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Frequently asked questions
If you lose your passbook you must notify us immediately. We will need you to complete a missing passbook form. There is a charge for a duplicate passbook, please refer to our Tariff of Charges for the current charge amount. If you have reported your passbook stolen and have a valid crime reference number we will waive this charge. Identification will be required before a duplicate passbook can be provided. For more information call us on 0121 557 2551, visit one of our branches, or complete our online form.
We do not automatically issue Interest Certificates annually. If you do require an interest certificate you can request one at any of our branches, by calling 0121 557 2551, or by completing our online form.
If you wish for someone else to manage your account on your behalf, we will require a Power of Attorney or Court of Protection to be registered. Please call us on 0121 557 2551, or visit one of our branches for further information.
If you do not currently have a Power of Attorney or Court of Protection and require assistance managing you account then please contact us to discuss further.
The most you can withdraw each day without giving us notice is:
- £500 by cash; and
- £20,000 by cheque.
Higher amounts can be made available. You must give at least two days' notice, with a maximum limit of £2,500 cash per day
You can give notice by calling 0121 557 2551, in person in one of our branches or by completing our online form. You'll need to let us know how much you would like to withdraw, when you'll be collecting it and what branch you'll be withdrawing from.
The sort code and account number for your savings account can be found inside the cover of your passbook and stated below:
- Sort Code: 20-27-33
- Account Number: 70885096
You will also need to quote the below details when sending a payment to your savings account;
- Reference: Your personal account number which is located on the inside cover of your passbook.
- Payee name: your full name
How to find your sort code in an IBAN number
You can find your 6-digit sort code contained within your IBAN number. To find out what your IBAN number is, simply contact us on 0121 557 2551.
We allow withdrawals against a cheque six banking days after it has been deposited. If a cheque is paid in on a Saturday, the period of six banking days will start on the following Monday. Non banking days include Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays. You should note cheques are valid for six months unless otherwise stated.
If you move house you'll need to complete an amendment form to notify us of your change of address. We'll also need you to provide documentary proof of your new address. You can post your amendment form to our Tipton Head Office or deliver it in person to any of our branches. If you post the form, your proof of your new address must be certified. Details of who can certify documents can be found on our acceptable identification page.
We accept coins provided they are sorted and bagged before being taken to a branch. Coin bags are available from any of our branch offices. The maximum that we will accept is five full bags of the appropriate value of coin. This means any five bags from the following:
- £20 of £2 or £1 coins, not mixed;
- £10 of 50p or 20p coins, not mixed;
- £5 of 10p or 5p coins, not mixed; and
- £1 of 2p or 1p coins, not mixed.
You can open a savings account at any of our branches, no appointment is needed. Alternatively, you can post us a fully completed application form and a cheque made payable to yourself to our Tipton Head Office. Opening balances made by electronic payment must be sent within 14 days of opening your account, or the account will automatically be closed. We have access to credit reference agency databases which in the majority of cases will allow us to prove your identity and address without the need for paper-based identification. However, if we do require further proof we will let you know. Please click here to see our list of acceptable identification. If you would like to open an ISA with us we will require your National Insurance number.
This will depend on your account. Please, refer to your product terms and conditions to check if an ISA transfer in is allowed. If you are unable to refer to your product terms and conditions, you can call us on 0121 557 2551, visit one of our branches, or complete our online contact form.
We do not allow partial transfers of the current tax year subscriptions, however previous tax year subscriptions can be transferred in full or part. If you wish to transfer an existing ISA, please complete our ISA Transfer In Form and post it to us at 70 Owen Street, Tipton, DY4 8HG.
We do not offer accounts with cash cards or cheque books and do not have any cash machines.
We do not issue account statements as all of our accounts are operated by either passbook or mobile app. You can request a statement showing your balance and the transactions made on your account. If you need your passbook updating we will be happy to do this in branch, or you can post your passbook to our head office at 70 Owen Street, Tipton, DY4 8HG. To request a statement please call us on 0121 557 2551, visit one of our branches, or complete our online contact form.
We do not currently have the facility for you to access your savings account online. However, you can view and open savings account on our Tipton App. You can download our App from the App Store or Google Play Store.
We do not open savings accounts for non-UK residents.
We do not offer current accounts and therefore, no electronic payments can be set up from your savings account.
With the exception of ISAs, you can add another person to your existing account. To do this please call us on 0121 557 2551, visit one of our branches, or complete our online contact form.
