What are redemption penalties?

Redemption penalties are the charges that some mortgage lenders will apply to you if you decide to redeem your mortgage within a specified period.

Fixed rate mortgages all carry redemption penalties, but only for the duration of the introductory period. Once that period is over, which could be 1-5 years, you are normally free to seek out another mortgage provider without having to pay any redemption penalties. Sometimes mortgage providers charge an overhanging redemption penalty. This is a redemption penalty that continues to apply even when the introductory period has ended.

The redemption penalty is usually a percentage of the mortgage total - this could be 1% - 5% of the total loan, depending on what stage of the mortgage term you are at when you decide to leave the agreement.

To avoid redemption penalties completely you need a flexible, current account or offset mortgage - they allow you to end your mortgage agreement whenever you choose.

Always check out whether your proposed mortgage has any early redemption penalties.

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