Mortgage brokers are paid by commission from lenders, fees from borrowers, or both. This guide covers what mortgage broker fees are, how FCA rules govern disclosure, how to compare fee-charging and fee-free brokers and what questions to ask.
Conveyancing is the legal process of transferring property ownership. This guide covers the key stages of residential conveyancing for mortgage buyers in the UK, typical timescales and what to expect from a solicitor.
Exchange of contracts is the point at which a property purchase becomes legally binding. This guide covers what exchange means, what happens between exchange and completion, and what the buyer is committed to from exchange onward.
Mortgage completion is the final stage of a property purchase when funds transfer and ownership changes hands. This guide covers what happens on completion day, how mortgage funds are released and what to expect.
A mortgage offer is valid for a defined period after which it expires. This guide covers standard mortgage offer validity periods, new build extensions, how to extend an expiring offer and what happens if market conditions change before completion.
Student loan repayments reduce disposable income in mortgage affordability assessments. This guide covers how lenders treat student loan debt, the difference between plan types and whether paying off student loans before applying improves affordability.
Porting a mortgage to a new property at the same time as starting a new job can complicate lender assessment. This guide covers how lenders treat recent job changes in porting applications and what to do if you are changing employer when you move house.
Mortgage prisoners are borrowers trapped on expensive rates with inactive lenders who cannot remortgage to cheaper deals. This guide covers who mortgage prisoners are, why they are trapped, FCA interventions and the current options available.
Mortgage repossession is a last resort when a borrower cannot maintain payments. This guide covers the UK repossession process, FCA conduct rules that protect borrowers, legal rights at each stage and how to prevent repossession.
Falling into mortgage arrears triggers a process governed by FCA conduct rules. This guide covers what happens when payments are missed, lender obligations, forbearance options and what borrowers can do to protect their home.
Buy-to-let taxation has changed significantly since 2015. This guide covers the key changes - Section 24 mortgage interest restriction, additional SDLT, CGT changes and the abolition of furnished holiday let status - and their impact on landlord finances.
Mortgage interest tax deductions work differently for owner-occupiers, individual landlords and limited company landlords. This guide clarifies what can and cannot be deducted in 2026 and where to find definitive HMRC guidance.
Section 24 of the Finance Act 2015 restricted mortgage interest relief for individual landlords to a basic rate tax credit. This guide explains how the restriction works, who it affects and strategies landlords use to manage the impact.
Mortgage interest tax relief differs significantly for owner-occupiers and landlords in the UK. This guide covers what relief remains available, how Section 24 changed landlord relief and what relief owner-occupiers can claim.
Universal Credit is a means-tested benefit that most mainstream lenders do not accept as qualifying mortgage income. This guide covers the challenges of getting a mortgage on Universal Credit, which lenders are more flexible and what alternatives exist.
Receiving state benefits does not automatically prevent getting a mortgage. This guide covers which benefits lenders accept as income, how benefit income is assessed and which lenders are most flexible for applicants with benefit income.
A property survey assesses condition for the buyer's benefit, unlike the lender's valuation. This guide covers RICS Level 1, 2 and 3 surveys, what each includes, how much they cost and when to upgrade to a full structural survey.
A mortgage valuation assesses the property's value for the lender's security purposes. This guide covers what a mortgage valuation includes, why it differs from a survey, what happens if the property values low and whether you need an additional survey.
The UK mortgage application process involves multiple stages from the initial agreement in principle to completion. This guide covers every step of the process, typical timescales and what to expect at each stage.
First time buyers in England benefit from stamp duty land tax relief on properties up to £500,000. This guide covers the current SDLT thresholds for first time buyers, eligibility criteria and what happens above the relief threshold.
The deposit needed for a UK mortgage depends on the property price, the LTV tier targeted and the product type. This guide covers minimum deposits for different scenarios and how much more deposit improves the available rate.
A mortgage deposit is the upfront sum you contribute to a property purchase. Minimum deposit requirements, how deposit size affects rates and the fastest ways to save.
Existing debts reduce the maximum mortgage available by increasing committed expenditure in the affordability assessment. This guide covers how lenders assess debt-to-income in UK mortgage underwriting and how to reduce debt to improve affordability.
Loan to income (LTI) ratios determine how much a lender can offer relative to a borrower's income. This guide covers LTI multiples, the Bank of England's 4.5x cap on most lending and how lenders calculate the maximum mortgage.
Loan to value (LTV) is the ratio of the mortgage to the property value. This guide covers how LTV affects the interest rate available, which LTV bands produce the best rates and how to improve LTV through a larger deposit or property value growth.
The mortgage stress test checks whether a borrower could afford higher payments if interest rates rise. This guide covers how UK mortgage stress tests work, the FPC's role, why the 3% floor was withdrawn in 2022 and what lenders currently use.
Mortgage affordability determines how much you can borrow. How lenders assess income, outgoings and stress tests, and what you can do to improve your mortgage affordability.
Online mortgage brokers offer digital-first advice and applications. This guide covers how online brokers work, the advantages and limitations compared with traditional face-to-face brokers and what to check before using an online service.
A whole-of-market mortgage broker can search products from every lender in the market, not just a panel. This guide covers why whole-of-market access matters, how to verify it and when it makes a material difference to the outcome.
Independent mortgage advisers search the whole market without restriction. This guide explains the difference between independent, restricted and tied advisers, what FCA rules say and what to check before taking advice.
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