What Credit Score Do You Need for a Mortgage?

There is no universal minimum credit score for a mortgage. Rather than using a single number to approve or decline applications, lenders pull your full credit report from one or more of the three main Credit Reference Agencies (CRAs) and build their own internal risk score. The number on your Experian or Equifax app is a useful guide, but it is not the figure your lender actually sees.

That said, a higher credit score does matter. The better your score, the lower the risk you represent to a lender, and the more likely you are to access competitive interest rates. A lower score does not automatically mean rejection, but it does narrow your options and typically means higher borrowing costs.

This guide explains what each score band means for your mortgage chances, what lenders actually look at beyond the headline number, and what you can do if your score is not where you want it to be.

Credit Score Ranges by Agency

Each of the three UK Credit Reference Agencies uses its own scoring model, so a 'good' score looks very different depending on where you check. Here is how the bands break down:

Score Band	Experian (0-999)	Equifax (0-700)	TransUnion (0-710)
Excellent	961-999	466-700	628-710
Good	881-960	420-465	566-627
Fair	721-880	380-419	551-565
Poor	561-720	280-379	566 and below
Very Poor	0-560	0-279	0-565

Mainstream high-street lenders tend to prefer applicants in the 'Good' to 'Excellent' range. A 'Fair' score will usually still get you a mortgage offer, though you may not qualify for the lowest rates on the market. A 'Poor' score is workable, but you are likely to need a specialist or adverse-credit lender.

Important: different lenders subscribe to different agencies. Your score with one CRA does not automatically reflect your score with another. It is worth checking all three before you apply.

What Lenders Actually Look At

The score is a summary, not the full picture. When a mortgage underwriter reviews your application, they are looking at the detail behind the number. The key things they check are:

Missed or late payments. Even one missed payment in the last 12 months can flag your application with some lenders. Two or more within the last two years significantly reduces your options.

Defaults and County Court Judgements (CCJs). A clean credit file, with no active defaults or CCJs, opens up almost the entire market. A satisfied (paid) CCJ is less damaging than an unsatisfied one, but both need to be disclosed. Read more about CCJ mortgages.

Credit utilisation. This is the proportion of your available credit you are currently using. Staying below 30% of your total credit limit is generally seen as responsible management. Maxing out your credit cards repeatedly is a red flag.

Electoral roll registration. You must be registered to vote at your current address. Lenders use this to verify your identity and residential history. If you are not on the register, get on it before you apply.

Length and stability of credit history. Lenders prefer to see a consistent 6-year history. Frequently opening and closing accounts, or having very little credit history at all, can lower your score. If you have no credit history at all, see our guide to getting a mortgage with no credit history.

To understand more about what happens behind the scenes when you apply, read our guide to how mortgage underwriting works.

The Role of Your Deposit and Affordability

Your credit score is only one part of the affordability calculation. Two other factors can significantly affect your chances, and either can partially offset a lower score:

Deposit size

A larger deposit reduces the lender's exposure if you cannot keep up with repayments. If your score sits in the 'Fair' or 'Poor' range, putting down 20-25% or more of the property's value can open up lenders who might otherwise decline you. This is why no-deposit mortgages carry stricter credit requirements than deals with a larger deposit. You can explore your LTV options with our guides to 95% LTV mortgages, 90% LTV mortgages, and 85% LTV mortgages.

Income and affordability

Lenders assess your total monthly income against your outgoings, existing debts, and the proposed mortgage repayment. A strong, stable income with low existing debt is a significant positive, even if your credit score is not perfect.

Applying with a Lower Credit Score

A poor credit score does not mean homeownership is out of reach. Here is what to expect:

High-street banks and building societies tend to apply stricter criteria. A score in the 'Poor' range will likely result in a decline from mainstream lenders.

Specialist and adverse-credit lenders are set up to accommodate lower scores, defaults, CCJs, and other credit issues. These lenders exist specifically for this market. Explore our bad credit mortgage options.

