Kent Reliance
Kent Reliance Mortgages | Existing Customers & Product Transfers
Kent Reliance is no longer accepting new residential or buy-to-let mortgage applications, but it continues to support customers who already have a Kent Reliance mortgage.
If you are an existing Kent Reliance customer approaching the end of your fixed or discounted mortgage deal, you may be able to switch onto another Kent Reliance product through its Mortgage Choices scheme.
However, staying with Kent Reliance is not your only option.
At Kerr & Watson, we can compare the product transfer available from Kent Reliance against remortgage options from other suitable lenders to help establish which route is most appropriate for you.
Is Kent Reliance now Rely Mortgages?
Not exactly.
Kent Reliance for Intermediaries stopped accepting new mortgage business on 17 December 2025.
OSB Group has since separated its new lending across different specialist brands:
- Rely Mortgages is used for new buy-to-let lending.
- Precise Mortgages provides new specialist residential and bridging mortgages.
- Kent Reliance continues to service its existing mortgage customers.
If you already have a Kent Reliance mortgage, it therefore remains a Kent Reliance mortgage.
It does not automatically transfer to Rely.
Existing Kent Reliance residential and buy-to-let customers can still access qualifying Kent Reliance product transfers.
Existing Kent Reliance mortgage customers
Kent Reliance continues to support existing borrowers with areas including:
| Existing customer requirement | Kent Reliance |
|---|---|
| Residential product transfer | Yes |
| Buy-to-let product transfer | Yes |
| Shared Ownership staircasing | Yes |
| New mortgage customer | No |
| New residential mortgage | No |
| New buy-to-let mortgage | No |
| Further advance / additional lending | No new further advances |
| Transfer of equity | Can be considered subject to criteria |
| Residential porting | May be available subject to existing mortgage terms and criteria |
| Overpayments | Subject to existing mortgage terms |
| Payment difficulties support | Yes |
The options available will depend on your existing mortgage and individual circumstances.
Kent Reliance product transfers
A product transfer allows an existing Kent Reliance borrower to switch onto another Kent Reliance mortgage product without remortgaging to another lender.
Kent Reliance calls this its Mortgage Choices scheme.
The process can be significantly simpler than a full remortgage because an eligible product transfer normally does not require:
- A new property valuation.
- Full mortgage underwriting.
- Conveyancing to change lender.
- A new mortgage application with another bank.
You can arrange a Kent Reliance product transfer directly with the lender or through a mortgage broker.
When can I switch my Kent Reliance mortgage?
Kent Reliance allows customers approaching the end of their existing deal to select from the products for which they are eligible.
Its current rules allow customers to switch up to three months before their existing mortgage deal ends without another affordability assessment.
Kent Reliance normally contacts customers before their existing product expires to explain the available Mortgage Choices.
It is still sensible to begin reviewing the mortgage before this point.
Starting the review earlier gives us time to compare staying with Kent Reliance against remortgaging elsewhere before you need to make a decision.
Should I take a Kent Reliance product transfer?
It depends.
A product transfer can be attractive because it is usually simpler than moving mortgage lender.
It could be appropriate where:
- Kent Reliance offers a competitive product.
- You do not need additional borrowing.
- Your circumstances have changed and remortgaging would be difficult.
- Your property would be difficult to remortgage elsewhere.
- You want to avoid a new valuation.
- You want to avoid conveyancing.
- You want a relatively straightforward mortgage switch.
However, convenience does not automatically make a Kent Reliance product transfer the most suitable option.
Before recommending one, we would normally compare it against the wider mortgage market.
Kent Reliance product transfer or remortgage?
There are two main options when your Kent Reliance deal approaches expiry.
Option 1: Stay with Kent Reliance
You select another product available through Kent Reliance Mortgage Choices.
Potential advantages include:
- No full remortgage application.
- No new affordability assessment for a straightforward eligible switch.
- No new valuation.
- No change of lender.
- No standard remortgage conveyancing.
