Moving home guide
Your step-by-step guide to moving home with Santander
Who is this guide for?
If you are thinking about moving home this simple guide takes you through the house buying process.
Help: If you have an existing mortgage with Santander or Alliance & Leicester and you want to understand your mortgage options when you move home please click here.
How to get help from our mortgage specialists
Santander has over 160 years of mortgage experience in the UK. Our mortgage specialists are happy to help answer any questions you may have
By Phone: Call us to speak to a mortgage specialist
In Branch: Visit our extensive branch network (branch finder)
Online: Useful information can be accessed using the links on the right side of this page
Great reasons to consider moving home with Santander
Great Deals
Santander has a great range of Fixed, Tracker and Flexible Offset deals available for your new mortgage.
Get Help with Fees
- Most of our products offer a free standard valuation on a property value up to £2.5million
- These products also provide £250 cashback on completion for you to spend on your new
home. You only need to repay the cashback if you repay your loan within the first two years.
- Look for all our deals that offer a homebuyer solution
Simple & Straightforward
We will arrange a surveyor and complete the forms with you through our extensive branch network, to make the process as simple as possible for you.
Step-by-step Moving Home guides
How to move home with Santander (England, Wales and Northern Ireland)
If you are buying your home in Scotland the process is different. Click here to view our guide if you are Buying in Scotland
If you're ready to move home, here are the key steps in the process and how we can help
1. Value your existing home
Find out how much you might be able to sell your existing property for. Estate agents will usually give you a free valuation and an estimate of any fees or costs they charge. We suggest you look around for the best quote.
2. Budget for any costs
Then you can work out how much of your equity you might put down on a new home. You need to think about deducting any costs involved in moving home if you are not going to use savings from elsewhere. We've produced a list to help you understand some of the common fees
At this point it's worth choosing a solicitor or conveyancer to act for both the sale of your existing house and the purchase of your new home
3. Work out how much you can afford to borrow
We can help you work out what size mortgage you can comfortably afford for your next home.
Speak to one of our branch mortgage advisors (branch finder) or use our "How much I can borrow calculator" to work out an affordable mortgage loan amount.
4. Find a property
Find a property that meets your budget and personal requirements and make an offer. If you are asked to pay a fee to reserve the house make sure you find out whether it's refundable or not. Although this is not yet legal binding this is classed as being 'sold subject to contract'
Let your solicitor know you have had your offer accepted and call us to start your mortgage application.
5. Select a great deal from Santander
We can help you choose one of our great Moving Home deals.
Call us to speak to a mortgage specialist
Visit our extensive branch network (branch finder)
View deals online here
6. Complete your application with us
We have mortgage advisors to help you apply for your mortgage and explain everything you need to know before you proceed. Your mortgage application will need to be approved formally by one of our underwriters. All applications are subject to status and our current lending criteria.
We can help you with the insurances you need for your new home at this point too. Home insurance, life cover and critical illness protection are available when you complete your application with us.
7. Have your property surveyed
Wefind and instruct a surveyor to value the property. On most of our mortgage products we pay for a standard valuation on a property value up to 2.5 million. This is on all our deals that show a homebuyer solution available. You might decide to have a more detailed survey done at this point - our mortgage advisors can discuss your options with you.
8. Receive a formal mortgage offer
We issue a formal mortgage offer. This means that the mortgage has been formally approved, and the house you are buying has been valued and is suitable security for us to lend against.
9. Exchange Contracts
Your solicitor will exchange contracts on the house you want to buy and set a provisional moving date. Usually Santander, the estate agents, and the people you are buying from will all be involved in arranging this. There may also be a deposit to pay of around 5% of the purchase price.
Make sure your Buildings Insurance is in place at this point.
10. Completion
Your solicitor will finalise the move and you'll officially be the owner of your new home. They make sure all the money involved changes hands efficiently and will let you know when you can collect your keys
For the day of completion you'll want to make sure you've spoken to:
Gas & Electricity Company. (Make sure you read the meters when you move in.)
Water Company
Broadband, telephone and satellite TV provider
Redirect of any mail so you can start to change your address on all your documents
All applications are subject to status and our current lending criteria. This means that the amount we will lend you will depend on your individual circumstances, the type of property and the amount you borrow. For example, we may require a higher deposit if you are buying a flat or a new build property.
YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE