How Long Does a Mortgage Offer Last? What Happens If It Expires Before Completion

Typically three to six months from the date it was issued, though some lenders set it shorter, especially for remortgages. New build purchases sometimes get longer, since these sales often take extra time to complete.

The offer letter itself will state the exact expiry date. If you cannot find it, ask your mortgage broker or lender directly rather than guessing based on an average.

A mortgage offer usually expires because the sale is taking longer than the lender expected when they issued it. Common causes include a slow chain, delays in searches coming back, a survey turning up an issue that needs resolving, or delays on the seller's side that have nothing to do with you.

None of this is unusual. Conveyancing timelines can shift for reasons outside anyone's control, and lenders build some flexibility into their offer periods because of this.

If the offer expires before you complete, the lender is no longer bound to release the funds. You generally have two options: ask for an extension, or reapply.

An extension, if the lender agrees to one, is usually the easier route. Some lenders will extend for a month, others allow longer, but they are not required to say yes, and they may want to recheck your finances before agreeing.

If an extension is not possible, you will need to submit a new application. This normally means another credit check and updated documents, and there is a chance the interest rate on offer will have changed since your first application.

Sometimes, but it is the lender's decision, not a right you can insist on. Extensions are more likely to be approved when the delay is short and your financial situation has not changed. If your income, credit score, or employment has changed since your original application, the lender may want to review these again before extending.

It is worth asking for an extension as early as possible rather than waiting until the offer has already expired. Lenders generally prefer requests made with some notice.

This is the part that often gets missed. If your mortgage offer is getting close to its expiry date, tell your conveyancer straight away. They cannot control the lender's decision, but they can prioritise the parts of the sale that are within their control, chasing outstanding searches, getting documents turned around faster, and flagging to the other side's solicitor that timing is tight.

A conveyancer who knows your deadline can often shave real time off the process just by reordering what gets done first. This is one of the reasons that choosing the right solicitor for a remortgage matters just as much as the mortgage itself. If you are buying and want to understand the full run-up to completion, what happens on completion day is a useful next read.

• ●Check the expiry date on your offer letter as soon as you receive it, and note it somewhere you will not forget
• ●Tell your conveyancer the exact date early on, not once it is already close
• ●Respond quickly to any document requests from your solicitor or lender, since delays on your side add up
• ●If a delay looks likely, ask your lender about an extension before the offer actually expires

If you are remortgaging, be aware offers on these can run shorter than a standard purchase, so check how long a remortgage actually takes.

If you are getting close to completion and want a conveyancer who can move quickly, see our buying service or get a quote to get started.

Last reviewed 7 October 2026. The offer periods here are typical lender practice at that date, not fixed rules, and they vary from lender to lender. The expiry date on your own offer letter is the one that applies.