We all know that a credit score is one of the most essential criteria used by lenders in determining whether prospective borrowers are eligible for any sort of credit-based product such as a credit card, car finance and of course, a mortgage. With credit reporting tools like ClearScore and Experian, buyers are able to gain a much deeper understanding of their own credit score and take measures to improve it by the time they need you to arrange their mortgages. We know the impact that adverse credit can play with customers’ mortgage applications. The burning question many customers probably ask you is “what is the minimum credit score I need to get a mortgage?”
To put it simply, there isn’t actually a minimum credit score which determines whether or not your customers will be approved for a mortgage by a given lender in the UK. And the same applies when it comes to a minimum credit score needed for remortgaging and refinancing. You’ll already be familiar with the range in eligibility criteria for each lender and that credit score isn’t the only factor in lenders’ decision-making processes.
How can you more easily arrange a mortgage for a customer with adverse credit or no credit history?
So even though there is no minimum credit score your customers will need to meet to have their mortgage applications approved by lenders, it’s likely to be something that they’ll ask you about.
Our Experts Helpdesk are here to help you in supporting your customers with bad or fair credit or those without any credit history. In fact, in Q3 the top queries for brokers related to adverse credit, as well as protection and complex lending. Many brokers contacted the team for support on advising customers with defaults, missed payments and County Court Judgements (CCJs) for debt.
Vikki Jefferies, Proposition Director at PRIMIS, commented: “Q3’s figures represent the value of PRIMIS’ product desk to its member brokers, as well as the volume and complexity of the work that brokers continue to do in an evolving market. With the cost-of-living crisis continuing to weigh on borrowers’ financial situations, it is no surprise that queries relating to adverse credit and complex lending are particularly frequent.
“While the value of professional advice cannot be overstated, it is the additional perspective, experience and emotional support that brokers provide which really comes to the fore in cases like these. PRIMIS can equip brokers with key resources and support for them to deal with the full range of their clients’ needs. We look forward to continuing to work with our intermediary partners through the duration of 2023, and into 2024.”
PRIMIS brokers can contact the Experts Team at experts@primis.co.uk for support.
What is the minimum credit score needed to rent a house in the UK?
For full awareness, just like with arranging a mortgage for a home, there is no minimum credit score required to rent a property in the UK either. Landlords will likely run a credit check on your customer much like a standard lender would and determine whether or not their rental application will be approved, but again this is just one of the factors which will contribute to their final decision.