From 6 April 2016 the Government introduced the Personal Savings Allowance, meaning all savings interest is now paid without tax deducted. Basic rate tax payers can earn £1,000 in savings interest tax free. For more information please visit the HMRC website.
A child must be at least 16 years old to open a savings account in their own name. To open an ISA, the minimum age is 18 years old.
You do not need your passbook to pay money into your account. We will be happy to update your passbook next time you visit our offices, or you can post your passbook to any of our branches, or Head Office to be updated.
We have four branches located in Tipton, Coseley, Bilston and Sedgley. Please see our branches page for more information.
To see our individual opening hours please click here.
We have access to credit reference agencies, which in most cases will allow us to verify your identification without the need for paper-based identification. However, in some circumstances we will need you to provide additional proof of identity, and will let you know if this is the case. Please see our list of acceptable identification for further detail. If you would like to open an ISA with us we will also need your National Insurance Number.
You can close your account by visiting one of our branches, or through the post to our Tipton Head Office. To close your account through the post you will need to send a signed letter requesting account closure and your passbook. You should check your account terms and conditions as some of our accounts require notice to be given for closure.
To register a death, you will need to bring in the original or certified copy of the Death Certificate, or you can post it to our Head Office at 70 Owen Street, Tipton, DY4 8HG. What happens with accounts following this will depend on the total balances held with us. Further information can be found in our bereavement guide.
For more information on how to register a power of attorney please see our online guide.
Each financial year the Government will provide a set amount that you can deposit into ISAs for that tax year. For the 2024/2025 tax year, the ISA deposit limit is £20,000.
You'll need to complete an amendment form and bring in proof of your change of name (either your Marriage Certificate or Certificate of Deed Poll). Please remember to sign the amendment form with both your old and your new signature. You can do this at any one of our branches or through the post, please bear in mind if you do notify us through the post the proof of your change of name must be certified, this is detailed in our list of acceptable identification.
You do not need an appointment to open a new savings account, simply visit your local branch. You can also open some of our accounts through the post by sending your completed application form and a cheque for your opening deposit.
Opening balances made by electronic payment must be sent within 14 days of opening your account, or the account will automatically be closed. We must confirm the identity and address of every applicant. We are able to access credit reference agency databases which, in most cases, will allow us to open your account without paper-based identification. This will show as a search of the database only and not a credit score, so will not affect your credit rating. If we do need further proof of identification, we will let you know. These requirements will depend on how and where you are opening your account, to find out more please see our acceptable savings ID webpage.
If you wish to speak to an Adviser to discuss our mortgages or are looking for independent financial advice then you will need to make an appointment. You can call us on 0121 557 2551, visit one of our branches, or arrange a call back using our contact us form.
We do not offer foreign currency.
We can offer life insurance through our partnership with Wren Sterling. Further details of what we can offer can be found on our financial advice pages. To book an appointment with an Independent Financial Adviser, please call us on 0121 557 2551, visit a branch, or complete our contact us form.
We can offer financial advice through our partnership with Wren Sterling. Further details of what we can offer can be found on our financial advice pages. To book an appointment with an Independent Financial Adviser, please call us on 0121 557 2551, visit a branch, or complete our contact us form.
With the exception of Fixed Rate Savings, the interest rates on our accounts are variable and can change at any time. If we reduce your interest rate and you have a balance of £100 or more, we will contact you by post before the changes are effective.
You can pay money into your account by sending a cheque made payable to yourself through the post to our Tipton Head Office, visiting any of our branches, or by internal transfer from another account you hold with us. You can also set up a standing order from your bank or building society to transfer money or send a one off electronic transfer. To do this, you will need to quote:
- Our sort code: 20-27-33;
- Our bank account number: 70885096;
- Reference number: your own Tipton Account Savings number; and
- Payee name: your full name
Your savings with us are protected up to a total of £85,000 by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, the UK’s deposit guarantee scheme. For more information please read our FSCS leaflet or visit the FSCS Website.
You can close your Help to Buy: ISA the same way you would close any other account, by coming into any of our branches or by postal request to our Tipton Head Office. When you close your Help to Buy: ISA you will receive a closing statement. Your Solicitor will need this to claim your Government bonus.
If you decide within 14 days of opening that the account you’ve chosen is not suitable for you, you will be able to close the account without charge. We can arrange to give your money back to you or transfer it to another account that is more suitable to your needs. Please be aware that the 14 day cooling off period does not apply to Fixed Rate Savings accounts.
BACS, CHAPS and Faster Payments are all electronic payments, however there are some important differences between them to help you understand when and how they should be used.
