No single UK credit score qualifies a borrower for a mortgage. Lenders build their own scoring models using data from Experian, Equifax and TransUnion, then apply separate affordability checks under FCA rules. As a guide, Experian classes scores of 881 and above, out of a maximum of 999, as good, though lender criteria vary.
TL;DR · LAST REVIEWED No universal minimum score exists: lenders run their own models on CRA data plus FCA affordability checks. Indicative good bands: Experian 881-960 (of 999), Equifax 531-670 (of 1,000), TransUnion 604-627 (of 710). Defaults and CCJs stay visible for 6 years.
Indicative UK credit score bands by credit reference agency
| Agency | Score range | Fair | Good | Excellent |
| Experian | 0-999 | 721-880 | 881-960 | 961-999 |
| Equifax | 0-1,000 | 439-530 | 531-670 | 811-1,000 (Very good: 671-810) |
| TransUnion | 0-710 | 566-603 | 604-627 | 628-710 |
Source: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion consumer score guides
KEY FACTS
- No fixed minimum credit score applies across UK mortgage lenders; each runs its own scoring model
- Experian scores run 0-999, Equifax 0-1,000 (since its 2021 rescale), TransUnion 0-710
- Defaults and CCJs remain visible to lenders for 6 years from the date recorded
- Affordability checks typically review the last 3 to 6 months of bank statements
- An overdraft, used or merely available, is counted in a lender's affordability assessment
What credit score do you need for a mortgage?
There is no fixed minimum credit score for a UK mortgage because lenders build their own internal scoring models rather than using a credit reference agency's headline number directly, though a score in the good band (Experian 881-960, Equifax 531-670, TransUnion 604-627) is generally treated as a positive signal by mainstream lenders.
The three credit reference agencies (Experian, Equifax and TransUnion) each calculate scores on different scales, using data that can differ between them because not every lender reports to all three.
Mainstream high-street lenders typically want to see a good or higher band alongside a clean recent payment history, while specialist lenders exist to serve applicants with a fair or lower score, usually at a higher interest rate that reflects the additional risk. Because the underlying credit file data (payment history, utilisation, defaults, CCJs) matters more to the actual lending decision than the headline score shown on a free app, checking the full report rather than just the number is the more useful exercise before applying.
Does an overdraft affect your mortgage application?
Yes. An overdraft, whether it is currently used or simply available on the account, is treated as a form of existing credit exposure in a mortgage affordability assessment carried out under FCA mortgage conduct rules, and regular reliance on an overdraft is scrutinised as a sign of ongoing financial pressure.
Lenders reviewing bank statements as part of an affordability check will note whether an overdraft facility exists, how often it is used, and whether the balance is cleared regularly or carried for extended periods.
An unused overdraft facility is generally viewed more favourably than one in regular use, but the available limit can still be counted as a form of accessible credit when a lender is assessing total exposure. Reducing or clearing overdraft reliance in the months before an application, where practical, removes one variable from the affordability assessment rather than leaving it to be explained during underwriting.
Which lenders accept lower credit scores?
Specialist and adverse-credit lenders exist specifically to serve applicants with a fair or poor credit score, typically accessed through a mortgage broker rather than directly, and they price the additional risk through a higher interest rate rather than declining the application outright.
These lenders assess applications on a wider set of criteria than a headline score, including the type and age of any adverse credit history, current income, and deposit size, since a larger deposit can offset a weaker credit profile in a lender's risk model.
Because product availability and criteria in this part of the market change frequently and are not published in a single central place, a whole-of-market mortgage broker regulated by the FCA is generally best placed to identify which specific lenders would consider a given credit profile, rather than relying on a general list.
How far back do mortgage lenders look?
Credit file data such as defaults and CCJs is visible to lenders for 6 years, the standard retention period across UK credit reference agencies, while affordability checks separately look at recent income and spending, typically covering the last three to six months of bank statements requested by the lender.
These are two different lookback periods serving different purposes: the credit file lookback reflects statutory and CRA retention rules, while the bank statement lookback is a lender's own affordability practice rather than a fixed regulatory requirement.
Because the 6-year credit file window is fixed, an older default or CCJ nearing the end of that period will have less influence on a mortgage decision than a recent one, and its effect on the file diminishes as it ages even before it drops off entirely.
How to prepare your credit file before a mortgage application
- Get a statutory credit report from all three credit reference agencies (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion) several months before applying and check each for accuracy.
- Register on the electoral roll at the current address, one of the most commonly cited quick improvements to a credit file.
- Reduce credit utilisation on existing cards and loans, keeping balances low relative to available limits, in the months before applying.
- Avoid new credit applications and unnecessary hard searches in the run-up to a mortgage application, since these are visible on the file to an underwriter.
- Reduce reliance on any overdraft facility, since regular use is factored into affordability assessments separately from the credit score itself.
- Raise a dispute with the relevant credit reference agency for any factual errors found on the file, such as an incorrect address or a closed account showing as open, well before the application is submitted.
RELATED GUIDES
DISCLAIMER
This guide is for general information only and is not financial advice. Credit products are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Rates, fees and criteria change and vary by provider; check current terms directly with any provider and the FCA Financial Services Register before applying.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a minimum credit score to get a mortgage in the UK?
No single minimum applies across all lenders. Each lender builds its own scoring model on data from Experian, Equifax and/or TransUnion and applies a separate affordability assessment under FCA rules, so the same credit file can produce different outcomes at different lenders.
Does checking a credit score before applying for a mortgage lower it?
No. Checking a credit report or score personally is a soft search and does not affect the score or appear to other lenders. Only a formal mortgage application, which triggers a hard search, is visible on the file to other lenders.
Can a CCJ from several years ago still affect a mortgage application?
A CCJ remains on a credit file for 6 years from the judgment date. Within that window it can still influence a lender's decision, though its effect generally diminishes as it ages, and it drops off the file entirely once the 6-year period ends.
Do all lenders use the same credit score?
No. Lenders can pull data from one, two, or all three credit reference agencies and apply their own internal scoring model to that data, rather than using the score shown on a free consumer app. This is why the same applicant can be assessed differently by different lenders.
How long before a mortgage application should credit file preparation start?
There is no fixed rule, but starting several months in advance allows time for statutory report checks, error disputes, and reduced credit utilisation to take effect, since some changes do not happen immediately.
SOURCES
- Financial Conduct Authority, MCOB sourcebook – accessed 19 July 2026
- GOV.UK, County court judgments for debt – accessed 19 July 2026
- Experian, credit score guidance – accessed 19 July 2026
- Equifax, understanding credit score ranges – accessed 19 July 2026
- UK Finance, mortgage lending data – accessed 19 July 2026
