Frequently Asked Questions
What does Mortgage Thoughts do?
Mortgage Thoughts is a mortgage broker that specialises in complex credit cases, aiming to help people who would struggle to get a mortgage with lenders directly.
Why do I need to use a mortgage broker?
Using a mortgage broker means that your case will be looked at on an individual basis rather than just the surface data on your credit files, increasing your chances of success when applying for a mortgage. Over 50% of mortgages that are available to those who are self-employed or have bad credit are only available through a specialist broker.
Can I get a mortgage with a low credit score?
In most cases, yes. Having a bad credit score does not make you a bad person. There are specialist lenders that offer mortgages to borrowers with all sorts of complex credit issues, the key is just looking at each case individually.
Can I improve my credit score?
Absolutely. If your low credit score is due to poor financial habits, there are a number of ways you can start to improve your financial reliability to show that you are responsible with your money. With credit issues such as CCJs or missed payments, there are ways to work around those too - with the help of a specialist mortgage broker.
How do I order my credit report?
To apply for a mortgage you will need to order a copy of your credit report, which you can do with any of the main credit agencies. For further information on this, please visit Equifax or Experian. It is also in good practice to review your own credit history and query any discrepancies before applying for any forms of credit.
What does the eligibility checker do?
Using our new and innovative eligibility checker tool, you can easily find out what mortgages you can qualify for. Designed for those who have been affected financially or have a low credit score, our tool is the UK’s first comprehensive eligibility calculator for impaired credit applicants, boosting transparency and revolutionising a typically opaque and confusing industry.
Employing an advanced algorithm, our tool analyses your credit history and circumstances against the criteria of several specialist lenders, without affecting your credit score, to find the best mortgage deals for you. This a great benefit, as applying for a mortgage and getting rejected can negatively affect your credit score and increasingly make things worse for you in the future. Additionally, this online technology-driven solution highlights monthly repayments and determines your likelihood of acceptance for each deal shown - all in less than ten minutes! Previously, it took an average of three days to do the exact same thing.
Who is the eligibility checker for?
We welcome anybody to use the eligibility checker since Mortgage Thoughts is a whole of market mortgage advisory service. We also specialise in complex credit cases, which means we'll try to get you the best deal possible for your situation given our award-winning knowledge and expertise in the area. The checker is a great tool to have a go with if you're looking for a mortgage but you're unsure if you'd be accepted or what kind of options could be available to you.
Will using the checker impact my credit score?
No. Our eligibility checker employs a soft check on your credit history, which will not impact your credit score in any way or be seen by lenders.
What do I do if I pass the eligibility checker?
If you have provided contact details in your information, a member of our team will contact you to discuss your case further and assign you your own personal advisor.
What do I do if I fail the eligibility checker?
If you fail to pass the checker, it likely means that the information that you provided for your intended mortgage requirements do not meet the necessary conditions for our lenders (e.g. a high-risk case, low credit score, unacceptable deposit amount etc.).
Are the checker results the only options that will be available to me if I apply?
The results that you receive will be a good indicator of the options available to you, but these results are not exhaustive and may differ once an advisor takes a more in-depth look into the details of your case.
Do I have to use Mortgage Thoughts if I complete the eligibility checker?
No, there is no obligation to proceed any further with us. However, we offer award-winning high expertise mortgage advice, specialising in complex credit situations. With access to over 90 lenders in the market and exclusive mortgage rates, we strive to find each client a suitable deal based on their own unique circumstances.
For more information regarding common mortgage topics, visit our resources page.
If you have any further queries, do not hesitate to contact us.
Mortgage Thoughts Limited Registered Office: 14 Park Square East, Leeds, LS1 2LF. Registered Company Number: 09528880 Registered in England & Wales.
Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Financial Services Register No 943629. See more at https://register.fca.org.uk/. The information contained within the website is subject to the UK regulatory regime and is therefore primarily targeted at customers in the UK
Our mortgage eligibility tool is operated by Lending Score (a third party) on behalf of Mortgage Thoughts. It is designed to give you an indication of how likely you are to be accepted, should you make a full application for a particular mortgage deal. Your eligibility is determined by a high-level check of your credit record and the additional information you have provided. This does not constitute an offer of credit, and you may be referred or declined once a full assessment of your application has been completed. By providing you with an indicative comparison of mortgage products and the likelihood of you being able to obtain those mortgage products, we don’t look at whether the mortgage is suitable for you and your financial needs. The mortgage eligibility service is not, and should not be construed as, a recommendation, financial or other professional advice. Professional advice should always be sought before taking action. This can be obtained by contacting one of our qualified advisors.
It is important to note that our online mortgage eligibility service only covers a small number of lenders and there are other products available. By contacting one of our advisors we will be able to check your eligibility with a more comprehensive panel of lenders.
Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up with repayments on your mortgage. Think carefully before securing other debts against your home. You may have to pay an early repayment charge to your existing lender if you remortgage.