What is remortgaging?

Remortgaging is the process of changing your existing mortgage. This could be with your current lender, or you could switch to a new one.

You might choose to do this for a number of reasons, including to find a better deal, because your current mortgage is coming to an end, to reduce your monthly payments and free up your finances, or to release equity in your home and use it to repay debts.

Should I remortgage my home for debt relief?

One of the reasons people with outstanding debts remortgage is to release equity in their home, or reduce their monthly payments, freeing up their finances to repay other debts. Using a remortgage for debt consolidation in this way can be beneficial as it allows you to keep your home while keeping on top of other outstanding debts.

However, remortgaging might not always be the best option and it’s important to seek financial advice from an approved advisor before making the decision to remortgage to consolidate debt.

What is equity?

Equity is the amount of your home that you own outright, based on how much of your mortgage has already been paid off.

For example, if your home is worth £200,000, and you’ve already paid a quarter of your mortgage repayments, the equity in your home would be £50,000.

By remortgaging your home, you can release the value that you own, and use it to pay off outstanding debt balances.

Remortgaging Pros and Cons

There are many reasons why you might want to remortgage your home. So, make sure to consider the pros and cons below before making your final decision.

How do I apply for a remortgage?

Releasing equity in your home involves requesting an increase to your mortgage repayments for the amount of equity you wish to release. This release can be done either between you and your existing mortgage provider or with a new lender.

The current equity value in your home is added to the outstanding amount left on your mortgage payments. So, if your home is worth £200,000, you have £150,000 left outstanding, and you want to take out £30,000, your remortgage amount will be £180,000.

How much equity can I release?

Generally, the amount of equity you can release in your home depends on factors such as your income, affordability, and credit rating.

An online remortgage calculator can tell you roughly what you can expect to release from your home based on these factors.

You might choose to release equity for a variety of reasons, including:

• Repaying short-term debts
• Funding renovations
• Paying off unsecured debts
• Putting money into a business

What’s the difference between releasing equity and equity release?

It’s important to know the difference between releasing equity and an equity release. An equity release allows homeowners aged 55+ to release the money currently tied up in their home as a tax-free lump sum, in exchange for part of the value. This amount is borrowed and paid back when the last homeowner either dies or moves into permanent, long-term care.

Do I need a good credit score to remortgage?

When applying to remortgage, a new lender will be sure to check your credit score before offering you a rate. Your eligibility for a good remortgage deal will depend on the results of this initial score.

It’s advised that you should begin making plans to improve or work towards raising your credit score a year before you apply for remortgaging.

While you can still apply for a mortgage with a lower credit score, you may be offered a higher rate and an overall worse deal, so be sure to investigate your options fully.

What are the alternatives to remortgaging for debt repayments?

Whilst remortgaging can be a great option to repay your unsecured or outstanding debts, there are considerations you should keep in mind. Depending on the equity currently available in your property, you may find the extended debt repayments taken out on your home make your repayments higher in the long run.

In some circumstances, it could be better to take out a personal loan, use a low-rate credit card to pay off your debts, or enter into a debt solution.

In all instances, it is always best to speak to an approved advisor before deciding which option is best for you.