Frequently Asked Questions

In many cases there are lenders who can consider applications where there are previous defaults or CCJs. What is possible depends on how many there are, the amounts involved, how recent they are and whether they are satisfied. Some lenders are more flexible with older issues (for example, over 3–6 years old) or may accept more recent blips with a higher deposit or rate. We will review your full credit report and, if appropriate, introduce you to a regulated adviser who can talk you through which lenders are most likely to consider your case.

Not always. Reducing or clearing balances can improve affordability and may make you more attractive to some lenders, but using all of your savings to clear debt can also leave you short on deposit or fees. We will look at your current balances, payments and goals and outline how an adviser is likely to weigh up the trade-off between clearing debt and keeping cash aside.

It may be possible, but it is very lender-specific. Key points include whether the DMP is active or finished, how long ago it completed, whether payments were maintained on time, and what your credit file looks like now. Some specialist lenders will consider applicants with a historic DMP, especially if it has been settled for a few years. We will review your DMP history and credit report and then introduce you to an adviser who can discuss which lenders, if any, are realistic for you.

Most lenders look at tax documents such as SA302s and tax year overviews. Sole traders are usually assessed on net profit, while limited company directors are often assessed on salary plus dividends. Some lenders will work from one year’s figures, retained profits or contractor day-rates. We summarise how your income currently shows on paper and connect you with advisers who regularly deal with similar trading patterns.

Many lenders will count at least part of variable pay, but the proportion can vary from around 50% up to 100% depending on how regular it is and the evidence available (recent payslips and P60s). Some lenders prefer a longer track record of variable income than others. We will review your payslips and summaries so an adviser can choose lenders who are more generous with your specific pay structure.

Timelines vary by lender and complexity, but a broad guide is: pre-assessment within a day or so of receiving your information, a Decision in Principle within 24–48 hours once documents are supplied, and then around 2–4 weeks from full application to offer for many cases. Some complex or heavily adverse cases can take longer. We will outline realistic timescales after seeing your documents.

It depends on how the lender runs the check. Some use a “soft” search that is visible to you but not to other lenders, while others use a “hard” search that appears on your credit file. A single hard search is normal, but lots of hard searches close together can be unhelpful. The adviser we introduce you to will explain how a particular lender records its checks before anything is submitted.

Standard items include proof of ID, proof of address, the last 3 months’ bank statements, payslips or self-employed evidence, and details of your deposit source. For adverse credit cases, a full credit report from all active accounts is very useful. We will give you a simple checklist after our first chat so everything is ready for the adviser. You can also find a handy list in our mortgage guides.

Typical costs to factor in are: any lender product or arrangement fee (which may be added to the loan), valuation or survey fees, legal/solicitor costs, any broker fee agreed with the adviser, and property tax where applicable. Our enquiry form and calculators can help you start a rough budget; the adviser will then confirm the exact figures for your chosen lender and product.

Neither option is “better” for everyone. Fixed rates provide payment certainty for a set period, while tracker and variable products can start cheaper but may move up or down. The right choice depends on your risk appetite, how long you expect to keep the mortgage, and your wider plans. The adviser we introduce you to will compare suitable products and talk through the pros and cons for your situation.

It is usually better to pause and understand why you were declined before making further applications. Multiple hard searches and quick re-applications can make things harder. We will look at the decline reason, your credit report and your income, then, if appropriate, pass the details to a regulated adviser who can target lenders with criteria closer to your profile.

Specialist lenders often ask for a larger deposit when payment issues are recent or more severe. For some, that might mean 10–20% or more, depending on when the problems happened and whether they are now back on track. Older or fully resolved events may need less. After reviewing your credit report we can outline what level of deposit advisers are likely to aim for.

Yes. We support clients across the UK using phone, email, video calls and secure document upload. When we introduce you to an adviser, they will also confirm how they prefer to meet and update you.