How can you transfer your mortgage smoothly?

In the 2026 financial market, transferring a mortgage (remortgaging) has become a strategic tool for reducing monthly payments, freeing up excess value for sustainability, or simply securing the security of a new fixed-rate period. Although the process used to be known as bureaucratic and slow, technological innovations and stricter regulations paved the way for faster processing in 2026. Nevertheless, a “smooth” switch requires thorough preparation and a keen eye for timing. Anyone who blindly switches without analyzing the additional costs and conditions can be deceived.

The purpose of a smooth remortgage is to make the transition from the old to the new lender seamless, without double burdens or unforeseen delays at the notary. In this article, we discuss the essential steps and factors that will determine the success of your switch in 2026.

Timing and penalty rate analysis

The first step towards a smooth process is to determine the right time. In 2026, banks will look closely at the remaining fixed-rate period of your current mortgage. If you switch while your current interest rate has been fixed for years and the market interest rate has now fallen, you will face a penalty rate.

To keep the transition smooth, you must first request a trial calculation of this penalty from your current bank. In 2026, banks are obliged to provide this calculation transparently within a few working days. The trick is to calculate whether the new provider's lower monthly payments offset the penalty (after deduction of tax benefits) within an acceptable period of time. Is your current fixed-interest period about to end (within 6 months)? Then refinancing in 2026 is usually penalty-free and is the ideal window for a smooth transition.

Collect source data instead of paperwork

In 2026, what makes the difference between a process of weeks or a process of days is how you provide data. Banks are now making extensive use of source data.

For smooth acceptance, it is advisable to no longer manually scan paychecks and employer statements, but to use digital services such as the Payroll Service Income Determination (IBL) via the UWV or the source data apps of the tax authorities. If you give the new lender permission to retrieve this data directly from the source, the risk of errors is virtually nil and the preliminary assessment can often take place within 24 hours. Also, make sure that your high-quality ID has been scanned; AI acceptance systems will inexorably reject files in 2026 if there is the slightest ambiguity in a photo.

The role of the new valuation and the energy label

When transferring a mortgage, the new bank must know the current market value of your home. Since the 2025 market developments, the value of homes with a high energy label has increased significantly compared to less sustainable homes.

For smooth running, it is essential to have a validated NWWI valuation report drawn up immediately. In 2026, many appraisers will be working with a hybrid form (partly remotely, partly on site), which reduces the turnaround time. Have you recently invested in solar panels, a heat pump or insulation? Then make sure that the energy label is updated before the appraiser visits. A higher energy label will translate directly to a higher market value and often a lower interest rate class (risk surcharge) in 2026, paving the way for a more favourable offer.

Prepare the “buyer costs” for the transfer

Transferring is not free. Although you do not pay transfer tax as you would with a purchase, you will have to deal with the costs for the notary, the appraiser and mortgage advice in 2026.

For a smooth process, you must decide in advance how you will pay these costs. There are two flavors:

• Own resources: You pay the bills directly from your savings account. This is the fastest method and keeps your loan low.
• Co-finance: You increase the new mortgage to cover the costs. Please note: in 2026, the total loan must not exceed 100% of the market value. If your home value has not risen sufficiently, co-financing can block approval.
  By calculating this scenario with your advisor in advance, you prevent the process at the notary from getting stuck in a funding gap.

The bridging of the repayment forms

A common frustration with remortgaging in 2026 is the complexity surrounding old forms of repayment, such as savings mortgages or investment mortgages. If you include or convert it, this requires additional communication between the old and new insurer.

To make this run smoothly, you must request a “valuation” from your policy in time. In 2026, many people will choose to use the accrued value in an old policy for a one-off additional repayment when transferring to an annuity or linear mortgage. This simplifies the structure of your loan considerably and ensures that the new lender needs less additional documentation about complicated savings structures. The simpler the new loan structure, the smoother the path to the final binding offer.

Notarial settlement and the “expulsion”

The final part of the remortgage takes place at the notary. Here, the old mortgage is' revoked '(removed from the Land Registry) and the new mortgage is registered.

For smooth processing, the notary will check in 2026 whether the old bank has sent the repayment note in time. You can expedite this process by informing your old bank in advance that you are going to switch and giving them permission to share data with your chosen notary office. Since the further digitization of the notary offices in 2026, signing often takes place via a secure digital environment, but you still have to take into account a lead time of approximately two weeks for the formal registration. Make sure the expiration date is well before the expiration of your new interest offer to avoid having to request a quote again.

A successful remortgage in 2026 is the result of a proactive attitude where you embrace modern data tools and closely monitor the relationship between value, sustainability and costs.