Your AI Mortgage Assistant
Morty is your friendly, on-demand local mortgage assistant, ready to answer any question you might have about Guernsey mortgages.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is Swoop free to use?
Swoop is completely free for users. We earn a small referral fee from lenders when you submit an enquiry. There’s no cost to you, and no obligation to take a mortgage through any lender.
How many mortgage providers are there in Guernsey?
There are seven main mortgage lenders active in Guernsey's residential market. These are Barclays, Butterfield, HSBC, Lloyds Bank, NatWest International, Santander International and Skipton International. Together, these lenders provide the vast majority of mortgages for homes in Guernsey. There are also a small number of specialist or overseas lenders that may be accessible through a mortgage broker, but they are not generally considered part of the mainstream local mortgage market.
How is getting a mortgage in Guernsey different from getting one in the UK?
Getting a mortgage in Guernsey is similar to the UK in many ways, but there are several important differences. Guernsey has far fewer mortgage lenders, usually around seven, so there is less competition and each bank's lending criteria can vary more noticeably. Mortgage rates are often higher than those offered in the UK by the same banking groups because Guernsey operates as a separate market with different funding costs and operating structures. The property system also works differently. Guernsey has its own legal process and ownership types, such as flying freehold and share transfer, which do not exist in the UK. Many property purchases, particularly freehold and flying freehold transactions, are passed before the Royal Court, while share transfer purchases follow a different process. There are also differences in tax treatment. Guernsey has historically allowed tax relief on mortgage interest, but this relief is being phased out and will be removed from the year of assessment 2026. Finally, the range of mortgage products and affordability rules can differ from the UK. Because the market is smaller, lenders may offer fewer product variations, and some assisted ownership schemes in Guernsey require borrowers to use specific partner lenders.
Do you show all lenders in Guernsey?
Yes. Every mortgage product from every on-island lender is listed on Swoop. Even if a lender isn’t part of our referral programme, you’ll still see their products for a fair comparison.
Do all Guernsey lenders have a physical presence on the island?
The main mortgage lenders that serve Guernsey borrowers do have a physical branch or office on the island, such as Barclays, Butterfield, HSBC, Lloyds, NatWest International, Santander International and Skipton International. This means you can usually meet an adviser, hand in paperwork, or deal with queries locally. However, some specialist or niche lenders that you might access through a mortgage broker may not have a local branch in Guernsey. These lenders operate offshore or via the UK and can still lend to Guernsey residents, but all formal documentation and communication is typically handled electronically or through your broker rather than in a local office. For the core residential mortgage market, though, the main lenders you're most likely to deal with do maintain a physical presence on the island.
How often are rates updated?
Rates are checked and refreshed automatically every day using AI that gathers data directly from lender websites. This ensures you always see the most up-to-date information available. We do human checks weekly to guarantee accuracy.
Are Guernsey mortgage lenders regulated differently from UK lenders?
Yes. Mortgage lenders operating in Guernsey are regulated under Guernsey's own financial regulatory framework, overseen by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission (JFSC) rather than the UK's Financial Conduct Authority. The rules are very similar in spirit, focusing on responsible lending, consumer protection and financial stability, but they are applied under Guernsey legislation and supervised locally. UK lenders that operate in Guernsey do so through their Guernsey branches, which means their mortgage activity on the island must comply with JFSC requirements, even if the wider banking group is regulated in the UK. For borrowers, the experience feels much the same, but the regulatory oversight is local, not UK-based.
Are you affiliated with any lenders or brokers?
No. Swoop is fully independent. We’re not owned or operated by any bank, broker, or financial institution. Our only goal is to help you make informed choices.
Can I use Swoop for remortgaging or buy-to-let?
Yes. You can filter by remortgage or buy-to-let to see products tailored to your situation.
Do Guernsey lenders require you to bank with them?
No. You do not need to be an existing customer to get a mortgage with most Guernsey lenders. You can usually apply without holding a current account with the bank. Some lenders may offer preferential or "loyalty" rates if you already bank with them, if you meet certain account requirements, or if you use one of their packaged services. These discounts are optional and not a condition of being approved for a mortgage. In general, being an existing customer can make the process smoother, but it is not a requirement for most mortgages in Guernsey.