BACS
BACS stands for Banker’s Automated Clearing Services, and is a system which is used to send payments directly from one account to another. Typically, most people receive their salary from their employer via BACS payment of some type.
The main use of these are for payments made by direct debit. BACS payments typically take 3 working days to clear, and can be up to the value of £20 million for retail clients.
CHAPS
CHAPS stands for Clearing House Automated Payment System and have been in use since 1984. Typically, CHAPS payments are used for retail and wholesale, high value payments – usually worth over £10,000.
As these types of payments are more costly to process, they are typically used for larger sums and more important payments (for example payment of a deposit on a house). With CHAPS payments, funds are likely to clear within the same day.
Faster Payments
Faster Payments are available for standard transfers within the UK, acting as one of the quicker ways to move money around. The maximum transaction limit set by the Faster Payments operator is £250,000 – for larger payments, we would recommend utilising CHAPS.
Faster Payments typically happen instantly but may take longer if the receiving financial institution is not a clearing bank.
Here at the Tipton, we do accept faster payments. You can check other providers using the Faster Payments website, at www.fasterpayments.org.uk/sort-code-checker.
Which Should I Use?
The type of payment used depends on the nature of what you are doing. For transferring small sums to friends and family, this is usually done through faster payments. However, for more regular payments (for example your monthly mortgage direct debit) this is most likely to be completed via a BACS payment.
Finally, CHAPS payments are more commonly used by businesses or as a one off when purchasing something costly.
A roll number is your savings account number, which is used to identify a member’s account with the building society. If you are making a payment to a Building Society account, you should add the roll number (account number) as the reference of the payment you are sending, you must not type anything else in the reference field. The system will then automatically allocate the funds to the correct account based on the roll number stated in the reference box.
Your roll number will be given to you when opening your account, it can then be found at the top of your passbook under 'account number' or if you have an app account you will be able to find it on the homepage of the app. Alternatively, you can contact the Society in branch or on the phone, where a member of staff will be able to help.
If you're self-employed, we'll need proof of trading for a minimum of two years and you must be able to provide proof of income over the same period. We'll consider long term sub-contractors on an employed basis as long as you can prove:
- you've been contracted for a minimum of six months with your current contractor and have two years continuous employment history within a similar industry; and
- a consistent level of income each month;
We'll also require your 'employer' to confirm your start date, your monthly earnings and that your services on a 'sub-contracting' basis will continue for the foreseeable future, so there's no fixed end date.
We don't operate a computer credit score system, each application is reviewed individually by a real person. At enquiry stage we will complete a credit check and once a full application is submitted we will carry out a full credit application that will leave a footprint on your credit file.
If your mortgage is with us, you can make a mortgage overpayment by cheque, or electronically by BACS transfer. If you need more information, please call us on 0121 557 2551 or complete our online contact us form.
What is a mortgage overpayment?
A mortgage overpayment is where you choose to pay back more than your committed monthly repayments. This can be as and when you wish, or a regular overpayment.
Can I make mortgage overpayments?
You should check your mortgage product terms and conditions before you make an overpayment. Many mortgages will have Early Repayment Charges. This means the lender will limit the amount you are able to overpay, if you exceed this limit you may incur Early Repayment Charges.
Benefits of mortgage overpayments
Making overpayments can help to reduce the amount of interest you pay back on your mortgage. It can also help you to pay your mortgage off sooner, so become mortgage free quicker! While you can do this by reducing your mortgage term, an overpayment is not a set commitment, meaning if you decide you wish to just pay your normal monthly repayment for a period, this is ok. However, if you lower your mortgage term the higher monthly repayment will be a commitment and must be paid regardless.
Calculating a mortgage overpayment
If you would like to know how much you can overpay on your mortgage, you can call us on 0121 557 2551, or complete our online contact form.
Can I change the date of my mortgage repayments?
Yes. If at any point while you have your mortgage with the Tipton you wish to amend the date of your monthly direct debit, we will be happy to help.
How do I change my mortgage repayment date?
In order to change the date your mortgage payment direct debit is taken, simply call us on 0121 557 2551, email us at admin@thetipton.co.uk or write to us at our Head Office (Tipton & Coseley Building Society, 70 Owen Street, Tipton, DY4 8HG).
Things to consider
When deciding to change the date of your mortgage repayment, please keep in mind that you will need to give the Society a minimum of 10 days’ notice, to process the change and a payment must be made within each calendar month.
