Lifetime tracker rate mortgages (also known simply as “lifetime tracker mortgages”) offer an interest rate set at a fixed percentage above the Bank of England base rate (or an equivalent). This means your rate should stay broadly in line with inflation while the tracker rate is in effect.
With a lifetime tracker mortgage the interest rate you pay above the BBR is the rate you pay until the mortgage is paid off.
Essentially, a lifetime tracker mortgage is like a variable rate, the difference being that the rate follows another rate (typically the Bank of England Base Rate, but it can also be the lender's standard variable rate).
A lifetime tracker mortgage is not to be confused with a lifetime mortgage which is a completely different product.
The most popular alternative to a tracker mortgage is a fixed rate mortgage. This offers a set interest rate for an introductory period (again, 2 years is common).
The advantage of a fixed rate mortgage is that you know exactly how much you will be paying each month. However, that certainty tends to come at a cost, with the interest rates on fixed rate mortgages generally being higher than the initial rate on a tracker mortgage.
As the tracker rate is usually only offered for a limited period, it may be worth looking at moving your mortgage to a new deal with the tracker period ends. Many mortgage lenders offer to cover standard remortgaging fees when you move your mortgage to them, making this more affordable.