One of the most common frustrations borrowers face in 2026 is being told they no longer qualify for a remortgage—even though their income, employment, and property have not changed. For many, the expectation is simple: if nothing has worsened, switching or refinancing should be straightforward. In reality, the opposite is often true.
Mortgage lending has undergone a quiet but fundamental shift. While headline interest rates have eased slightly compared to recent peaks, lender risk models, affordability frameworks, and internal policies have tightened. As a result, borrowers are discovering that yesterday’s approvals do not guarantee today’s flexibility.
This is particularly affecting homeowners coming to the end of fixed-rate deals, portfolio landlords trying to restructure debt, and self-employed or complex-income borrowers who were previously considered well within acceptable risk. Even borrowers who pass a lender’s product transfer criteria may fail a full remortgage assessment elsewhere.
At Willow Private Finance, we are seeing a clear pattern: income stability alone is no longer sufficient. Lenders are reassessing risk through a much wider lens—often in ways that are not transparent to borrowers or even front-line bank advisers.
This article explains why lender rules have changed in 2026, what underwriters are really assessing now, and how borrowers can still remortgage successfully despite these shifts.
Although inflation has moderated and base rate expectations are more stable than in 2024–2025, lenders have not relaxed underwriting in line with borrower assumptions. In fact, many banks have embedded conservative affordability buffers and risk stress tests as permanent policy changes rather than temporary responses.
This is partly due to regulatory pressure. Lenders are being closely scrutinised on portfolio risk, arrears forecasting, and exposure to future economic shocks. The result is a move away from purely income-led lending toward holistic borrower profiling.
Another driver is balance sheet optimisation. Some lenders are deliberately reducing exposure to certain borrower types, property categories, or loan sizes. This means two applicants with identical income and credit profiles may receive very different outcomes depending on how well they fit a lender’s current appetite.
For borrowers, the key takeaway is this: the mortgage market in 2026 is not “harder” in a traditional sense—it is more selective and less forgiving of nuance.
Borrowers often approach a remortgage believing continuity works in their favour. However, lenders do not assess applications comparatively against a borrower’s previous deal. Each application is underwritten as a new risk decision using today’s rules, not yesterday’s approvals.
Several subtle changes frequently catch borrowers out. Stress-testing assumptions may now be based on higher notional rates, even when applying for lower fixed deals. Living cost assumptions have increased, particularly for households with dependants or variable expenditure.
In addition, lenders are far more cautious about income sustainability. Bonuses, dividends, retained profits, and secondary income streams are scrutinised more heavily. Even PAYE borrowers are seeing tighter assessments where overtime or commission forms part of their overall income profile.
Crucially, the absence of negative change does not offset new policy constraints. Lenders are not asking whether you are worse than before—they are asking whether you fit today’s model.
In 2026, affordability calculations are less visible but more complex. Many lenders have shifted from simple income multiples to layered affordability engines that combine declared income, expenditure modelling, property data, and borrower behaviour.
Household expenditure assumptions are no longer generic. They are often inferred using data ranges based on family size, location, and lifestyle indicators. This means two households with identical income may be assessed very differently if their profiles suggest differing cost pressures.
Debt sensitivity has also increased. Even modest unsecured borrowing, PCP agreements, or revolving credit limits can materially reduce affordability—even if balances are low or well managed.
For landlords and multi-property borrowers, portfolio-level exposure is critical. Lenders now assess aggregate loan-to-value, total debt service coverage, and concentration risk across properties, not just the individual loan being refinanced. This is explored further in our article on
Mortgage Applications With Multiple Properties: Why Portfolio Size Matters More in 2026
Many borrowers choose a product transfer because it avoids affordability checks. While this can provide short-term certainty, it often creates longer-term restrictions.
Once a borrower remains with the same lender through multiple product transfers, the gap between that lender’s internal criteria and the wider market can widen. When the borrower eventually seeks to switch—often due to rate competitiveness or borrowing needs—they may find they no longer qualify elsewhere.
This issue is becoming increasingly common in 2026, particularly among borrowers who fixed during low-rate periods and assumed future flexibility would be preserved. We examine this in detail in Remortgaging in 2026 After Using a Product Transfer First
Property risk has quietly moved up the underwriting agenda. Lenders are reassessing exposure to flats, leasehold structures, mixed-use properties, and certain regional markets.
