Options at end of Fixed Rate Period

We will come to the end of our fixed rate (with KBC, at 3.99%) at the end of March, and I'm thinking about our options.

We have consistently overpaid, have another owned outright property in the UK and good savings.

Only the husband works, and we're two months into a 12 month contract outside Ireland. (At better rates than in Ireland). i.e. Were in a much better place than many, and a very good customer.

The house itself is rented out (KBC not aware), and the outstanding mortgage (240K) probably puts us 40K into negative equity.

The KBC rates really aren't competetive, but will anyone else offer us a residential mortgage assuming we return at the end of the year, and will anyone else offer us any mortgage at all given our employment status. What would you advise please?

Ignoring any other issues such as working abroad, house let etc, the fact that you are in negative equity basically means no other bank will take on that mortgage so you are stuck with your existing one.

Thanks for that.
I've asked a couple of lenders for call backs. We'll give them the details and the worse the can do is say no. (I think!)
We could take from savings to only borrow 92% at a push, but we'd prefer not to really.

Do anyone think it would be worth/simpler to call a broker. We did use one when we bought thye house, but it seemed like money for old rope the service we got at the time.