Check your credit reports first
Before anything else, get your credit reports from all three UK agencies: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. Lenders each use a different agency, so it pays to check all three.
You can see your reports for free through the services below. Read the detail rather than fixating on the score. The number is only a guide; lenders base their decisions on the data underneath it.
Check your credit reports for free
- CheckMyFileRecommended
The one service that shows your data from all three UK credit agencies (Experian, Equifax and TransUnion) in a single report. It gives you the fullest picture of what mortgage lenders will see. Free 30-day trial, then £14.99/month.
- ExperianFree
Check your Experian credit score and report for free. A lot of UK mortgage lenders use Experian data, so this one is worth doing. It also offers Experian Boost, which adds positive payment data to your file.
- EquifaxFree
Get your Equifax credit report and score. ClearScore (free) also pulls its data from Equifax. Handy for catching errors that may not show up on the other agencies.
Why check all three?
Different mortgage lenders use different credit agencies, and an error on one report might not show on another. Checking all three means you catch every issue before a lender does. CheckMyFile is the simplest way to see all three in one place.
What common errors should you dispute?
Credit report errors crop up more often than you would expect. Putting them right can make an immediate difference.
Incorrect personal details
- Wrong address or addresses you’ve never lived at
- Incorrect date of birth
- Financial links to people you’re no longer connected to (e.g. an ex-partner)
Account errors
- Debts marked as unsatisfied when you’ve paid them
- Accounts that don’t belong to you (possible identity fraud)
- Late payments incorrectly recorded
How to dispute
- Raise a dispute directly with the credit agency
- They must investigate within 28 days
- Provide supporting evidence (payment receipts, correspondence)
- The agency will correct or remove inaccurate entries
Register on the electoral roll
This is one of the quickest ways to strengthen your credit profile. Being on the electoral roll at your current address helps lenders confirm who you are and shows you are settled where you live.
If you are not registered, or you are still registered at an old address, you can sort it online at gov.uk/register-to-vote. It usually shows on your credit file within a few weeks.
How to reduce existing debt before applying
Lenders weigh up your total debt commitments when they assess affordability. Cutting back or clearing debts before you apply lifts both your credit profile and how much you can borrow.
Pay down credit card balances
- Aim to use less than 30% of your available credit limit
- Heavy use of your limit signals financial strain to lenders
- Paying off balances in full each month is ideal
Clear small debts and loans
- Clearing a monthly commitment directly improves affordability
- Pay off the smallest debts first to free up cash flow
- Car finance and personal loans count against your borrowing capacity
Don’t take on new credit
- Avoid credit card applications, Buy Now Pay Later, or new loans in the 3–6 months before applying
- Each application leaves a hard search on your file
- New credit accounts reduce the average age of your accounts
Avoid Buy Now Pay Later
BNPL services such as Klarna and Clearpay are more and more often reported to credit agencies. Several BNPL accounts, or a missed payment, can count against your mortgage application. Clear any outstanding BNPL balances before you apply.
Should you close unused credit accounts?
There is no single answer here. Unused credit sitting available can actually help your score, because it keeps your overall utilisation low. But a long list of open accounts can worry lenders, who see room for you to run up debt.
As a rough rule, keep one or two cards you have held for a long time, since they show a stable history, and close the ones you never use, especially store cards and newer accounts. Do not open new cards purely to improve your credit mix. The hard search and the fresh account will dip your score for a while.
How long do improvements take to show?
Credit improvements do not land overnight, though some changes show up faster than others.
If you are hoping to apply in 6–12 months, start these changes now. Even partial progress can be enough to move you into a better rate bracket, or to qualify you with a wider range of lenders.
Building credit from scratch
No credit history at all can be nearly as tricky as bad credit. Lenders want proof that you can borrow sensibly and repay on time. If your credit file is "thin", maybe because you are young, recently moved to the UK, or have always paid in cash, there are a few ways to build it up.
- 01
Register on the electoral roll
The bedrock of any UK credit file. Do this one first.
- 02
Get a credit-builder credit card
Use it for a small regular purchase, such as fuel or groceries, and clear the full balance every month. That builds a record of responsible borrowing at no cost to you.
- 03
Set up a mobile phone contract
Monthly phone contracts are reported to the credit agencies. Paying on time each month adds to your positive payment history.
- 04
Consider Experian Boost or similar services
Some agencies let you link regular payments, such as council tax, streaming subscriptions or savings, to your credit file. That can add positive data which would not otherwise appear.
- 05
Be patient
A credit history takes time to build. Six to twelve months of sensible borrowing and on-time payments will make a real difference to your file.
Get a free credit review from Clearview
At Clearview Mortgage Solutions, we can go through your credit file and tell you exactly where you stand. If it needs work, we will say what to tackle first and when to apply for the best result. If you are ready now, we will match you with the right lender for your current profile.
Get in touch for a free, no-obligation chat about your mortgage plans.