Specialist Mortgages Explained: What Happens When a High Street Lender Says No
Quick summary For more information, see FCA guidance on mortgages. A declined application from a high street lender does not mean a mortgage is impossible Specialist lenders assess your full picture, not just a credit score The age of a credit issue matters enormously: a three-year-old default is viewed very differently from one registered last […]
Mortgage Protection Insurance Explained: Life Cover, Critical Illness and Income Protection
Quick summary For more information, see FCA insurance guidance. More than a third of UK mortgage holders have no life insurance, income protection or critical illness cover Life insurance pays off the mortgage if you die; income protection covers payments if you cannot work Critical illness cover pays a lump sum on diagnosis of a […]
Buy to Let Mortgages in the UK: A Landlord’s Complete Guide for 2026
Quick summary For more information, see stamp duty land tax guidance. Most lenders require a minimum 25% deposit for a buy-to-let mortgage Rental income must cover 125% to 145% of the mortgage interest at a stressed rate of 5.5% Section 24 removes mortgage interest relief for higher-rate individual landlords; limited companies are not affected SDLT […]
When to Remortgage and How to Do It: The UK Homeowner’s Guide for 2026
Quick summary For more information, see FCA mortgage advice guidance. Start comparing remortgage deals four to six months before your fixed rate ends The standard variable rate (SVR) averages 7 to 9% in 2026, far above current fixed rates of 4 to 5% Locking in a new deal early is free insurance: you can usually […]
Buying Your First Home: A Complete Mortgage Guide for First-Time Buyers in the UK
Quick summary For more information, see government home ownership schemes. A 5% deposit gets you onto the ladder; 10% to 15% gives you significantly better rates The Lifetime ISA (LISA) adds a 25% government bonus on savings of up to £4,000 a year Help to Buy has closed in England; the Mortgage Guarantee Scheme supports […]
Moving Home and Your Mortgage: Porting, Upsizing and What to Expect
Quick summary For more information, see FCA regulated mortgage advice. You can often port (transfer) your existing mortgage deal to your new property to avoid early repayment charges Porting is not automatic: your lender will reassess your affordability and the new property If you need to borrow more, the additional amount will usually be at […]
Getting a Mortgage When You’re Self-Employed: The Complete UK Guide
Quick summary For more information, see HMRC self-assessment guidance. Self-employed mortgages are the same products as standard mortgages, assessed differently Most lenders want two years of accounts or SA302s, though some accept one year Income is calculated from net profit (sole traders) or salary plus dividends (limited company directors) A specialist broker significantly increases your […]
Fixed Rate vs Tracker Mortgage: Which is Right for You?
Fixed or tracker mortgage? We compare both in plain English, covering rates, flexibility, early repayment charges, and which suits different situations.
How Much Deposit Do I Need for a Mortgage in the UK?
You typically need a minimum 5% deposit for a UK mortgage, but a larger deposit unlocks better rates. Here is how deposit size affects what you can borrow and how much you pay.
What is a Tracker Mortgage? How It Works and Who It Suits
A tracker mortgage follows the Bank of England base rate, meaning your payments go up or down when the base rate changes. Here is everything you need to know.