Answers · UK 2025/26
How does my UK credit score affect my mortgage?
A higher UK credit score gets you access to best-buy mortgage rates. Excellent credit (e.g. 900+ Experian) qualifies for the cheapest deals. Fair scores (500-700) face limited choice and rates 0.5-1.5% higher. Poor credit may need a specialist lender and 2-3% premium.
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UK credit scoring for mortgages 2025/26. Three credit reference agencies: Experian (0-999), Equifax (0-1000), TransUnion (0-710). Each lender uses one or more — there's no single "UK credit score". Experian: 0-560 Very Poor, 561-720 Poor, 721-880 Fair, 881-960 Good, 961-999 Excellent. What lenders look at: payment history (any missed payments in 6 years), total debt and utilisation, credit history length, recent applications (each "hard" search dings score ~5-15 points), public records (CCJs, defaults, bankruptcies). Mortgage impact: best rates need clean record + 600+ Equifax / 850+ Experian. With one default 2+ years old, "near prime" lenders offer rates 0.5-1.5% higher. With CCJs/IVAs in the last 6 years, specialist lenders charge 2-4% more. Improve before applying: check report 3+ months ahead (free at MSE Credit Club, ClearScore, CreditKarma); register to vote; reduce credit card balances below 30% utilisation; avoid new credit applications 3-6 months before mortgage; don't close old accounts. Mortgage lenders care more about affordability + LTV than score above a threshold — a perfect score doesn't override a tight income multiple.
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This answer is informational only and does not constitute financial, tax or legal advice. Figures are for the 2025/26 UK tax year. See our methodology and sources.