When you remortgage, the process is similar to that when you buy a home, but is much quicker. The exact length of time it will take depends on the lender, but somewhere around four to six weeks is normal.

However, if you are in a real hurry, it is possible to find fast track remortgage services, particularly with mainstream lenders geared up to do business online. Some rapid remortgage services promise to get your deal done inside a week, as long as there are no problems with your application.

This is itself is rather less likely than with a home purchase mortgage, because the application forms for a remortgage are often a lot more straightforward. To help speed your application it is also worth having all your paperwork in order before you apply, so get together your bank statements, salary details, existing mortgage statements, proof of identity documents and anything else you are likely to need.

One way in which some lenders seek to speed up the process of remortgaging is through the use of title insurance. This type of product gives both you and the lender a guarantee against defects in the title of a property, such as missing or incorrect legal documents, fraud, a defective lease, inaccurate boundary descriptions and so on. This avoids the necessity of having a solicitor carry out the conveyancing work when you are remortgaging. If something does ultimately come to light, the insurance provider defends your rights in court if necessary and will be responsible for any compensation payouts.