Can I Get a Home Loan? Simple Steps to Check Your Mortgage Eligibility Today
February 5, 2026
Estimated reading time: 11 minutes
Summary
- Eligibility for a home loan often depends on deposit size, credit score, income, and expenses.
- Lenders require proof of employment and typically want a larger deposit to lower risk and increase approval chances.
- Mortgage eligibility checkers allow you to assess approval prospects without harming your credit score.
- Key factors include minimum age (18), residency requirements, and income type – lenders accept various income sources differently.
- Understanding your credit history and how it impacts your mortgage application is crucial for securing favourable terms.
Table of contents
- Am I Qualified for a Home Loan? Start With These Basics
- Am I Qualified for a Home Loan? Start With These Basics
- Check Your Mortgage Eligibility Without Damaging Your Credit Score
- Check Your Mortgage Eligibility Without Damaging Your Credit Score
- Understanding Mortgage Requirements in Detail
- FAQs – can I get a Home Loan
Can I get a home loan? Feeling overwhelmed by all the requirements? You’re not alone. Thousands ask this question every day.
Mortgage eligibility depends on several key factors – your deposit size, credit score, income and monthly spending. Most lenders offer 4-4.5 times your annual income, though this varies based on your circumstances. You’ll need to meet age requirements too – at least 18 years old and able to repay by age 70-80, depending on the mortgage product.
Lenders want proof of your employment status. You’ll need to provide your latest payslip to confirm permanent employment and income. Got extra income like bonuses or commission? You’ll need additional documentation.
Here’s the good news – the bigger your deposit, the less risky you appear to lenders. This increases your chances of mortgage approval.
We will show you easy steps to check if you qualify. You will learn about mortgage requirements. This will help you improve your chances of getting the home loan approval you want.
Eager to find out if you qualify?
Am I Qualified for a Home Loan?
Save yourself time and disappointment.
Understanding the basic qualifying factors before you apply makes all the difference. We want you to know exactly what lenders look for when they assess if you’re a reliable borrower.
Lenders examine several core criteria to determine whether you can get a home loan. Get these basics right, and you’re already ahead of the game.
Am I Qualified for a Home Loan? Start With These Basics
Lenders examine several core criteria to assess if you’re a reliable borrower. Let’s break these down into simple terms.
Minimum age and residency requirements
To be eligible for a mortgage in the UK, you need to be 18 years old or older. Simple – you need to legally own property and sign contracts.
However, what many people overlook is that your age influences the timeline for fully repaying the loan.
Most lenders require full repayment by a certain age, typically 70-80 years old. The specific limit depends on your mortgage type:
- Capital repayment mortgages: usually by age 75
- Interest-only mortgages: typically by age 70
- Buy-to-let mortgages: often by age 80
Residency requirements vary by nationality. UK citizens need proof of address history, normally three years.
For foreign nationals, it gets more complex:
- EU citizens with settled or pre-settled status face standard criteria
- Non-EU nationals must show permission to live and work in the UK
- Some lenders want at least 12 months UK residence
- Higher income requirements may apply – primary income of £50,000 for singles or £75,000 for joint applications
- Maximum loan-to-value ratios limited to 75-85% for non-UK citizens
Many lenders request full three-year UK address history, though others show flexibility. Your visa status and remaining time often influence decisions.
Income types lenders accept
Lenders consider various income sources but weigh each differently. Knowing what counts – and by how much – helps you assess eligibility accurately.
Regular employment income forms the foundation. Lenders typically accept 100% of basic salary from permanent employment. No minimum time required in your current job, though a longer history looks better.
Beyond basic salary, other income includes:
Variable income: Bonuses, commission, overtime count at 50-100% value, depending on consistency. You’ll need evidence of regular patterns through 3-12 months of payslips.
Self-employed earnings: More documentation needed – tax returns or business accounts from 2-3 years. Lenders often average recent income or take the lower figure from your last two years.
Benefits and pensions: Many lenders accept certain benefits at 100%:
- Retirement pension
- Widow’s pension
- Child benefit
- Disability benefits (often 60% value)
Other income sources:
- Rental income (after deducting costs)
- Maintenance payments (up to 50%, needing two years remaining)
- Investment income (with two-year track record)
Most lenders won’t accept foreign currency income or assets, even for UK residents.
Housing loan criteria explained simply
Beyond age and income, lenders examine several factors that create your complete financial picture.
