined or accepted with different terms each time.
Book your valuation and start the legal work
Once you have chosen a deal, your new lender will usually arrange a valuation, and your solicitor or conveyancer will begin the legal work needed to move the mortgage across. Many straightforward remortgages come with a free legal package included in the deal, so check whether this applies before assuming you need to pay separately. Our guide on whether you need a valuation to remortgage and whether you need a solicitor covers both steps in more detail, including what happens if a valuation comes back lower than expected.
What to add to your checklist with bad credit
If you have adverse credit, a few extra checks are worth adding to the list above:
- Know exactly what is recorded and when it happened. The type, amount and age of an entry all affect how a lender views it, so specifics matter more than a general sense that “something is wrong” on your file.
- Check whether anything is close to dropping off. Since most negative information clears after 6 years, waiting a short time can sometimes open up more options, though this is a personal decision to weigh against your other reasons for remortgaging.
- Ask about a product transfer specifically. If your current lender already knows your history, staying put without a full reassessment may be more realistic than moving to a new lender straight away.
- Speak to a specialist adviser early. Someone experienced with self-employed applicants or adverse credit cases can point you toward lenders that are more likely to consider your situation, rather than you working through the checklist alone.
- Get free debt advice if debts are the underlying issue. If arrears or missed payments have come from a wider struggle to manage money, National Debtline and StepChange offer free, independent help, and speaking to your current lender early about your situation is worth doing regardless of whether you remortgage.
Working through this list does not guarantee any particular outcome, but it puts you in a much stronger position than approaching a remortgage without preparation, especially where your credit history means each detail can matter more.
Frequently asked questions
How early should I start my remortgage checklist?
Many people start working through a checklist around 3 to 6 months before their current deal ends, since this is often when new deals become available to arrange in advance. Starting earlier gives you more time to sort out your credit file or gather documents if anything needs work.
What is the first thing to check before remortgaging?
Check your current mortgage paperwork for its end date and any early repayment charge (ERC) that would apply if you remortgaged before the deal finishes. This tells you your realistic timing and stops you from accidentally paying a charge that outweighs any benefit of switching early.
Do I need to check my credit file before remortgaging?
It is worth it. Checking your statutory credit report for free lets you see exactly what a lender will see, including anything you may have forgotten about, before you apply rather than being surprised partway through. It also gives you a chance to check the details are accurate before a lender sees them.
Should bad credit change my remortgage checklist?
Yes, mainly by adding steps: checking exactly what is on your file and when it will drop off, comparing a product transfer against a full remortgage, and considering whether a specialist adviser would suit your situation better than approaching mainstream lenders directly. It is also worth checking whether debts sit behind the credit issue, since free debt advice can help before you take on more borrowing.