When should you start thinking about a buy-to-let remortgage?

A deal ending isn't the only reason landlords review their borrowing. A rise in the property's value, wanting to raise money for works or another purchase, a change in rent, or a change in how the property is owned can all prompt a look at the options.

Timing has felt more pressing in 2026. Bank Rate rose to 4% on 5 November, and average buy-to-let fixed rates have moved from the 4% range into the 5% range since late February, according to Moneyfacts. This guide sets out how the timing usually works and the points landlords commonly check, with figures as at 7 November 2026.

What happens when your deal ends

When a fixed or tracker period ends, the mortgage normally moves onto the lender's revert rate, often called the standard variable rate or buy-to-let variable rate. It stays there until a new deal is arranged.

Revert rates are usually well above the best available deals. On the cheapest buy-to-let deals listed by Moneyfacts on 3 November 2026, revert rates ranged from 6.45% to 8.74%.

An illustration on a £200,000 interest-only buy-to-let mortgage:

Rate	Monthly interest
5.79% (average fixed buy-to-let rate at the start of October 2026)	£965
8.24% (an example revert rate from Moneyfacts' best-buy list)	£1,373

That is around £400 a month more on the revert rate. Figures are illustrative and exclude fees.

The jump is largest for landlords coming off five-year fixes taken out in 2021, when rates were much lower. Once a deal has ended there is normally no early repayment charge, so a landlord on a revert rate can usually move to a new deal or lender without that cost.

How far ahead a new deal can be secured

Most lenders let a mortgage offer be secured some months before it is needed. The exact window varies:

• Many lenders hold remortgage offers for around six months. Nationwide, for example, keeps remortgage offers open for 180 days.
• Some lenders issue offers valid for three months, so the timing of the application matters.
• Existing lenders usually release product transfer deals in the months before a deal ends. The window varies by lender.

Because a full remortgage typically takes four to eight weeks, applying around three to six months ahead leaves time for valuation, underwriting and legal work. It also allows completion to be timed for the day the current deal ends.

Securing an offer early does not usually oblige the borrower to complete. If rates fall before completion, it may be possible to move to a cheaper deal, although some fees already paid may not be refundable. Rates can also rise in that time; in 2026 they rose sharply in spring and again in the autumn.

Early repayment charges and other terms to check

An early repayment charge (ERC) is a fee for repaying a mortgage during its fixed or discounted period. It is usually a percentage of the balance and often steps down each year. On a five-year fix, for example, a lender might charge 5% in year one falling to 1% in year five.

ERCs normally stop on the last day of the deal. That is why remortgages are commonly timed to complete when the current deal ends.

As an illustration, a 3% ERC on a £200,000 balance would cost £6,000. Leaving a deal early only saves money if the reduction in interest outweighs the charge and any new fees.

Other terms in the mortgage offer that landlords commonly check:

• The exact end date of the initial rate, which may differ from the anniversary of completion
• The revert rate the loan moves to afterwards
• Overpayment allowances, often around 10% of the balance a year without an ERC
• Portability, meaning whether the deal can move to another property
• Exit or redemption fees charged by the current lender when the loan is repaid

Other reasons landlords review their mortgage

The end of a deal is the most common trigger, but not the only one.

• The property has gone up in value. A lower loan-to-value can open up cheaper rate tiers or leave room to raise money. A new valuation is needed to confirm it.
• Raising money for works. Landlords in England and Wales face a minimum EPC rating of C for rented homes by 1 October 2030, and some are planning upgrade work.
• Funding another purchase. Equity in one property can sometimes provide the deposit for the next. See can I borrow more when I remortgage?
• Rent has changed. Higher rent can support a larger loan under lenders' rental tests; lower rent can limit it.
• Changing ownership structure. Moving a property into a limited company is treated as a sale, with Stamp Duty and Capital Gains Tax implications, so tax advice usually comes first.
• Repaying bridging finance. Landlords who bought or refurbished with a bridging loan typically move onto a buy-to-let mortgage once the work is done.
• Letting out a former home. A residential mortgage usually needs the lender's permission to let, often called consent to let, and many landlords later move to a buy-to-let mortgage.
• Tax changes. Higher tax on rental profits for individual landlords from April 2027 has led some to review how their portfolio is financed and owned.

A typical remortgage timeline

This is how the timing commonly runs for a landlord moving to a new lender at the end of a deal. Product transfers usually need less time.

1. Six to seven months before the deal ends. Find the exact end date, the early repayment charge position and the revert rate. Gather the current tenancy agreement and rent details.
2. Around six months before. Many lenders will now issue offers that last until the end date. A broker can compare a product transfer with the wider market, including whether to raise extra money.
3. Three to six months before. The application goes in, followed by the valuation and underwriting.
4. One to three months before. The mortgage offer arrives and the legal work starts. Completion is booked for the day the current deal ends.
5. The day the deal ends. The new mortgage completes and the old one is repaid, with no early repayment charge to pay.

The exact windows vary by lender, and more complex cases, such as limited company or portfolio remortgages, often need extra time. See how long a buy-to-let remortgage takes.

Talk to a buy-to-let broker

Tell us a little about your property and when your current rate ends, and we will put you in touch with a buy-to-let broker who can compare the options. Free, no obligation, no credit check.

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Important information. This article is general information about the UK buy-to-let market, written as at 7 November 2026. It is not financial, tax or legal advice and is not a recommendation of any product or course of action. Lender terms, rates and rules change, and circumstances differ. Buy to Let Remortgages does not give advice or arrange mortgages. We pass enquiries to a buy-to-let mortgage broker. Most buy-to-let mortgages are not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. All lending is subject to the lender's criteria, valuation and underwriting. Your property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

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