Credit history plays a fundamental role. Lenders check your credit report through agencies to assess borrowing behaviour. They want consistent, on-time payments and manageable debt levels.
Most won’t consider applications with:
- Missed payments equivalent to three months in the past two years
- County court judgments exceeding £500 within three years
- Bankruptcy or voluntary arrangements within three years
Deposit size significantly influences eligibility. A bigger deposit means less risk to lenders. First-time buyers typically need 5% minimum. Foreign nationals might need 15-25% deposits.
Affordability assessment examines income versus outgoings. Lenders typically offer 4-4.5 times annual income, plus scrutinise monthly expenses:
- Existing debt repayments
- Regular bills and subscriptions
- Childcare and travel costs
- Living expenses
Employment stability matters considerably. Permanent employment preferred, but lenders increasingly accommodate:
- Contractors and agency workers (with consistent income evidence)
- Zero-hour contracts (usually need 12 months’ track record)
- Recently self-employed (often stricter criteria apply)
Documentation requirements typically include:
- Proof of identity (passport or driving licence)
- Recent utility bills or bank statements proving address
- Last 3-6 months of bank statements
- Recent payslips or tax returns
- Evidence of deposit and its source
Each lender has unique criteria. Consulting various lenders or seeking advice from a mortgage broker frequently leads to better outcomes when looking at how to get a house loan.
Check Your Mortgage Eligibility Without Damaging Your Credit Score
Image Source: FREEandCLEAR
Worried about damaging your credit score while exploring home loan options?
You don’t need to be. You can check mortgage eligibility without affecting credit score.
We’ll show you exactly how to do this effectively. No damage, no risk, just the answers you need.
Check Your Mortgage Eligibility Without Damaging Your Credit Score
Worried about damaging your credit score whilst exploring mortgage options?
We have good news. You can check your eligibility without any negative impact on your credit rating.
What is a soft credit check?
A soft credit check assesses certain information on your credit report without affecting your credit score. Unlike formal applications, soft checks let lenders evaluate your situation without a full credit history examination.
The key advantage is that these checks remain invisible to other companies and lenders. You can have multiple soft checks performed with no negative consequences. Only you see these checks on your personal credit report.
Soft credit checks differ from hard checks:
- Visibility: Soft checks are only visible to you, hard checks appear to all lenders
- Credit score impact: Soft checks have zero impact, regardless of how many you have
- Purpose: Soft checks for preliminary assessments, hard checks for formal applications
Soft credit checks provide a risk-free way to explore mortgage options. As one provider explains, “You can’t ‘fail’ a soft credit check” – you’re checking eligibility, not applying for credit.
Use Online Mortgage Eligibility Checkers
Online mortgage eligibility checkers have become popular tools for prospective homebuyers. These platforms assess your approval chances without formal applications.
You’ll typically provide:
- Basic personal details (name, address history, date of birth)
- Employment status and occupation
- Annual salary and additional income
- Information about financial dependants
- Monthly mortgage or rent payments
Major banks and building societies offer their own checkers. Barclays offers an Agreement in Principle. People also know this as a mortgage in principle or Decision in Principle.
You can get it online or through their app in about 10 minutes. Nationwide offers a Decision in Principle involving a soft credit check.
Independent platforms include Money Saving Expert’s mortgage calculator and comparison sites like Compare the Market. These let you check eligibility across multiple lenders simultaneously.
The process is straightforward and quick – often just minutes. After submitting information, the checker performs a soft credit search and indicates your acceptance likelihood. Some tools, like Tesco Bank’s eligibility checker, show a percentage score indicating approval chances.
How Accurate Are These Tools?
Mortgage eligibility checkers provide valuable guidance, but understand their limitations. These offer preliminary assessments, not guaranteed approvals.
Accuracy varies depending on:
- Your information: More accurate and complete details mean more reliable results
- Lender criteria: Each lender has unique requirements not fully captured in general tools
- Market conditions: Lending criteria change based on economic factors and interest rates
Despite variables, eligibility checkers remain valuable:
They provide realistic borrowing potential indications without affecting credit scores. This lets you adjust expectations or address issues before formal applications.
They help avoid multiple formal mortgage applications, which leave hard footprints on your credit report. Each hard search stays on your credit file for 12 months, visible to prospective lenders. Too many potentially reduce approval chances.
They save you from negative consequences of mortgage decline. Tesco Bank notes that a decline can negatively affect your credit score. This makes eligibility checks an important preliminary step.
