Suite 120 Railway House, 14 Chertsey Road Woking, United Kingdom, GU21 5AH,
First class service! Straight forward to deal with, answered all questions quickly and a speedy turn around to mortgage offer being issued. I cannot recommend AJMS and the Team highly enough. I would…
Thank you so much to AJMS for helping out with my recent remortgage. Always available on his mobile to answer any questions I had and made the whole process as stress free as possible for me. I would…
AJMS was extremely helpful in arranging my remortgage. His excellent knowledge allows him to provide a fast, efficient and professional service. Previously I have tried to arrange these myself which …
Highly recommended explained everything well, went to and from the lender so many times making sure all was agreed before spending my money on a survey 5 star amazing service!
Thank you AJMS for helping us with our mortgage! We really appreciate your patience and for always being at the end of the phone to answer any questions no matter how big or small!
Thank you so much to AJMS for helping out with my recent remortgage. Always available on his mobile to answer any questions I had and made the whole process as stress free as possible for me. I would definitely recommend him to friends and family!
“I received protection advice from Brian at AJMS and we proceeded to arrange various insurances for myself & my partner. I am very happy with the service I received and the policy I was recommended, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Brian’s services to anyone looking to arrange their personal insurance. “
AJMS has been our mortgage/financial advisor for many years now. His knowledge and expertise is second to none and I can’t recommend his services enough!
Alexander James Mortgage Services - The Best Woking Mortgage Brokers
AJMS is extremely knowledgeable, professional, supportive and well versed in many financial services, including but not limited to Mortgages. I would highly recommend you engage with him and his company to assist with your financial needs and mortgage application. A one stop shop in financial services with friendly advice and exceptional service delivery. Happy Customer !!
Alexander James Mortgage Services - Woking Mortgage Brokers
AJMS has been very helpful and knowledgeable helping me out get the mortgage to get my first house. His knowledge does not only limit on mortgage but broader financial areas. I was a happy customer and would definitely ask him for your help if I will need to get more properties with mortgages or advice on financial planning.
I used AJMS over the course of the years for my property purchases. In all my dealings with him he has always given me impartial advice and in my opinion found the best rates on the market. I would recommend AJMS as an honest and genuine financial adviser.
We were recommended to use the services of Alexander James Mortgage Services by our then financial adviser.
In retrospect, this was an excellent recommendation as AJMS provided an outstanding service.
We were so impressed with the service that AJMS provided that when our youngest daughter decided to purchase a flat, we again secured the services of AJMS.
Who provided a first class service in helping her obtain a very competitive mortgage and appropriate life, critical illness, contents and health insurance cover.
And in the future will help her to set up a private pension fund.
So to anyone looking for sound, sensible and straightforward financial advice, we all recommend Alexander James Mortgage Services.”
Suite 120 Railway House, 14 Chertsey Road Woking, United Kingdom, GU21 5AH,
Published Thursday 27 August 2026
Moving day is full of excitement. There are keys to collect, boxes to unpack and perhaps a state-of-the-art kitchen or cosy home office to admire for the first time.
But moving home can also feel overwhelming, stressful and confusing. Alongside the excitement of your new home comes a major financial responsibility: your mortgage.
Tomorrow, Friday 28 August 2026, is expected to be the busiest moving day of the year. Research reported by The Intermediary forecasts nearly 23,000 UK households will move, making the day more than four times busier than an average moving day.
It is a useful reminder that, whether you are moving in Woking tomorrow or planning for the future, your moving checklist should include more than removal boxes and meter readings. It should also include mortgage protection insurance.
Mortgage protection insurance is not just one type of policy. It is a general term for different forms of protection that can help your household manage the mortgage and other essential costs if your circumstances change.
Here are the main options.
Life insurance can pay a lump sum if you die during the policy term. For homeowners, this could help your partner or family clear or reduce the mortgage. Decreasing term life insurance is often designed to broadly follow a repayment mortgage balance as it reduces.
Critical illness cover can pay a lump sum if you are diagnosed with one of the serious illnesses specifically listed in the policy. Conditions vary between providers, so it is important to understand exactly what is covered. A payout could help reduce the mortgage, fund treatment or keep household finances steady while you recover.
Income protection can provide a regular income if illness or an accident prevents you from working. It usually pays a proportion of your earnings, rather than your full salary, and can continue for a chosen period or until you return to work, depending on the policy.
Mortgage Payment Protection Insurance, or MPPI, is designed to cover your mortgage repayments for a limited period if you cannot work because of sickness or an accident. Some policies may also include involuntary unemployment cover. Terms, exclusions and waiting periods vary, so the small print matters.
We explain these options in more detail in our mortgage protection guide.
Buying or moving home is one of the clearest moments to review your financial safety net. Your mortgage may be larger, your monthly commitments may have changed and your family’s needs may be different from when you arranged your previous cover.
Research from Vitality highlights the protection gap. While 34% of mortgage holders say protecting mortgage debt is a key reason for taking out protection, only 15% actively planned protection when purchasing their home.
