Remortgage applications have surged as homeowners come off ultra-low pandemic-era fixes and now face higher borrowing costs . Applications jumped by 46 per cent in the first three months of 2026 compared with a year earlier, according to new data from Stonebridge. That rise is driving overall mortgage activity, which climbed by a quarter (24.6 per cent) year on year, even as demand for home purchases dipped. What’s causing the rush? Behind the spike is the millions of borrowers coming off ultra-low fixed deals taken out during the pandemic. Back in 2021, mortgage rates fell as low as 1.85 per cent. Today, they remain significantly higher , leaving many households facing a jump in monthly payments. UK Finance estimates that 1.8 million fixed-rate mortgages are due to end this year, adding to the refinancing wave already underway.…