Remember – an eligibility check is not a mortgage offer. If you proceed with formal application, lenders conduct comprehensive assessment including hard credit check. Nationwide says, “If you apply for a full mortgage, we will do a credit check. This will leave a mark on your credit report.”
For the most accurate assessment, consider consulting a mortgage broker. They provide personalised advice based on your circumstances and match you with suitable lenders.
This method helps you determine if you can get a home loan. It also includes eligibility checkers. You can do this without affecting your credit score.
Understanding Mortgage Requirements in Detail
Ready to dig deeper? Once you know the basics, understanding detailed mortgage requirements becomes your next step. These factors determine whether you can get that home loan.
Loan-to-value ratio and deposit expectations
The loan-to-value (LTV) ratio is simple – how much you borrow compared to the home’s value. Buying a £200,000 home with a £20,000 deposit? Your LTV is 90%.
Lower LTV means better rates and terms. Most lenders consider anything under 80% to be good. What are the benefits of saving more?
- Lower LTV ratio makes you attractive to lenders
- You own more of your property from day one
- Smaller monthly payments
First-time purchasers usually require a 5-10% deposit. However, the UK average is closer to 20%. Put down as much as you comfortably can – it improves your mortgage options.
How lenders assess affordability
Lenders use detailed assessments to determine your borrowing power. They examine:
- Income vs total outgoings
- Debt-to-income ratio
- Stress testing – can you afford payments if rates rise?
Most lenders offer around 4-4.5 times your annual salary. They’ll review your bank statements too, checking spending patterns and ensuring you’re not spending everything you earn.
Want to improve your borrowing power? Reduce large regular outgoings. Lenders particularly scrutinise gambling or substantial loan payments that might impact your eligibility.
Why your credit history matters
Your credit history plays a crucial role in mortgage approval. Lenders use this information to evaluate lending risk.
Strong credit history? You get favourable terms. Poor history? Higher rates or even rejection.
Credit scores run from 0-999. Anything over 700 is “Good to Excellent”. This score affects both approval chances and the interest rate you’ll get.
Common misconception – having no credit history isn’t better than good credit history. Without borrowing history, lenders struggle to assess your creditworthiness.
What this means for you
These factors work together to affect whether you can get a home loan. Lower LTV + good credit score + solid affordability = much better approval chances.
Found weaknesses in your mortgage requirements assessment? Here’s what you can do:
- Improve your credit score
- Save for a larger deposit
- Reduce existing debts
- Cut unnecessary spending
Address these areas now. Your mortgage eligibility can improve significantly over time, bringing you closer to homeownership.
Ready to check your eligibility without affecting your credit score?
FAQs – can I get a Home Loan
How can I check my eligibility for a home loan without affecting my credit score?
You can use online mortgage eligibility checkers that perform soft credit checks. These tools provide a preliminary assessment of your borrowing potential without impacting your credit score. Many banks and comparison websites provide these services. You can enter your financial details to see your chances of approval.
What are the basic requirements for qualifying for a mortgage in the UK?
To get a mortgage in the UK, you usually need to be at least 18 years old. You must have a steady income and be able to provide a deposit. This deposit is often at least 5-10% of the property’s value. Lenders will also assess your credit history, what you can afford, and employment status. The specific requirements may vary between lenders.
How does my credit history impact my chances of getting a home loan?
Your credit history plays a crucial role in mortgage approval. A good credit history can help you secure approval with better terms. A bad history may lead to higher interest rates or denial. Credit scores typically range from 0-999, with scores over 700 considered “Good to Excellent”. Lenders use this information to evaluate the risk associated with lending to you.
What is the loan-to-value (LTV) ratio, and why is it important for mortgages?
The loan-to-value (LTV) ratio is the amount you borrow compared to the home’s value, expressed as a percentage. For example, if you’re buying a £200,000 home with a £20,000 deposit, your LTV is 90%. A lower LTV often leads to better mortgage rates and terms. Most lenders consider an LTV under 80% to be good, which is why saving for a larger deposit can be beneficial.
How do lenders assess affordability for a mortgage?
Lenders use a comprehensive affordability assessment to determine how much you can borrow. They look at your income and total expenses. They check your debt-to-income ratio and also do stress tests. This helps make sure you can afford payments if interest rates go up. Most lenders typically offer around 4-4.5 times your annual salary. They’ll also review your bank statements to understand your spending patterns and ensure you’re not regularly overspending.
Related links