- Less documentation in many cases.
Option 2: Remortgage to another lender
Your Kent Reliance mortgage is repaid and replaced by a mortgage from another lender.
A remortgage may be worth considering where:
- Another lender offers a lower overall cost.
- You need additional borrowing.
- You want to change the mortgage term.
- You want different mortgage features.
- Your circumstances have improved.
- The property has increased significantly in value.
- Another lender’s criteria now suit you better.
A remortgage involves a full assessment by the new lender, including affordability, credit history and property criteria.
Why compare Kent Reliance before switching?
The product transfer rate is only one part of the decision.
We would normally compare:
- Interest rate.
- Product fee.
- Monthly payment.
- Overall cost during the product period.
- Early repayment charges.
- Loan-to-value.
- Remaining mortgage term.
- Future plans.
- Additional borrowing requirements.
- Property value.
- Alternative lenders.
For example, a product with a slightly lower interest rate may not necessarily be cheaper if it has a substantial arrangement fee.
Equally, paying a slightly higher rate could sometimes be appropriate if it avoids significant remortgage costs or underwriting problems.
Existing Kent Reliance residential mortgage customers
If you already have a Kent Reliance residential mortgage, you can still access qualifying product-transfer options.
Kent Reliance no longer accepts new residential mortgage customers.
For new specialist residential lending, OSB Group now directs brokers towards Precise Mortgages.
This does not mean you have to move your existing mortgage to Precise.
Your options normally remain:
- Select another Kent Reliance product.
- Remortgage to Precise if suitable.
- Remortgage to another suitable mortgage lender.
We compare the available options rather than automatically recommending another OSB Group lender.
Existing Kent Reliance buy-to-let customers
Existing Kent Reliance landlords can also continue to access qualifying Kent Reliance product transfers.
This can include customers whose mortgages are held:
- Personally.
- Through qualifying limited companies.
- Across landlord portfolios.
For new buy-to-let lending, OSB Group now uses Rely Mortgages as its dedicated BTL brand.
However, your existing Kent Reliance buy-to-let mortgage does not automatically become a Rely mortgage.
If you remain with Kent Reliance through a product transfer, the mortgage stays with Kent Reliance.
If you wanted to move to Rely, that would normally involve a new mortgage application and remortgage rather than a Kent Reliance product switch.
Should an existing Kent Reliance landlord consider Rely?
Potentially, but Rely should be compared with the rest of the buy-to-let market rather than automatically selected because it forms part of the same banking group.
Rely may be relevant for:
- A new investment property.
- A remortgage away from Kent Reliance.
- Additional borrowing that cannot be arranged through Kent Reliance.
- A limited-company transaction.
- A specialist buy-to-let property.
However, another BTL lender may provide a better rental calculation, property criteria or overall cost.
At Kerr & Watson, we can compare Rely alongside other suitable lenders.
Can I borrow more from Kent Reliance?
Kent Reliance is no longer accepting new further-advance applications following its withdrawal from new lending.
This is important for existing customers who want to:
- Raise money for home improvements.
- Consolidate borrowing.
- Release equity.
- Raise a deposit for another property.
- Fund an investment purchase.
- Borrow additional money for another purpose.
If additional borrowing is required, we would normally need to consider alternatives such as a remortgage to another lender.
Depending on the circumstances, other options could sometimes include a second-charge mortgage, although this needs separate advice and comparison.
What if I want to change my mortgage term or repayment method?
A simple product transfer normally means keeping the basic mortgage structure unchanged.
If you want to make other changes, such as:
- Extending the mortgage term.
- Reducing the term.
- Moving from repayment to interest-only.
- Moving from interest-only to repayment.
- Changing borrowers.
additional assessment may be required.
Kent Reliance states that customers wanting to change their mortgage term or repayment method need to contact it rather than completing a straightforward online product switch.
We can review the proposed change and establish whether staying with Kent Reliance or moving elsewhere provides the more appropriate solution.
