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Yes, you may be able to take your current mortgage deal to another property if your mortgage is portable and your lender approves the new application. This is known as mortgage porting. However, a portable mortgage does not guarantee approval. Your mortgage lender will normally reassess your income, affordability, credit position, the new property and the amount you need to borrow. If you are asking, “can I transfer my mortgage to another property?”, it is also important to understand what is actually being ported. In most cases, you are not simply moving the same mortgage loan unchanged from one property to another. The existing mortgage is usually redeemed when you sell, while the lender may allow you to carry your current mortgage product or rate onto the new borrowing. In this guide, our expert conveyancing solicitors explain: What Is Mortgage Porting? Mortgage porting is the process of carrying your existing mortgage product onto borrowing secured against a new property. Depending on your lender and mortgage terms, this may allow you to keep: However, porting does not usually mean the same mortgage loan simply moves unchanged from one property to another. When you sell your current home, the mortgage secured against it is normally redeemed as part of the conveyancing when selling your property. You then take out borrowing secured against the new property. If your mortgage lender approves the port, your existing product or rate may be applied to some or all of that new borrowing. You will usually still need a new mortgage application. You must also satisfy the lender’s current criteria before the port can go ahead. Can I Port My Mortgage to Another Property? Possibly, but a portable mortgage does not guarantee that your lender will approve the move. If you are asking “can I port my mortgage?”, start by checking: Your mortgage lender will normally reassess the transaction under its current lending criteria. This can include: The legal work for the new home will also continue through the normal property purchase conveyancing process. This means a mortgage can be portable while the porting application itself is still refused. Your circumstances or the lender’s criteria may have changed since your original application. If you are moving home, TBI Conveyancing can handle the legal sale and purchase work alongside your mortgage arrangements. How Does Porting a Mortgage Work? Porting a mortgage usually means applying to carry your existing mortgage product onto borrowing secured against your new home. Your lender will reassess you and the new property before deciding whether to approve the port. The mortgage porting process typically works like this: 1. Check Whether Your Mortgage Is Portable Review your mortgage terms and product conditions first. You can also speak to your mortgage lender or adviser to confirm whether porting is available. 2. Apply to Port the Mortgage You will normally need to make a new mortgage application. The lender then assesses whether you still meet its current lending criteria. 3. Complete Affordability and Credit Checks Your lender will review your current income, outgoings and credit position. It will not rely only on the checks completed when you first took out the mortgage. 4. The Lender Values the New Property The new property must also meet the lender’s requirements. A valuation helps confirm whether it is suitable security for the borrowing. 5. Receive the Mortgage Offer If approved, the lender issues a mortgage offer for the new property. This sets out the borrowing and any ported product terms. 6. Complete the Sale and Purchase Your existing mortgage is usually redeemed from the sale proceeds. The new mortgage then completes against the property you are buying. 7. Register the New Mortgage After completion, your conveyancer registers your ownership and the lender’s legal charge with HM Land Registry. In practice, porting still involves a fresh lending decision, a new mortgage offer and the usual legal work needed to complete the move. Can I Port a Fixed-Rate Mortgage? Many fixed-rate mortgage products are portable, but this depends on the lender and the terms of your mortgage. Porting can be particularly useful if you are still within a fixed-rate period. Taking a completely new mortgage instead could otherwise trigger an early repayment charge. However, being able to port the product does not guarantee approval. Your lender will usually: If you need to borrow more for the new property, that extra amount may be placed on a different mortgage product or interest rate. Can I Port My Mortgage to a More Expensive Property? Yes, potentially, but you may need additional borrowing to complete the purchase. For example, imagine you have £180,000 outstanding on your current mortgage, but need £240,000 for the new home. If your lender approves the move: That extra borrowing could have a different interest rate, product end date, fee structure or set of terms. This can leave you with more than one mortgage product part running at the same time. Your lender will assess affordability based on the full £240,000 borrowing requirement, not just the amount being ported. Approval is therefore not automatic. The lender must be satisfied that you can afford the total borrowing and that the new property meets its lending criteria. Can I Port My Mortgage to a Cheaper Property? Yes, porting to a cheaper property may be possible, but the borrowing structure can change. If you need a smaller mortgage for the new home, part of your existing mortgage balance may need to be repaid. For example, if you currently owe £200,000 but only need £160,000 on the new property, you may not be able to port the full amount. Depending on your mortgage terms, repaying the unused portion could trigger an early repayment charge. The cheaper property will also change your loan-to-value ratio. Your lender will reassess the new property, the amount being borrowed and your overall circumstances before approving the port. Can I Port My Mortgage and Borrow More? Yes, some lenders allow you to port your existing mortgage product and take additional

