What is a standard variable rate?

A standard variable rate (SVR) is a type of mortgage interest rate that you are most likely to go onto after finishing an introductory fixed, tracker or discounted deal.

Some lenders will also let you take out a mortgage on their SVR, but this is usually the most expensive option.

An SVR mortgage means your payments can go up or down according to changes in interest rates. 

Unlike tracker mortgages, SVRs do not track above the Bank of England Base Rate at a set percentage. Instead, the rate you pay on an SVR mortgage will be determined by your mortgage lender. So, if the Bank of England Base Rate went up by 1%, your lender could choose:

• Not to increase the SVR.
• To increase the SVR (they could choose to increase this by any amount less than 1%, 1% exactly or even make an increase greater than 1%).
• To decrease the rate (although this is certainly the least likely of the three options!).

Mortgage lenders can also increase or decrease their SVR at any time – not only after Base Rate changes.

When on an SVR mortgage, you won't normally have to pay an early repayment charge if you want to pay off your mortgage sooner or remortgage to a new deal. However, SVRs can be quite expensive – certainly more so than the best tracker rate mortgages available.

• Search all mortgages
• Compare the best variable rate mortgages
• Speak to a mortgage broker
• Compare the best variable rate buy-to-let mortgages

Our mortgage calculator helps you to see how much your mortgage might cost you each month.

Our how much can I borrow calculator gives you a range of how much a lender might consider lending you under a mortgage. This calculation is only an indication only.

Read our How much can I borrow for a mortgage guide to find out more about what can impact your potential sum of borrowing.