You will usually need a larger deposit (often 15-25% or more) and should expect higher interest rates than someone with an excellent credit history.

If you have been through an IVA or bankruptcy, there are dedicated mortgage products for those situations too. See our guides to IVA mortgages and bankruptcy mortgages.

For a full breakdown of why mortgage applications get declined and what you can do about it, read our guide to reasons your mortgage application might be declined.

Planning to Apply Soon? Timing and Lender Choice

If you are aiming to apply for a mortgage in the next three to six months, two things are worth knowing before you start:

Timeframe matters for credit repair

Many of the most effective steps for improving your credit score, such as paying down credit card balances, clearing a default, or correcting an error on your file, take at least 30 to 90 days to be reflected across all three agencies. If your score is borderline, giving yourself six months rather than six weeks before applying can make a material difference to the deals you can access.

You can check your credit file using Experian, Equifax, or TransUnion, or by carrying out a free credit check through CheckMyFile (free for 7 days, then £14.99 per month - cancel anytime online). This will help you to understand what to look for and how to dispute errors.

Which CRA does your target lender use?

Different lenders subscribe to different agencies. Nationwide, for example, primarily uses Equifax. Santander and HSBC tend to use Experian. Some lenders check more than one. If you know which lender you are targeting, checking the relevant agency first gives you the most accurate picture of what they will see.

Next Steps

Here is what to do before you apply:

Check your credit reports. Access them from Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion, or for free via CheckMyFile. Look for errors, outdated information, or anything that could be flagging your application.
Address any issues. Pay down balances where you can, make sure you are on the electoral roll, and dispute any inaccuracies with the relevant agency.
Use our mortgage calculator. See how much you could borrow today based on your income and deposit: mortgage calculators.
Speak to a mortgage broker. If you have a complicated credit history or a lower score, a fee-free whole-of-market broker can identify which lenders are most likely to say yes before you apply. Give our team a call on 01915809890 and we can talk through your options with no obligation.

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The above blog has information contained within which was correct at the time of publication but is subject to change.

FAQs

What is the minimum credit score for a mortgage?

There is no official minimum credit score for a mortgage in the UK. Every lender sets its own criteria. As a general guide, a score in the 'Good' to 'Excellent' range with any of the three main agencies gives you access to the widest range of deals. A 'Fair' score will typically still get an offer, while a 'Poor' score usually means you need a specialist lender. The most important thing is the detail behind the number, not the number itself.

How do I get a 700 credit score in 30 days?

Improving your credit score in 30 days is possible, but the gains are usually modest. The quickest wins are: registering on the electoral roll at your current address (this can happen within a few days), paying down credit card balances to below 30% of your limit, and checking for errors on your report and disputing them immediately. Removing an incorrect default or missed payment from your file can have a significant impact within one to two months. Longer-term improvements, such as building a longer credit history, take more time.

What is the biggest killer of credit scores?

Missed or late payments are typically the most damaging single factor. A missed payment stays on your credit file for six years. County Court Judgements (CCJs) and defaults are similarly serious. High credit utilisation, particularly using more than 50-75% of your available credit limit, also drags scores down significantly. Multiple hard credit searches in a short period can have a short-term negative effect too.

Can you get a mortgage with a credit score of 500 in the UK?

Yes, it is possible. On the Experian scale, a score of 500 falls in the 'Poor' range. High-street lenders are unlikely to approve an application at this level, but specialist adverse-credit lenders do accommodate scores in this range. You will typically need a larger deposit (15-25% or more), and you should expect higher interest rates.

Does checking your credit score affect your mortgage application?

Checking your own credit score is a soft search and does not affect your credit file or your mortgage application. Only a hard search, such as a formal application for credit, leaves a mark on your file. This is why it is safe to check your report as many times as you like before applying.

Which credit reference agency do mortgage lenders use?

Lenders vary. Some use Experian, some use Equifax, and some use TransUnion. Many check more than one. The safest approach is to check all three reports before you apply.