What credit score do you need for a mortgage?

Learn what credit score you need for a mortgage in the UK, how it affects your mortgage options, and tips to improve your score for better rates.

Written by Hayley Bevan and Victoria Smith

Published: 31/10/25Published on October 31st, 2025

Last reviewed: 31/10/25Last reviewed on October 31st, 2025

7 mins read

If you’re thinking about getting a mortgage, your credit score is one of many factors lenders will review when considering your application.

Not only does it give an impression on how responsible you are with credit, but it also provides lenders with an indication of how likely you are to meet and manage monthly repayments.

If you currently have a bad credit score, it doesn’t mean you can’t secure a mortgage. But by protecting your credit health and demonstrating sensible borrowing behaviour, you’ll be in a stronger position to get approved.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through how a credit score can influence your mortgage options, rates, and approval chances – as well as looking at how bad credit can affect your application.

What do mortgage lenders consider?

Depending on your chosen lender, some factors might carry more weight than others. But as a general rule, here are the most likely areas that influence their decision.

Credit score

By reviewing your credit score, lenders can immediately assess risk and how likely you are to make future payments. If you have a good credit score, it’s more likely you’ll get approved with access to a range of borrowing options and preferential interest rates.

Affordability

As well as your credit score, lenders will check whether you can afford to make monthly mortgage repayments. They’ll assess how much you earn and what you have going out (e.g. credit card payments, council tax, childcare costs). If your debt-to-income ratio looks healthy, it might be the case that you can still secure a mortgage – even with a low credit score.

Deposit size

In many cases, a bigger deposit will lower both your monthly repayments and the interest rate. For example, if you have a 10% deposit for a property valued at £200,000, you’ll need a 90% loan-to-value (LTV) mortgage which could unlock better deals than someone who needs a bigger mortgage with a 5% deposit.

Credit report

Beyond your credit score, lenders will review your credit report to assess your borrowing behaviour. They’ll look at a range of factors including your existing debt, how many accounts you hold, and whether you have a pattern of making repayments on time. If any red flags are found on your report (e.g. CCJs or IVAs), it could impact your chances of securing a mortgage.

Once a lender has reviewed every factor, they’ll give you a credit score of their own to determine how likely it is your application will be approved.

What is a good credit score to buy a house?

In most instances, you’re more likely to secure a mortgage on a property if you have a healthy credit score. But even if you have bad credit, it doesn’t mean buying a house is impossible.

Using data compiled by Experian, here’s a breakdown of the typical mortgage options you might expect based on each credit score range. It’s important to note score ranges and ratings can vary depending on the credit reference agency.

Credit score range (UK) 961 – 999
Rating Excellent
Likelihood of securing a mortgage You’ll get access to the most competitive rates (e.g. 2%)

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Credit score range (UK) 881 – 960
Rating Good
Likelihood of securing a mortgage You’ll still get access to a range of competitive deals, but probably not all of them (e.g. 2.5% – 3.5%)

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Credit score range (UK) 721-880
Rating Fair
Likelihood of securing a mortgage You’ll typically get reasonable mortgage deals with standard rates of interest (e.g. 3.5% – 4.5%)

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Credit score range (UK) 561-720
Rating Poor
Likelihood of securing a mortgage You’re more likely to pay higher rates with limited access to mortgage options (e.g. 5%+)

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Credit score range (UK) Below 560
Rating Very Poor
Likelihood of securing a mortgage Your application will either be declined or accepted with very high interest rates.

Other factors can influence your mortgage application, such as the size of your deposit and the amount you need to borrow. But as a general rule, a higher credit score will typically lend itself to more appealing borrowing options and interest rates.

The type of mortgage you choose will depend on your financial situation and what works best for you. You might prefer a fixed-rate mortgage where interest is fixed for a set period of time. Or, alternatively, you might apply for a variable rate mortgage which can go up or down based on the Bank of England base rate.

If you have a score sitting in the ‘fair’ to ‘very poor’ range, you could still secure a mortgage but options might be limited to higher interest rates and larger deposit requests. For lenders, it compensates for the increased risk in offering mortgages to those who might be struggling to manage debt.

Alternatively, you could also explore the option of a ‘guarantor mortgage’ where a parent, partner, or close friend will cover your mortgage repayments if you can’t make them. As part of the agreement, your guarantor’s home is used as ‘security’ which can forcibly be sold if you both fall behind on payments. You would need to seek independent professional advice to consider whether this is right for you and your circumstances.

For further insights on mortgage options available with a ‘fair’ to ‘very poor’ credit score, read our guide on how to get a mortgage with bad credit.

How to improve your credit score for a mortgage application

If you want access to better deals and more favourable terms, it might be smarter to improve your credit score before you apply for a mortgage. Not only can it open more doors, but it could also help you save money in the long term by securing lower interest rates. Here are some ways to improve your score.

Make payments on time

Paying off what you borrow on time demonstrates to lenders that you’re financially sensible and in control of your finances. It also helps to build and protect your credit score.

Keep your credit utilisation low

Having a low credit utilisation suggests to lenders you’re less dependent on credit. It also makes repayments more manageable and potentially makes it easier to secure future loans.

Check your credit report

Credit reports can sometimes include incorrect information which could impact your credit score. Always check for errors including basic details and incorrect late payment records.

Be aware of financial associations

Taking an account out with a friend, partner, or co-habitant can potentially harm your score if they have a bad credit rating. Check your report for outdated associations and ask your chosen credit reference agency to remove them wherever necessary.

Build your credit history

If you’re new to credit or want to improve your current credit score, you could explore the idea of a credit builder credit card. Improvements won’t happen overnight, but making repayments on time and borrowing within your means can go a long way to strengthen your score.

If you decide the best move is to apply for a mortgage before you improve your score, read our guide on getting a mortgage with bad credit.

Applying for a mortgage with bad credit could leave you with limited borrowing options that come with stricter terms and higher rates of interest. In the long term, you might find it’s a smarter move to build your score before you contact any lenders.

If you’re looking for a way to improve your score, a credit card for building better credit could be right for you. With an Aqua credit card, you also get expert tips and advice from Aqua Coach, plus the ability to track your score 24/7 from our app.

To get started, take our free eligibility check with no impact on your credit score

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Contributors

Hayley Bevan

Hayley is an editor at Aqua.

Victoria Smith

Victoria is an editor at Aqua.