In early 2026, many homeowners about to remortgage are coming off 2-year fixed rate mortgages from early 2024 or 5-year fixed rates from 2021. The greatest challenge for this group isn't just the rate, it's the affordability gap.

Despite rates falling slightly over the last 2-4 years, the cost of living and stricter lender ‘stress tests’ mean many people who were approved years ago might actually struggle to pass the same affordability checks today with a new lender.

The remortgage trap – Why being a ‘good payer’ might not be enough this time

Homeowners assume, and rightly so, that because they've never missed a payment, getting approval for remortgage is a given. However, in 2026, with higher base rates than in 2021, lenders are looking much closer at disposable income.

"What if I can't get a new deal because my outgoings are too high?"

There are approximately 1.8 million people who will remortgage in 2026, and they’ll be asking that very same question. The market has changed - even if your house value has gone up, the way lenders calculate your borrowing power now has become more complex due to 2025/26 inflation and interest rate adjustments.

Because of these changes, lenders are now stress testing your ability to pay at much higher rates than they did when you took your last mortgage.

Lifestyle scrutiny: Part of this stress testing includes lenders scrutinising more than ever what you could call ‘subscription creep’ (TV packages, catalogue bills, phone contracts, gym memberships and so on), and general cost-of-living expenses.

Then there’s the valuation gap: While prices have stabilised, ‘down-valuations’ can still happen, affecting your Loan-to-Value (LTV) and the deals available to you.

What you can do now to support your remortgage review

• Audit your subscriptions: Are you paying for more than you really need? Can you pay off the smaller credit cards/catalogue bills?
• Gather your financial paperwork: Don't wait for the bank's letter.
• Check the true LTV: Use a professional to see if you’ve crossed into a lower interest bracket (e.g., moving from 80% to 75% LTV).
• Book a remortgage review: Professional advice focuses on helping you to formulate a strategy for the next 2-5 years – not just the new rate…

Through a whole-of-market mortgage broker like MK Mortgages, the niche lenders who might have more flexible affordability calculators than the high-street banks are made accessible to you, so it’s worth booking a remortgage review before making your final decision.

TIP: View your ability to lock in a remortgage rate 6 months early as a safety net, not just a convenience. This gives you a window in which to improve your ‘financial CV’ before your current deal ends.

Book your remortgage review with MK Mortgages

If your mortgage deal ends in the first half of 2026, don't wait for a reminder from your lender. Let's get you booked in for a no-obligation, no broker fee remortgage review and look at your options together.

I’ll help you build a plan that works for your actual life, not a lender’s computer algorithm and help you filter out the nonsense and the deals that conflict with your goals, putting you on the path to remortgage success.

Book a call straight into my diary.