Remortgage Time in 2026: Why Comparing the Market Matters
Convenience is not the same as value
When your fixed rate ends, your existing lender will often offer a quick route onto a new deal, sometimes with minimal admin. That convenience can be appealing, especially if you want a smooth process.
But convenience is not the same as value. If you only look at your current lender’s offer, you are only seeing one slice of the market. In a competitive environment, that can mean missing out on better pricing, lower fees, or a mortgage structure that suits your plans more closely.
Why “just switching with your lender” can be misleading
Many lenders understandably want to keep existing customers. Product transfers can reduce churn and make refinancing easier for borrowers.
However, lender retention offers are not designed to prove they are best in the market. They reflect what one lender is willing to offer you at that moment, based on its pricing strategy and appetite for lending.
MoneyfactsCompare’s mortgage rate reporting shows that market pricing moves over time and that the average cost of borrowing is influenced by funding conditions and competition. Even when average rates improve, there can still be meaningful differences between lenders and products.
https://moneyfactscompare.co.uk/news/mortgages/average-rates-at-lowest-level-since-september-2022/
Small differences can add up over a fixed term
Mortgage decisions can feel like they come down to small numbers, but even minor changes to rate or fees can have significant impact over years. This is one reason shopping around is often worthwhile, not to chase a perfect deal, but to understand whether the offer in front of you is genuinely competitive.
MoneySavingExpert’s remortgaging hub and guides encourage borrowers to compare across the market, including broker and direct-only deals, and to think carefully about fees and timings, rather than accepting a renewal offer automatically.
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/remortgaging/
When switching can be worth the extra effort
Switching lenders can involve additional checks, valuations, or legal steps. But it can also open access to a wider range of products and pricing.
In practice, switching may be particularly relevant if your circumstances have improved since your last mortgage, if your loan to value has changed, or if you want different product features than your existing lender offers.
When staying put can still be the right choice
There are also times when staying with your current lender is sensible, for example if their offer is genuinely competitive, or if your current circumstances would make a new application more difficult.
The key is ensuring that staying is a conscious choice, based on comparison, rather than the default option.
A reminder about SVR risk if you do nothing
One important point is what happens if you do nothing at the end of a fixed period.
MoneySuperMarket explains that when a fixed term ends, borrowers are typically moved automatically onto their lender’s standard variable rate, which is usually higher, meaning monthly repayments can rise materially.
https://www.moneysupermarket.com/mortgages/what-happens-when-my-fixed-rate-mortgage-ends/
This is why many borrowers start reviewing options months before their current deal ends, so they can compare terms and fees without time pressure.
How Altura can help you compare properly
At Altura Mortgage Finance, we help clients compare their lender’s renewal offer against the wider market, so the final decision is based on evidence, not assumption. Whether you stay with your current lender or switch, the aim is to make sure the deal fits your plans and remains competitive.
If your fixed rate is ending in 2026, get in touch with Altura Mortgage Finance to review your position, or explore our Insights for more practical guidance.
Your home or property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage or any other debt secured on it. Think carefully before securing other debts against your home. The guidance and/or advice contained within the website is subject to the UK regulatory regime and is therefore primarily targeted at customers in the UK. Altura Mortgage Finance Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Firm Registration No: 827849 www.fsa.gov.uk/register/home.