Kent Reliance Transfer of Equity
Kent Reliance can consider a Transfer of Equity for existing customers.
A Transfer of Equity changes the legal ownership or borrowers connected with the mortgage.
This could arise following:
- Divorce.
- Separation.
- Marriage.
- A relationship change.
- Estate planning.
For example, one borrower may need to be removed from both the mortgage and property ownership.
Kent Reliance will normally reassess affordability and eligibility rather than treating this as a straightforward administrative change.
Legal work will also normally be required.
Can I port my Kent Reliance residential mortgage?
Kent Reliance states that its residential mortgage products are portable.
Porting means taking the benefits of an existing mortgage product to a new property rather than automatically repaying the mortgage when you move home.
However, porting is not guaranteed.
Kent Reliance will need to assess the new transaction against the criteria applicable at the time.
The new property must also be acceptable.
Where additional borrowing is required, the fact that Kent Reliance no longer offers new additional lending needs to be considered carefully before relying on porting as the solution.
We would establish the current options with Kent Reliance before recommending that you commit to a property purchase.
What happens if I do nothing when my Kent Reliance deal ends?
If you do not select a new product or remortgage before your current deal expires, the mortgage normally moves onto the follow-on rate stated within your original mortgage offer.
This could be significantly different from your existing fixed or discounted rate.
It is therefore sensible to review the mortgage before the current deal ends rather than allowing it to roll onto the follow-on rate unintentionally.
How far in advance should I review my Kent Reliance mortgage?
We generally recommend beginning your mortgage review around six months before your current deal ends.
That does not mean you need to switch immediately.
It gives us time to:
- Review your current mortgage.
- Check the expiry date.
- Understand your future plans.
- Estimate the property’s current value.
- Check Kent Reliance’s available product-transfer options when they become available.
- Compare alternative remortgage lenders.
- Prepare documents if a remortgage is appropriate.
Kent Reliance currently permits an eligible penalty-free product switch within three months of the existing deal ending.
Starting the review earlier simply gives you more time to consider the alternatives.
Can I switch early?
Potentially.
However, switching too early can result in an early repayment charge depending on the terms of your existing mortgage.
Kent Reliance currently states that if you complete a product transfer more than three months before the end of your existing deal, an early repayment charge may apply.
We would therefore check the exact expiry date and early repayment charge before recommending when the new product should begin.
Do Kent Reliance product transfers require a valuation?
Kent Reliance’s Mortgage Choices scheme normally allows an eligible existing customer to select a new product without another property valuation.
This is one of the main potential benefits of a product transfer.
It can be particularly useful if the property:
- Has unusual construction.
- Has changed since the original mortgage.
- Could be difficult to value.
- Would otherwise require a physical inspection.
However, there can be situations where establishing the current market value is useful when comparing a remortgage, particularly where a higher valuation could move the mortgage into a lower loan-to-value band.
Do Kent Reliance product transfers require affordability checks?
A straightforward eligible Mortgage Choices product transfer normally does not require a new affordability assessment.
This can be particularly important where your circumstances have changed since the original mortgage was arranged.
Examples could include:
- Reduced income.
- Retirement.
- Becoming self-employed.
- Changing jobs.
- Increased financial commitments.
A product transfer can therefore remain possible in circumstances where remortgaging to another lender would be more difficult.
However, additional mortgage changes can require further assessment.
Product transfers where your circumstances have changed
A change in your circumstances does not necessarily mean you should automatically stay with Kent Reliance.
For example, your income may have:
- Fallen.
- Increased.
- Become self-employed.
- Become more complicated.
Your credit history may also have changed.
We would first establish whether alternative lenders remain available before deciding whether the Kent Reliance product transfer provides the better overall outcome.
Existing Shared Ownership customers
Kent Reliance continues to support existing Shared Ownership customers with staircasing.
Staircasing involves purchasing an additional share of your home from the housing association or other provider.
Kent Reliance stopped accepting new Shared Ownership mortgage applications when it withdrew from new mortgage lending.