If your property is registered with HM Land Registry, you can usually obtain the key ownership information directly from HM Land Registry. You do not normally need an old bundle of physical house deeds to prove that you own the property. Modern registered ownership works differently from the historic paper-deed system. Most registered properties have a digital title register, and you can also obtain a title plan. Old title deeds may still exist, but they could be held by you, a previous solicitor, a conveyancer or a mortgage lender. For example, you might have paid off your mortgage and expected your lender to send you a folder of original deeds. If nothing arrives, that does not automatically mean anything is wrong with your title. This is the type of concern we regularly help homeowners understand at TBI Conveyancing. Our role is to explain what the Land Registry records mean, identify whether anything is actually missing, and guide you through the next legal steps in plain English. Unregistered properties are different. In those cases, original documents can be much more important when proving ownership. In this guide, we explain: If your paperwork is unclear or you are unsure what you actually need, we’ll help you make sense of the title position and explain what to do next. What Are House Deeds? House deeds, often called title deeds or property deeds, are legal documents connected with the ownership and history of a property. They can include older documents showing: For a registered property, much of the important ownership information is now recorded by HM Land Registry. That means owning a house does not necessarily mean you should have one single document labelled “the deeds”. Instead, the modern evidence of ownership is usually the registered title, supported by the title register, title plan and any relevant filed documents. Older paper deeds can still be useful, but they are not always the main proof of ownership for a registered property. You can also learn more about what mortgage deeds are in this guide. What Is a Title Register? A title register is the main HM Land Registry record for a registered property. It records the key legal information connected with that title. Depending on the property, it can include: The register is an important modern ownership record, but it does not necessarily contain every historic detail about the property. Some older documents may be referred to separately within the register. What Is a Title Plan? A title plan is an HM Land Registry plan showing the location and general extent of a registered title. It is usually read alongside the title register and can help identify the land included within the registration. However, a title plan should not automatically be treated as a precise survey of the legal property boundaries. HM Land Registry plans generally show boundaries in a more general way. Homeowners may obtain both the title register and title plan when checking ownership information, the extent of the registered property or details connected with a future sale or legal transaction. How Do I Get the Deeds to My House? If your property is registered, you can usually get the key ownership documents through HM Land Registry. The process is straightforward: 1. Check Whether Your Property Is Registered Most properties in England and Wales are registered with HM Land Registry. If your property is registered, the title information is usually held electronically rather than relying on old paper deeds. 2. Search for Your Property Online Use the HM Land Registry Search for land and property information service on GOV.UK. You will need to sign in or create sign-in details if you do not already have them. You can then search for the property using its address and select the correct result. The service can show a free property summary. From there, you can choose whether you also want the title register or title plan. 3. Obtain the Title Register The title register contains the main legal information about the property. It can show the registered owner, title number, tenure, mortgages, restrictions and certain rights affecting the property. 4. Obtain the Title Plan if Needed The title plan shows the location and general extent of the registered property. It is often useful alongside the register when checking the land included within the title. 5. Order an Official Copy When Formal Evidence Is Required A standard online copy is useful for checking property information, but it cannot be used as formal proof of ownership. If you need legally admissible evidence, such as for court proceedings, you will need to order an official copy from HM Land Registry. Official copies are ordered separately rather than downloaded through the normal online service. 6. Check Whether Other Deeds Are Mentioned The title register may refer to older transfers, conveyances or other deeds containing additional information. If HM Land Registry has retained one of these documents, the register may indicate that it has been “filed”. A copy may then be obtainable separately. The important point is that getting your modern title information is not necessarily the same as obtaining every original historic deed connected with the property. Where Are the Original Deeds to My House? The original deeds to your house could be held in several places, depending on the property’s history and how it was registered. Possible holders include: If you are wondering where your title deeds are, it is worth checking old purchase paperwork first. You can then contact the conveyancing solicitor or mortgage lender involved in the transaction. For a registered property, not having the original title deeds does not usually mean there is a problem with ownership. HM Land Registry’s registered title is generally the main modern ownership record. Historic deeds can still be useful, though. They may contain older plans, rights, covenants or other details that are not reproduced in full on the title register. So, the answer to who holds the deeds to my house depends largely on the property’s individual history.