You may want to find out the current balance on your mortgage for a number of reasons. At the Tipton, there are a range of ways you can do this via our App or through contacting us directly.
Viewing your mortgage online
The Tipton app allows existing mortgage customers to view their current mortgage balance. You can download our app from the App Store or Google PlayStore. Click here to find out more.
Contacting us
Alternatively, you can contact us to request your current mortgage balance. This can be done by writing to our head office at 70 Owen Street, Tipton, DY4 8HG, calling us on 0121 557 2551 or completing our online contact form. Please note that the current balance does not represent the amount you need to pay to clear your mortgage in full. To do this you will need a redemption statement which can be provided upon request.
The minimum age for a mortgage applicant is 18 years. If you're employed, standard underwriting will apply where the mortgage term doesn't extend beyond the 70th birthday of the highest earning applicant. If you're self-employed, we'll consider applications up to age 75.
We'll also consider applications where the term extends beyond the state pension date of the highest earner or where all applicants are already retired and in receipt of pension income however we'll require additional criteria to be satisfied.
For more detail, speak with one of our Mortgage Advisers. Please call 0121 557 2551 or visit one of our branches to book an appointment or complete our online form.
We currently accept Right to Buy and Forces Help to Buy schemes. For more information on Government schemes and what we can accept, please see our Government schemes guide.
We will consider lending on properties with a mine shaft, subject to underwriting. For affected properties we will need a copy of the Coal Authority Report.
We'll consider interest only mortgages where there is a suitable repayment vehicle available. Suitable repayment vehicles include an endowment; a stocks and shares ISA; a pension; or sale of the mortgaged property.
To add or remove someone from your mortgage you will need to make an appointment with one of our Mortgage Advisers so that affordability can be reconsidered. To book an appointment please visit one of our branches, call us on 0121 557 2551 or complete our online contact us form.
If you have a mortgage with us and would like to rent out your property you will need to notify us. Please call us on 0121 557 2551 or fill in our online contact us form.
Once we have made an offer to you, this will be valid for 6 months.
If you are looking to request a redemption statement, please send your request to redemptionstatementrequests@thetipton.co.uk and we will be able to assist you. We will get back to you within 2 working days.
To request a Certificate of Interest Paid please call us on 0121 557 2551, visit one of our branches or complete our contact us form. We don't charge for your first Certificate, but there is a charge for any duplicates you request. For more information on our charges please see our Mortgage Tariff of Charges.
To complete a mortgage application you will need:
- Most recent P60;
- Latest two months, salary fed bank statements;
- Latest two months pay slips;
- Last two years’ SA302s or limited company accounts (if self-employed) along with last two tax year overviews;
- Accountants details (if self-employed);
- Acceptable proof of address and personal identification;
- Home improvement quotations (if applying for additional borrowing or remortgaging with additional borrowing included);
- Coal Authority Report (for properties with a coal mine);
- Offer notice (if you are purchasing under the Right to Buy scheme);
- Employers contact details;
- Proof of deposit;
- Rent statement and landlords contact details (if renting);
- Solicitors contact details;
- Estate agents contact details; and
- Tenancy Agreements for any buy to let properties you have.
We will lend on most properties built using standard construction methods and materials (brick or stone walls with a tiled or slated roof). We can also consider the following property types (subject to valuation):
- Timber framed walls with brick cladding;
- Thatched roof properties;
- Grade 2 listed; and
- Prefabricated reinforced concrete (PRC) repaired properties that have the benefit of a 30 year insurance backed guarantee and structural warranty.
Flats and maisonettes will be considered subject to the below criteria:
- Maximum 10 storey block inclusive of any basement level (flats in blocks of more than 4 storeys require lift access regardless of which floor our security is on);
- Ex-Local Authority flats and maisonettes will be considered to maximum of 6 storeys and require lift access. As part of the consideration the valuer must confirm that the property is in a good area with good resale ability; and
- Consideration given to the level of privately owned properties within the block.
If you're unsure whether your property type fits our criteria, please contact us and a Mortgage Adviser will be happy to help. Call 0121 557 2551, visit a branch or complete our online form.
A standard valuation report is used to calculate how much we will lend you. This is separate from any valuation or survey of the property you might want to commission for your own use. There are other homebuyers or structural survey options available to you at additional cost. Some of our mortgages offer free valuations and the product pages will tell you if this is the case. Our mortgage valuation charges page will provide details of the costs incurred for both a standard valuation and the more detailed homebuyers report.
