Get mortgage ready
Answer 10 quick questions for your own checklist: what to sort out before you apply, how to do it, and the documents to gather. It doesn’t check your credit, and your answers aren’t sent anywhere.
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Each one comes with step-by-step help and links.
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General guidance, not advice. Every lender has its own rules. Checked 4 November 2026 against MoneyHelper, GOV.UK and the FCA.
Questions about getting mortgage ready
Quick answers to what buyers ask most.
Where our guidance comes from
- Credit reports, scores and the electoral register: MoneyHelper on checking your credit report and improving your credit score, GOV.UK on the electoral register, and Dorset Council on what to do if you can’t register.
- Applying, documents, bank statements and spending: MoneyHelper on applying for a mortgage, what you can afford, declined applications and mortgages with bad credit, and the FCA’s responsible lending rules.
- Agreements in principle, and offers withdrawn if your finances change: MoneyHelper on mortgages in principle.
- Buy now, pay later: the FCA and MoneyHelper.
- Registering to vote, P60s, SA302s and eVisas: GOV.UK on registering to vote, P60s, SA302 tax calculations and eVisa share codes.
- All checked 28 October to 4 November 2026.
What credit score do I need for a mortgage?
There isn’t one number. Each credit reference agency works out its own score, and each lender uses its own rules, so a high score doesn’t guarantee a lender will say yes.
Lenders look at your credit report itself, plus your income, spending and deposit. That’s why this checklist looks at what’s on your report, not a score.
Can I get a mortgage with bad credit?
It can be harder. Missed payments, defaults, CCJs and payday loans stay on your credit report for up to 6 years, and lenders care most about recent ones.
But every lender has its own rules, and not all will turn you down. A mortgage adviser can look across lenders for ones that might accept you.
What documents do I need for a mortgage?
Lists vary by lender, but you’ll usually need:
- proof of ID, such as a passport or driving licence
- proof of address, such as a recent utility bill
- proof of income: your last 3 months of payslips and your latest P60, or at least 2 years of accounts, or SA302s with their tax year overviews, if you’re self-employed (some lenders ask for 3)
- proof you can live and work in the UK, such as an eVisa share code, and your employment contract, if you’ve lived here for less than 3 years
- bank statements for the last 3 to 6 months
- proof of your deposit, and a signed letter if someone is helping with it
- details of any debts
What do mortgage lenders look at on bank statements?
Your income, your regular bills and spending, and any debts or payments such as buy now, pay later. They usually ask for the last 3 to 6 months.
They look at all your spending, including overdraft use and gambling, and check it matches what you’ve told them.
Does buy now, pay later affect getting a mortgage?
It can. Lenders count the payments as money going out each month, which can reduce what you can borrow.
Since 15 July 2026, buy now, pay later from firms such as Klarna, Clearpay and PayPal has been regulated by the FCA. They now check you can afford it, which can mean a search on your credit report. Plans offered directly by a shop usually aren’t regulated.
Where can I get my credit report for free?
By law, each credit reference agency must give you your report for free. There are four: Experian, Equifax, TransUnion and Crediva. They may hold different information, so it’s worth checking them all.
Checking your own report doesn’t affect your credit score.
How long do things stay on my credit report?
Missed payments, defaults and CCJs stay for up to 6 years. A hard search, made when you apply for credit, can stay for up to 2 years. Checking your own report is a soft search, which lenders can’t see.
What doesn’t this checklist cover?
It doesn’t check your credit, tell you how much you could borrow, or say whether a lender will accept you. Every lender has its own rules, so talk to a mortgage adviser about your own situation.