What credit score do I need for a mortgage?

Always try to make at least the minimum payments on any credit product you have, on time. Missing or making late payments (even to your mobile-phone operator) can often be registered on your credit report and this may harm your chances of getting credit in the future. An easy way to help you avoid late payments is to set up a Direct Debit.

The Electoral Roll is used to confirm both your name and address, so if you’re not registered your application could be delayed or you might even be turned down. You can check with your local council to see whether you’re on the current Electoral Roll.

Having a large amount of credit that you do not use can affect your credit score. For example, if you have a credit card with a limit of £5,000 but you never use the card. Keeping accounts open that you don’t use can also make you more vulnerable to fraud. If you have old accounts, such as mobile phone or credit cards, they might be registered at a previous address that can affect your ID checks.

You can make sure everything is up to date by checking your full credit report in our mobile app. You can also get personalised insights on your score, use our score predictor to see what effect changes could have on your score, and monitor in-app credit alerts to keep track of any changes.

If you don’t recognise some information – or it’s inaccurate – let the credit reference agency that provided the report know straight away. You can raise a dispute against something you don’t agree with or add a notice of correction that explains any special circumstances around credit issues directly with TransUnion from the mobile app.

Making lots of credit searches in a short space of time can affect your score, so it may help to space out any credit applications, and those for things like car insurance and mobile phones. Moving house can also disrupt your score, so try to make important applications before you move. Finally, check if the product you’re interested in offers eligibility check facility so you can check any terms before applying, and, without your credit search being recorded.

The main credit reference agencies in the UK are Equifax, TransUnion and Experian. These agencies keep records to help lenders like us assess credit applications.

Their records include information such as:

Your electoral register status

If you’ve been made bankrupt or insolvent

If you have any County Court Judgments and Court Decrees

Any current and previous borrowing you have and the way you managed these accounts

Any credit reference searches carried out by other companies

The names of anyone you’ve made a joint application with or have a joint account with, or the names of people you’ve told the credit reference agencies you’re financially associated with.

This information goes into your credit report (also called your credit file).

You need to have both a high enough credit score and meet other requirements, such as monthly income, so the lender knows you can afford the mortgage repayments. There are several factors that may affect mortgage approval aside from your credit score.

Yes, even if you've never been in debt, not having any credit history at all could affect an application. This is because lenders need to be able to see and prove that you have a good track record of sensible borrowing and meeting repayments.

The main credit reference agencies in the UK are Equifax, TransUnion and Experian, which keep records to help lenders assess credit applications.