If you are experiencing difficulties in keeping up with your monthly repayments you should contact us as soon as possible so we can ensure you get the right help and advice. You can contact us by completing our contact form, or calling our Financial Support team on 0121 521 4089.
Interest starts accruing on your mortgage from the day your mortgage completes. As we do not collect a payment during that month, your first monthly repayment will include this accrued interest and is therefore higher than your normal monthly repayments. Please refer to your mortgage completion confirmation letter for details of your monthly payments.
In short, any person named on the mortgage will be liable for the repayments.
Cohabitation Agreement
A cohabitation agreement is a legal agreement which can be put into place when you first start living with someone. If you set one of these up historically, it is worth revisiting it as it may have an impact on the situation. For example, if the mortgage is held solely in your name, but you have a cohabitation agreement in place which states your ex is liable to pay towards the mortgage in the event of separation, this will be legally binding.
Court Ordered
Alternatively, depending on your individual circumstances, the court may order your ex to make a payment towards the mortgage, even if they are not listed on there. This will depend on your unique situation, but will be legally binding.
If you are Divorcing
If you are divorcing and want to know if your ex should pay half towards the mortgage, it is always best to seek independent legal advice. Many different factors are likely to impact the responsibility your ex has to the mortgage. These can include:
- Whether you were married, cohabiting or in a civil partnership with your ex;
- The names listed on the mortgage and the property deeds;
- Any guarantors to the mortgage;
- If a prenup was completed prior to marriage;
- Any spousal support your ex may be paying to you; and
- Yours and your ex’s monthly income and outgoings.
Due to the complexity of this situation, it is always best to seek advice from a professional.
Who Pays the Mortgage During a Separation?
While you are going through the separation process, it is important that any parties named on the mortgage continue to make the repayments. If your mortgage is in joint names with your ex, both of you will be responsible for the repayments until an alternative agreement is made.
Do I Have to Sell My Home Because of a Separation?
While some choose to sell their property following a separation, this is not always the only option. The most common options are detailed below:
Sell your home: if you choose to sell your home, the proceedings of the sale will be used to pay off any mortgage remaining. Anything left over can then be split between the parties who were named on the mortgage. Some people choose to sell their home as they cannot afford the monthly costs on their own, or as they don’t want to be surrounded by the memories they have in the property.
Buy your ex out: if you would prefer to stay in your home, you should speak to a Mortgage Adviser about the options available here. Where you can satisfy affordability assessments, many lenders will allow you to take equity from the property to buy your ex out of the property and remove them from the mortgage. This means that going forward the mortgage and property will be in your sole name and therefore your sole responsibility.
It is important to remember that everyone’s circumstances will be different, and court orders may change what is available to you. It is always best to seek professional advice.
Is it Better to get a 15 Year Mortgage or Pay Extra on a 30 Year Mortgage?
15 Year Vs 30 year mortgage: what’s the difference?
In simple language, the main difference between a 15 year and 30 year mortgage is the term. On a 15 year mortgage, you will pay off what you owe (and own your property) within 15 years whereas with a 30 year mortgage, it will take double the time.
Why a 15 year mortgage is better
Depending on your circumstances, a 15 year mortgage can usually be more beneficial. Some of the reasons why are explained below.
Savings on interest
While the interest rate will be the same regardless of the term of your mortgage, as interest is calculated daily and paid with each monthly payment, the shorter the period you pay your mortgage over, the less interest you will pay in total.
Build home equity faster
With a shorter term, your monthly repayments will be higher to ensure the full amount is repaid by the end of your mortgage term. This means that with each repayment you will be building the equity you own in the property faster than if you were paying lower monthly repayments over a longer term. Please note, this is only applicable for mortgages on a capital and interest repayment basis and not interest only repayments.
Own your property in half the time
As long as you have opted to repay your mortgage on a capital and interest only repayment basis, at the end of the 15 year term, you will own your property outright. This means you won’t have to make any more mortgage repayments.
Why a 30 year mortgage is better
In some scenarios, it can be more beneficial to have a mortgage over a longer term, as highlighted below.
Lower monthly repayments
The longer term you opt to repay your mortgage over, the lower your monthly repayment will be. This is one of the reasons that people choose to have a longer term. However, it is important to remember that you will also be paying interest over the longer period and therefore will repay more overall than you would have on a shorter term.
Getting the right mortgage
As explained above, your mortgage term is individual to your personal circumstances, and it is therefore important to make sure you choose the right term for you. Our team of Mortgage Advisers will discuss your personal situation with you in detail, before recommending a term and product to suit you! Remember, there is no right or wrong way as long at the mortgage suits your personal needs best.