Even where property values have remained stable, valuation assumptions may be more conservative. Surveyors are cautious, particularly where resale demand could soften under future stress scenarios.
This can result in lower-than-expected valuations, which in turn affect loan-to-value ratios and affordability calculations. Borrowers who believe they are well within LTV thresholds may find themselves unexpectedly constrained.
A growing frustration for borrowers is the lack of clarity when applications fail. Automated decisioning and risk scoring mean many declines are issued without detailed feedback.
In many cases, there is no single problem—rather, a combination of marginal factors that collectively push an application outside tolerance. Income may be acceptable, but expenditure assumptions, debt exposure, or property type tip the balance.
This is where experienced structuring becomes essential. Understanding which lenders are tightening which aspects of criteria is the difference between a decline and an approval.
Successful remortgaging in 2026 is less about maximising income presentation and more about aligning the application with the right lender logic.
This may involve reshaping the loan structure, adjusting term lengths, managing unsecured credit exposure, or sequencing applications correctly—particularly for borrowers with multiple properties or layered borrowing.
In some cases, short-term solutions such as specialist lenders or transitional products create breathing space while longer-term eligibility is rebuilt. This approach is often misunderstood but remains a powerful tool when deployed correctly.
Our article Remortgaging in 2026 When Your Lender Says “No Change” explores how lender inertia and borrower assumptions frequently collide.
Lender rules are unlikely to loosen materially in the near term. Instead, we expect continued refinement of risk models, greater use of AI-driven affordability assessments, and ongoing segmentation of borrower types.
For borrowers, this means proactive planning is essential. Waiting until a deal expires to explore options increases the likelihood of being forced into suboptimal outcomes.
The borrowers who succeed in 2026 are those who understand that mortgage lending is no longer transactional—it is strategic and dynamic.
Willow Private Finance specialises in complex remortgaging scenarios where mainstream routes fall short. We work across the whole of market, including private banks and specialist lenders, to structure solutions that align with modern underwriting realities.
Our team regularly supports borrowers with stable income who are being blocked by changing lender rules—particularly landlords, high-value homeowners, and internationally connected clients. We focus on strategy, timing, and lender alignment, not just rate comparison.
Q1: Why can’t I remortgage in 2026 if my income hasn’t changed?
Because lenders now assess risk using updated affordability models, expenditure assumptions, and stress tests that may differ significantly from previous criteria.
Q2: Are product transfers safer than switching lenders?
They can be easier short term, but repeated product transfers may limit future flexibility when you eventually try to switch lenders.
Q3: Do lenders still use income multiples in 2026?
Some do, but most now rely on layered affordability assessments rather than simple income-based calculations.
Q4: Does having multiple properties make remortgaging harder?
Yes. Lenders increasingly assess total portfolio exposure, not just the individual loan being refinanced.
Q5: Can specialist lenders help if high street banks say no?
Often yes. Specialist and private lenders assess risk differently and can provide viable alternatives when structured correctly.
Q6: When should I start planning a remortgage in 2026?
Ideally six to nine months before your current deal ends to allow time for strategy and lender selection.
📞 Want Help Navigating Today’s Market?
Book a free strategy call with one of our mortgage specialists.
We’ll help you find the smartest way forward—whatever rates do next.
About the Author
Wesley Ranger is the Director of Willow Private Finance and has over 20 years of experience in UK and international property finance. He specialises in complex remortgaging cases, high-value lending, and scenarios involving multiple properties or layered income structures. Wesley works closely with private banks, specialist lenders, and professional advisers to help clients navigate changing credit conditions and secure sustainable long-term finance solutions.
Important Notice
This article is for general information purposes only and does not constitute personal financial advice. Mortgage availability, lender criteria, affordability assessments, and interest rates are subject to change and depend on individual circumstances.
Remortgaging decisions can carry financial risk, particularly where affordability, loan terms, or property values are affected by market conditions. Always seek tailored advice before proceeding.
Willow Private Finance Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA No. 588422). Registered in England and Wales.