However, qualifying existing customers can still approach Kent Reliance regarding staircasing their existing Shared Ownership property.
Making overpayments to Kent Reliance
Existing Kent Reliance customers may be able to make regular or lump-sum overpayments.
The exact allowance depends on the terms of the mortgage product.
Some Kent Reliance mortgages can carry early repayment charges where payments exceed the permitted amount.
Before making a significant lump-sum payment, it is therefore sensible to check:
- Your mortgage offer.
- Current outstanding balance.
- Overpayment allowance.
- Early repayment charge.
- Remaining deal period.
Reducing the mortgage balance can lower future interest costs, but you should also consider your need to retain emergency savings.
If you are struggling with your Kent Reliance mortgage payments
If you are concerned that you may miss a mortgage payment, you should contact Kent Reliance as early as possible.
Kent Reliance continues to provide payment-support options for existing customers.
Depending on the circumstances, this may include measures available under the Mortgage Charter, such as:
- Temporarily switching to interest-only.
- Extending the mortgage term.
- Reviewing the mortgage product.
Temporary changes can reduce monthly payments but may increase the overall amount of interest payable or affect future payments.
If you are already experiencing financial difficulty, contacting the lender before missing a payment can give you more options.
Is Rely the replacement for Kent Reliance?
For new buy-to-let lending, effectively yes within the OSB Group’s current brand structure.
Rely was launched as OSB Group’s dedicated specialist buy-to-let lender and new BTL applications are now directed there rather than Kent Reliance.
However, it is important to distinguish this from existing Kent Reliance mortgages.
Kent Reliance continues to exist and service its existing borrowers.
Your mortgage account has not simply been renamed Rely.
For new residential and bridging business, OSB Group directs applications towards Precise rather than Rely.
What happened to Kent Reliance’s old mortgage criteria?
Before December 2025, Kent Reliance had broad specialist criteria covering areas including residential mortgages, portfolio landlords, limited companies and specialist BTL property.
Those criteria are no longer relevant for a new Kent Reliance mortgage application because Kent Reliance is not accepting new mortgage business.
For a new BTL case, we would instead consider Rely’s current criteria.
For a new residential case, we would compare Precise and other suitable residential lenders.
Keeping old Kent Reliance lending criteria on this page could therefore be misleading.
Should I stay with Kent Reliance or remortgage?
There is no single answer.
A Kent Reliance product transfer may be suitable where it provides a competitive product with minimal administration.
A remortgage may be more appropriate where another lender offers:
- A lower overall cost.
- Additional borrowing.
- Better mortgage flexibility.
- A different repayment structure.
- More appropriate future options.
At Kerr & Watson, we can compare both routes before you make the decision.
Kent Reliance Mortgage Case Studies
We have helped customers secure mortgages with Kent Reliance in a range of circumstances, including cases where family support was needed to help meet the lender’s affordability requirements.
The case studies below show real examples of customers we have helped and demonstrate how factors such as income, deposit, affordability, family support and lender criteria can affect the mortgage options available.
Speak to a mortgage adviser about your Kent Reliance mortgage
If you already have a Kent Reliance residential or buy-to-let mortgage, we can review your options before your current deal ends.
We can compare the Kent Reliance product transfer available to you against suitable remortgage alternatives, including other lenders across the market.
Where you need additional borrowing or want to make wider changes to the mortgage, we can also establish which lenders could consider the new requirements. Speak to an Adviser
Lender criteria, affordability calculations, product availability and lending terms can change. The information on this page is intended as a general guide and should not be relied upon as confirmation that a lender will accept a particular application or that a particular mortgage or finance product will be suitable for you.
The information on this page does not constitute personalised mortgage advice or a recommendation. The regulatory status of a mortgage or loan depends on the type of transaction and your circumstances. Many buy-to-let and commercial mortgages, and some bridging loans, are not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Your home or other property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on a mortgage or other loan secured against it.
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