With a typical lifetime mortgage, the outstanding loan and accrued interest usually become repayable when the last borrower dies or permanently moves into long-term care. The equity release provider should then be notified, and the estate’s personal representatives will need to arrange repayment. The property is commonly sold to repay the lifetime mortgage. However, selling is not always the only option. Beneficiaries may be able to keep the property if they can repay the outstanding debt another way. If the plan is held jointly, the position is different. The lifetime mortgage will normally continue after the first borrower dies. Repayment is usually triggered when the surviving borrower dies or permanently enters long-term care, subject to the plan terms. Any money left after repaying the mortgage, sale costs and other estate liabilities remains part of the estate. It can then be distributed under the Will or intestacy rules. At TBI Conveyancing, our specialist property team deals with equity release and lifetime mortgage legal work across England and Wales. We understand the questions these arrangements can create for borrowers, executors and families. In this guide, we explain: We’ll also explain the role of a conveyancing solicitor when the lifetime mortgage needs to be repaid and the property is sold. What Happens to Equity Release When Someone Dies? When someone dies with a lifetime mortgage, the loan does not disappear. It usually needs to be repaid from the estate, subject to the terms of the plan. The process will typically look like this: The exact process depends on the plan terms, whether the mortgage was joint or individual, and how the family intends to repay the debt. When Does a Lifetime Mortgage Become Repayable After Death? With a single-borrower lifetime mortgage, the loan will normally become repayable after the borrower dies. The lender will then expect the estate to arrange repayment under the terms of the plan. With a joint lifetime mortgage, the position is different. The loan will usually remain in place after the first borrower dies. It normally becomes repayable when the last surviving borrower dies or permanently moves into long-term care. Repayment does not usually need to happen immediately on the date of death. The equity release provider will normally allow the estate time to deal with probate, property arrangements and repayment. Many major providers commonly allow around 12 months for repayment. However, this is not a universal legal deadline. The exact period depends on the individual lifetime mortgage terms. Executors or other personal representatives should check the plan documents and confirm the repayment deadline directly with the provider. How Long Do You Have to Repay Equity Release After Death? Many lifetime mortgage providers give the estate a set period to repay the loan after the borrower dies. Some major providers currently allow around 12 months, although the exact deadline depends on the individual mortgage terms. Executors or other personal representatives should contact the provider promptly. They should confirm: If the property needs to be sold, starting the legal process early can help prevent avoidable delays. TBI Conveyancing can handle the conveyancing when selling a property, including dealing with the registered title, obtaining the lender’s redemption figure and repaying the mortgage from the completion funds. Some providers may allow additional time where a genuine delay occurs and clear progress is being made. However, interest will usually continue until the lifetime mortgage is fully repaid, so the amount owed can continue increasing during probate and the property sale. What Happens to a Joint Equity Release Plan When One Person Dies? If both partners are named borrowers on a joint lifetime mortgage, the plan will normally continue after the first borrower dies. The surviving joint borrower can usually remain in the property under the existing plan terms. The equity release provider should still be notified of the death. They may ask for documents such as: The loan will usually become repayable only when the last surviving borrower dies or permanently moves into long-term care, subject to the individual mortgage terms. It is important to distinguish between a surviving joint borrower and a partner who simply lives in the property. A spouse, partner or family member who is not named on the equity release plan may not have the same right to remain. Their position can depend on ownership, occupation rights and the terms of the lifetime mortgage. What If My Partner Lives With Me but Is Not Named on the Equity Release Plan? A partner or family member who lives with you is not automatically treated as a joint borrower on a lifetime mortgage. If the equity release plan is in your sole name, the mortgage may become repayable when you die. This can be the case even if your spouse, partner or another relative still lives in the property. Their ability to remain may depend on: If you are considering equity release, raise this issue before entering the plan. This is especially important if someone expects to remain in the property after your death. In some circumstances, you may also be considering changing the legal ownership of your home. Our guide to transfer of equity conveyancing explains how adding or removing someone from a property title works. Any ownership change should be considered alongside your lender’s requirements and appropriate financial and legal advice. Where the borrower has already died, the surviving occupier may need legal advice to understand their position. Who Needs to Tell the Equity Release Provider About the Death? The equity release provider should be told about the death as soon as reasonably practical. This allows them to update their records and explain what happens next. Notification will usually come from: The provider may ask for a copy of the death certificate, plan or account details, and contact information for the personal representative. They may also request probate documents later in the process where these are needed. Importantly, the family does not usually need to wait for a Grant of Probate before making initial contact. The provider can