In the UK, there are two main regulators within the mortgage market, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA).
The FCA regulates all homeowner (residential) mortgages and lifetime mortgages. This also includes equity release to older borrowers. The FCA do not regulate buy-to-let mortgages.
The Prudential Regulation Authority is a part of the Bank of England and create policies that regulated firms must follow. They oversee banks, building societies, credit unions, insurers and major investment firms.
How are Mortgage Companies Regulated?
Mortgage companies are regulated by FCA and their goal is to ensure honest and fair markets. This is done through protecting customers, the financial market and encouraging competition.
Working alongside the FCA is the PRA. The PRA is part of the Bank of England. They determine the monetary limits that that lender must adhere to, including capital and liquidity. The PRA also go further to require providers to have suitable management. It uses regulation to set standards that providers must follow and will monitor compliance against these. The PRA also monitors the activity of lenders and can step in if they believe lenders are not running efficiently.
Why is it important to use a Regulated Mortgage Lender?
Mortgage lenders must assess whether the borrower will be able to pay the sum of money due for the mortgage and must not accept applications unless it can be demonstrated that it is affordable.
If you are applying for a mortgage through a regulated mortgage lender, it means you will receive a certain quality of advice and guarantees access to FCA for complaints support, should there be any problems.
Applying for a mortgage through an unregulated lender means that customers are not protected from incorrect advice or miss-selling from lenders or brokers.
Here at The Tipton, all our residential mortgages are regulated. We will consider residential mortgages for homebuyers, people looking to build their own home, those lending in retirement, holiday homes, family assist mortgages. To learn more or get in touch, please click here.
YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE
What is a mortgage interest rate?
A mortgage rate is the rate of interest charged on a mortgage by your mortgage lender for borrowing money. Mortgage interest rates are determined by each mortgage lender.
Your interest rate will be specific to the mortgage product you have. These can be over any period, typically from 2 years up to 10 years. While your overall mortgage term may be longer than this, you will have a number of products during the term of your mortgage. Once each product comes to an end you can switch to a new product, with a different interest rate and product term with the same lender. Alternatively, you can look to move your mortgage to another lender at this point, this is known as remortgaging.
So how do they work?
There are different interest rate options when It comes to choosing a mortgage. Here at the Tipton, we offer:
- Fixed Rates; and
- Discount Rates (also known as variable rates)
All mortgages will show an APRC. APRC was introduced by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in 2016 and stands for Annual Percentage Rate of Charge. The purpose is to show you the overall cost of your mortgage. An APRC is a rate that can be used to compare different mortgage products as it includes any fees etc. to give an overall view.
It is worth remembering that the use of APRC’s can be limited. If you decide to switch to a new rate or remortgage to a new lender at the end of your product term, you will not remain on the standard variable rate (SVR), meaning the original APRC, is no longer applicable.
Fixed rate vs discounted (variable) rate
A fixed rate mortgage charges a set rate of interest that does not change throughout a specified period. The monthly payments will stay the same for that duration. This can make budgeting easier for homeowners.
A discount or variable rate mortgage means the interest rate can change throughout the product period. Lenders can choose to reduce or increase their interest rates while you are within the product term, which means your monthly repayments can change with little notice. However, these rates typically tend to be lower than fixed interest rates.
Interest rates are typically higher on fixed rate mortgages, as you are paying for the security of knowing that your repayments cannot change during the product term.
Why are mortgage rates important?
Your mortgage interest rate is important as it impacts on the cost of your monthly mortgage repayments. Put simply, the higher the interest rate the higher your monthly repayments are likely to be.
How are mortgage rates set?
Mortgage rates are decided by your mortgage lender. There are a variety of factors that impacts how mortgage rates are set. This can include:
- The cost of funds: lenders must fund your mortgage in some way. How the lender does this can affect the mortgage rate. Many building societies do this through the savings deposits acquired from their savers, other funding available includes funding through wholesale markets.
- Loan to value (LTV): where you have a lower deposit, the risk of lending to you increases. Due to this, it is not uncommon for interest rates to be lower, the larger deposit you have.
- The market: mortgage rates available in the wider market are likely to influence where your lender will consider setting their rates. Alongside remaining competitive, lenders will also need to consider their own business targets.
YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE
Summarising a Decision in Principle
A Decision in Principle (also known as a DIP, Agreement in Principle, or AIP) is a written summary from a mortgage lender detailing how much they may be able to lend to you and is a helpful first step in your mortgage journey. Lenders will typically ask you to request a DIP before a full mortgage application and require information such as: personal details, and your income/outgoings. This information will be required for anyone who is looking to be named on the mortgage.
A Decision in Principle is helpful to give you an accurate indication of how much you are likely to be able to borrow. The amount a lender can offer you depends on factors such as your income, your credit profile, and the amount of deposit you have available.
Typically, you can apply for a Decision in Principle online, or by phone. Estate agents and sellers may also request to see a DIP before they accept any offer on a property. This is because a DIP usually shows you’re serious about buying a property, and you’re likely to afford the amount you are looking to borrow.
A Decision in Principle is typically valid for between 30 and 90 days. In some cases, it is possible to renew the DIP after this period, otherwise you may have to arrange for a new Decision in Principle from your lender. This is because your personal and financial circumstances may have changed, meaning your lender will want to reassess your application.
Is it possible to get more than one Decision in Principle?
Yes, you can get more than one Decision in Principle. Having a Decision in Principle with one lender doesn’t stop you getting another from a different lender. Different lenders may be able to offer you a different loan amount based on their affordability criteria, and therefore may be worthwhile seeking multiple options. However, it is worth noting while most lenders carry out a soft credit search, some lenders may perform a hard credit check when you apply for a DIP – leaving a footprint on your credit file.
Advantages of multiple Decisions in Principle
Applying for multiple Decisions in Principle from different lenders is possible and there’s no maximum limit. If you receive a decision in principle and you are not satisfied with the outcome, you can apply to other lenders for another Decision in Principle. Lenders may have different affordability criteria which means different lenders may be able to offer a higher or lower loan amount.
Disadvantages of more than one Decision in Principle
When applying for a Decision in Principle most lenders will complete a soft credit check, which does not affect your credit file. However, some lenders may complete a hard credit search, which leaves a footprint on your file for other providers to see.
Too many hard searches on your credit file in a short space of time, can negatively impact your credit score. This could further impact you when applying for a full mortgage application, or other lending as it may indicate you are desperately searching for credit. It is worth checking with each lender before completing a Decision in Principle what credit check they are performing.
YOUR PROPERTY MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE.
Historically, it was possible for landlords to claim tax back on rental income. However, since April 2020, it is no longer possible to deduct tax from rental income. However, you can now qualify for Landlord Mortgage Interest Tax Relief.
Landlord Mortgage Interest Tax Relief
This is a new tax-credit available to landlords and is based on 20% of your mortgage interest payments. While this is a benefit for all qualifying landlords, those higher-rate taxpayers will have previously received tax relief of 40% under the old rules, and so this new system is less substantial.
Due to these changes, landlords will need to declare any rental income that isn’t used to repay the mortgage on their tax returns going forward.
It is important to note, that these rules only affect private landlords, and not those who own their properties through a business.
Our Mortgage Advisers will be able to review the whole of your mortgage and recommend the best products suited for you based on your current financial situation. Please contact us on 0121 557 2551, visit one of our branches, or complete our contact us form to arrange an appointment to speak with one of our Mortgage Advisers.
When your existing mortgage product is coming to an end, we will write out to you around eight weeks before your product maturity date inviting you to complete a product transfer.
If you choose not to take up our product transfer offer, you will automatically revert to our Standard Variable Rate or Buy to Let Variable Rate. We will confirm your new monthly repayment by post. For more information, or to book an appointment please call us on 0121 557 2551, complete our online form or visit one of our branches.
You will receive a product transfer made easy letter when your current mortgage product is coming to an end. In your product transfer made easy letter, we provide you with details of the products currently available, for you to select the most suitable product for yourself. This allows you to complete your mortgage product transfer on an Execution Only basis. Execution Only means we will not provide you with any advice. To let us know which product you have chosen, there are 4 easy ways to contact us:
- Complete the online product transfer form;
- Email rateswitch@thetipton.co.uk;
- Call us on 0121 521 4088; or
- Post your completed form using the prepaid envelope provided.
We will then issue your product transfer documentation for your chosen product.
If you are unsure which product to choose and would like advice from one of our Mortgage Sales Advisers to find the most suitable product for you, please contact us on 0121 557 2551, visit one of our branches, or complete our contact us form to arrange an appointment.
We recommend that you book an appointment with one of our Mortgage Advisers who will be able to determine whether it is beneficial for you to have your property revalued. Please contact us on 0121 557 2551 or complete our contact us form for more information.
