Fee or charge

What’s it for?

Typical costs

Arrangement fee

This is the fee for the mortgage product and is sometimes known as the product fee or completion fee. You can sometimes add this to your mortgage, but this will increase the amount you owe, your interest and your monthly payments.

You should check whether the fee is refundable if the mortgage doesn’t go ahead.  If not, it may be possible to request that the fee be added to the mortgage and then to pay it once the application has been approved and is definitely proceeding.

Anything from £0 to over £2,000

Booking fee

This is sometimes charged when you simply apply for a mortgage deal and is not usually refundable even if your mortgage falls through. Some mortgage providers will include it as part of the arrangement fee, while others will only add it on depending on the size of the mortgage.

Around £99-£300

Valuation fee

The mortgage provider will value your property and make sure that it’s worth the amount you want to borrow. Some lenders won’t charge this fee on certain mortgage deals. You can also pay for your own property survey to identify all the repairs or maintenance that might be needed.The lender’s survey only looks at the property value, not necessarily the potential problems and future costs.See our guide on Homebuyer surveys and costs.

£250-£1,500 depending on the value of the property

Telegraphic transfer fee

Sometimes known as CHAPS (Clearing House Automated Payment System), this fee pays for your mortgage provider to transfer the money to your solicitor. It’s usually non-refundable, so if the deal falls through you probably won’t get the money back.

Typically £25-£50

Mortgage account fee

This pays for the lender’s administration costs in setting up, maintaining and closing your mortgage. If you’ve paid this fee, then it’s unlikely that you’ll need to pay the exit fee (see below) although an early repayment charge (see below) might still apply if you close the mortgage early.

Typically £100-300

Missed payments

Some lenders might charge a fee or fees if your account is in arrears

The penalty for missed payments depends on each lender’s rules. Failure to keep up with mortgage repayments could also result in your home being repossessed.

Mortgage broker fee

This fee is for a mortgage broker, if you choose to hire one, for arranging the mortgage or giving you advice. Some mortgage brokers won’t charge a fee and instead take commission from the mortgage provider.Read our guide Mortgage advice: should you use a mortgage adviser?

On average, £300-£500 or a commission depending on the value of the mortgage

Higher lending charge

Not all lenders charge this fee and it’s only likely to be a requirement if you have a small deposit, as this pays for the lender’s insurance if you can’t pay back the mortgage and they have to sell your property at a loss. The fee is often 1.5% of the mortgage – for example, £3,000 on a £200,000 mortgage.

If applicable, this is usually 1.5% of the mortgage

Fee for own buildings insurance arrangements

Not all lenders charge this now, so check first. It’s sometimes known as a freedom of agency fee or own buildings insurance fee. This fee sometimes applies if you decide to find your own buildings insurance, rather than take the one offered to you by your mortgage provider.It can save you more money in the long run by paying this fee and shopping around for your own insurance needs.

Usually £25

Early repayment charge

This fee might not always apply, so be sure to check what the rules are with each mortgage provider, especially if you want to make an early repayment in the future. If you already had a mortgage, check your keyfacts illustration or European Standard Information Sheet (ESIS) document to see what the cost is.Typically the charges range from 1-5% of the value of the early repayment.For example, a £100,000 mortgage with a 3% charge would cost you £3,000. This covers lender costs if you repay all or part of your mortgage earlier than the agreed term or deal period.The mortgage provider might also ask for any rewards or incentives paid to you to be returned, such as discounts on legal fees or cashback.

Typically 1-5% of the value of the early repayment

Exit/Closure fee

This is a fee to your lender when you repay your mortgage, even if you are not repaying it early. If you’ve already paid the mortgage account fee then it’s unlikely you’ll need to pay this particular fee as it will usually include set up and maintenance, as well as the closure of the account. Check what your mortgage account fee covers to make sure.

Typically £75-£300