Among people with serious or critical illness cover, 56% say they would use a payout to pay off or reduce their mortgage. A further 43% would use it for household bills and living expenses. This shows that protection is not only about the property itself. It is about protecting the life you are building around it.
The Exeter’s August 2026 analysis shows that more people are thinking about financial resilience. Searches for “income protection” rose by 30% year-on-year, while searches for “emergency savings” increased by 950% and “financial protection” by 130%.
However, only 9% of UK adults currently hold income protection. The Exeter also found that 18% of adults had taken at least four weeks off work in the previous six months because of illness, injury or mental health issues. Among those people, almost a quarter relied on personal savings and nearly one in ten turned to credit cards or loans.
And with 21% of UK adults saving nothing in a typical month, relying on savings alone may not always be realistic. Saving is still valuable, of course. Think of it like choosing between a daily artisan coffee and a home-brewed one: small, affordable habits can make a difference over time! But savings and insurance do different jobs, and many households need to consider both.
The latest Royal London Financial Resilience Report 2026 found that the average UK adult scores just 33% on its Financial Resilience Barometer, placing them in the “Economically Exposed” category.
Employment does not automatically remove the risk. In fact, 35% of employees are classed as financially fragile despite being in work.
For financially fragile households, average cash savings are just £1,136, with only £77 of discretionary income available each month after essential spending. A mortgage payment can quickly become difficult to maintain if one income stops or drops unexpectedly.
The Financial Conduct Authority’s Pure Protection Market Study page also identified a significant protection gap. Its consumer research indicates that 42% of UK adults hold a pure protection policy, leaving 58% without cover against risks such as death, serious illness or inability to work.
The encouraging news is that claims acceptance rates average around 98% across pure protection products. The FCA also confirmed it does not plan to cap or ban commissions as part of the interim report. However, it is examining how the market works, including switching practices and customer outcomes. This is why clear explanations, suitable recommendations and regular reviews are so important.
Use the following checklist when buying a home, moving in Woking or reviewing your current arrangements.
Start by confirming how much you are borrowing and how long the mortgage runs. A larger loan may mean your existing life cover is no longer enough.
If you are moving from an interest-only mortgage to a repayment mortgage, or vice versa, the type and level of cover you need may also change. We can help you understand whether your current policy still matches the debt you are taking on.
Start putting some extra pennies aside where you can. Even a modest emergency fund may help with short-term costs, such as a broken boiler, unexpected repairs or a temporary reduction in income.
At the same time, do not assume savings will cover a lengthy absence from work. Work out how long your savings would last after paying the mortgage, energy bills, food, childcare and transport.
Check what your employer provides. You may have death-in-service cover, sick pay or access to an employee assistance programme.
These benefits can be useful, but they may not follow you if you change employer. They may also be insufficient to clear a new mortgage or support your household for the long term. Ask us to help you identify any gaps rather than simply assuming your workplace cover is enough.
Protection should reflect the people and plans that matter to you. Consider whether your household could remain in the new home if one income stopped.
Would your partner manage the mortgage alone? Would your children’s childcare, school or daily living costs still be affordable? Would a payout need to cover more than the mortgage, perhaps allowing your family to stay in the home while they adjust?
Take a broad view. The goal may not simply be to pay off the mortgage. It could be to preserve stability and give your family breathing space.
A protection review should not happen only once. Your income, health, family, mortgage balance and financial goals can all change.
When your current mortgage deal approaches its end, arrange remortgage advice alongside a protection review. You may find a better interest rate or lower monthly payment, but remember to check for early repayment charges if you leave your existing deal early. Don’t worry: we can talk you through the costs and help you compare the overall benefit.
At Alexander James Mortgage Services, we understand that arranging a mortgage and protection at the same time can feel like a lot. There are policy types, medical questions, exclusions, waiting periods and affordability considerations to work through.
As a local mortgage advisor in Woking and mortgage broker in Woking, we can talk you through your options in plain English. We have access to more than 12,000 mortgage products and can help coordinate your mortgage and protection needs, while handling much of the paperwork for you.
Our advice is impartial, and we look at the wider picture rather than focusing only on the headline mortgage rate. That may include life insurance, critical illness cover, income protection and other insurance needs.
We are also here when your circumstances change. If you are upsizing for a growing family, moving closer to work, releasing funds for a cosy home office or preparing for a future remortgage, we can help you review the plan.
Moving home is a huge milestone. This is great news! Taking a little time to protect that milestone can help relieve the stress of wondering what might happen if life does not go according to plan.
Contact AJMS to discuss your mortgage protection options in Woking. We are always here to help, and we would be pleased to talk through your specific journey.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and does not constitute personal financial advice. Mortgage and protection recommendations depend on your individual circumstances, needs and affordability. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage. Insurance policies have exclusions, conditions and eligibility requirements, and acceptance is not guaranteed. Alexander James Mortgage Services is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.