The products detailed on our website are for new customers only. The rate switch made easy letter you will receive details all products currently available to you, based on your outstanding mortgage balance and the last valuation we carried out on the property. If you would like further assistance with your mortgage product transfer, please contact us on 0121 557 2551, or complete our online contact form.
It is most common to switch to a new mortgage product when your current mortgage product is coming to an end. However, you may want to review your mortgage before this. If you transfer to a new product early, you may incur an Early Repayment Charge. If you have had a change in your personal circumstances, you may want to review your mortgage to find a product more suited to you. For more information, please contact us on 0121 557 2551, or complete our online contact form.
The range of products that are available to you depends on your loan to value. If your property has increased in value this could make a difference to the products you are eligible for. We will need to arrange to revalue your property for which there is a fee payable. Please contact us for more details on 0121 557 2551 or by completing our online form.
If you have received a product transfer made easy letter from us containing your unique reference code and product options, you are eligible to apply to choose your own mortgage product on an Execution Only basis without receiving advice from us. Let us know which product you’d like to proceed with by completing our online product transfer form, emailing rateswitch@thetipton.co.uk, calling us on 0121 521 4088, or posting the form back to us using the pre-paid envelope. If you would prefer to receive advice, or if you are not eligible for Execution Only, please arrange an appointment with one of our Mortgage Advisers, you can do this by calling us on 0121 521 4088 or completing our online contact form.
Completing a product transfer with us is a much quicker and simpler process. We will issue you with all the necessary paperwork you will need to sign and return. For a straightforward rate switch we don’t usually need any additional documentation from you. For more information please call us on 0121 521 4088, or complete our online form.
We do not charge a fee for the advice you may choose to receive or the administration work for your product transfer, however there may be fees relating to the mortgage product you apply for.
An advised product transfer appointment is simple and straightforward. We do not require you to bring any documentation with you, however we will ask questions about your gross annual salary; net monthly income; self employed income; other income and financial commitments such as loans; credit cards; car finances; and childcare costs.
If you are applying for additional borrowing with your product transfer we will need more information, this will include:
- Most recent P60;
- Latest salary fed bank statement;
- Last three months' pay slips;
- Last three years’ SA302s or limited company accounts (if self-employed);
- Accountants details (if self-employed);
- Home improvement quotations (if borrowing additional money).
If there are any other documents we may need, your Mortgage Adviser will let you know.
If you are on our Standard Variable Rate or Buy to Let Variable Rate you can apply for a new product at any time without incurring an Early Repayment Charge. If your current mortgage product is coming to an end, you will be able to transfer to a new product upon maturity, without incurring an Early Repayment Charge.
If you are within a mortgage product you may incur an Early Repayment Charge. Please call us on 0121 521 4088, or complete our online contact form for more information on this.
You should contact our Business Retention team on 0121 521 4088
This product transfer facility is only available to your clients who wish to transfer onto a new product. For any other change, such as change of term, additional borrowing, change of repayment method, adding or removing another applicant, please contact our Business Retention team on 0121 521 4088
or email rateswitch@thetipton.co.uk.
Our product transfer products are only available via our Business Retention Team. All the products available to your client will be included in the Product Transfer Product Guide issued to you via email. Please complete the Product Transfer Authority Form and email this to rateswitch@thetipton.co.uk. We’ll then send you a Product Transfer Product Guide and Product Selection Form within 3 working days.
No, the product transfer will be based on the most recent valuation completed by the Society.
No, there is no need to carry out any credit checks or affordability assessments for a product transfer.
We will issue a product transfer pack containing an Acceptance of Offer and an ESIS for your client’s chosen product within 3 working days of receiving your completed Product Selection Form. We require the signed Acceptance of Offer to be returned to us by the 20th of the month prior to maturity to ensure the product transfer will take place at maturity. If the Acceptance of Offer is received after this date it can still be accepted but may not be processed before your client’s product ends and may result in their mortgage reverting to our Standard Variable Rate/Buy to Let Variable Rate and their payment being amended accordingly.
You will receive 0.20% of the mortgage balance transferred to another product.
Procuration fee will be paid the month following completion of the product transfer. If your client is within a product term, the product transfer will take place on maturity of the existing mortgage deal. You and your client will receive notification that this has completed.
Payment will be made as per your instruction on the Product Selection Form. Payment can be made to your mortgage club or network or directly to you. Payment is made by BACS transfer.
Yes, please include details of any fees you will be charging on the Product Transfer Authority Form.
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