Mortgage guides

Short, sourced guides to the situations that most often need a mortgage broker. Each section links to its primary source.

Last checked 13 September 2026. Editor: Kris · editorial standards

• Find a broker for your situationAnswer two questions and get a direct link to the right guide and brokers near you.
• Types of mortgage broker and how to choose oneWhole-of-market, panel and single-lender brokers, fee-free and fee-charging, online and local, networks and appointed representatives: what each means, what the FCA makes every broker tell you, and how to check them.
• Mortgage declinedWhat UK mortgage lenders must tell you when they reject your application, how to see what a lender saw, and when to move from your bank to a specialist broker.
• Cifas markers and mortgagesHow a Cifas marker affects a UK mortgage application, the types of marker and how long they stay, how to see if you have one, and how to challenge it.
• Mortgages with bad creditHow county court judgments and other credit problems affect a UK mortgage application, how long a CCJ stays on the register, and brokers who mention adverse credit.
• Mortgages for the self-employedHow lenders assess self-employed income for a UK mortgage, the documents usually asked for, and brokers who mention self-employed mortgages.
• First-time buyer mortgagesWhat first-time buyers in the UK need to know about deposits, stamp duty relief and Lifetime ISAs, plus brokers who mention first-time buyers.
• Buy-to-let mortgagesHow buy-to-let mortgages differ from residential ones, the extra stamp duty on additional properties, and brokers who mention buy-to-let.
• Remortgage guideWhen to start looking for a remortgage deal, how product transfers differ from switching lender, what early repayment charges apply and what a broker must tell you.
• Contractor mortgagesHow mortgage lenders assess contractor income, the day-rate calculation method, what IR35 status means for your application, and the evidence you need.
• Agreement in PrincipleWhat an Agreement in Principle is, why the difference between a hard and soft credit search matters, how long it lasts, and how to move from an AiP to a full mortgage application.
• Credit score and mortgagesWhy mortgage lenders don't use your Experian or Equifax score, how to get your full credit file under the Consumer Credit Act, and what to do before you apply.
• Mortgage broker feesHow UK mortgage brokers are paid, what the FCA requires them to tell you about fees and commission, and what to check before you agree.
• Divorce and mortgagesWhat happens to a joint mortgage during divorce, how to remove a name from a mortgage, the stamp duty on a transfer of equity, and how to get a sole mortgage on one income.
• Gifted depositHow lenders treat a gifted deposit, what must go in the gift letter, what anti-money laundering checks apply, and what minimum deposit you still need from your own funds.
• Should you use the estate agent's recommended broker?Why estate agents recommend mortgage brokers, what referral fees they receive, what the FCA and Estate Agents Act require to be disclosed, and how to decide whether to use them or not.
• Documents for a mortgage applicationEvery document you will need for a UK mortgage application: payslips, SA302, bank statements, ID, proof of deposit and more, with where to get each one.
• What happens at a mortgage fact-findWhat a mortgage broker asks at a fact-find, why each section matters, what to prepare, and what happens after the meeting.
• Joint mortgagesHow joint mortgages work in the UK, the difference between joint tenants and tenants in common, how lenders assess affordability, and what to do if the relationship ends.
• Later life and equity release mortgagesThe main later-life mortgage options in the UK — retirement interest-only, lifetime mortgages and home reversion — what the FCA requires from advisers, and the questions to ask.
• Largest UK mortgage lendersThe UK's largest mortgage lenders in 2025 by new lending and by mortgages outstanding, from UK Finance's official table, plus which lenders and brands work through brokers.
• Mortgages for doctorsHow lenders treat doctors' income, from foundation training to consultant: fixed-term training contracts, allowances, locum work, and professional mortgages at up to 6 times income.
• Mortgages for dentistsHow lenders assess dentists' income: self-employed associates paid per UDA, practice owners, SA302 evidence, and professional mortgages at up to 6 times income.
• Mortgages for solicitorsHow lenders treat solicitors' income at each stage: trainee pay, newly qualified salaries, salaried and equity partners, LLP profit share, and professional mortgages at up to 6 times income.
• Mortgages for accountantsHow lenders treat accountants' income: employed and chartered accountants, sole practitioners and partners, the evidence each needs, and professional mortgages at up to 6 times income.
• NHS staff mortgagesWhat mortgage options exist for NHS employees in the UK, including shared ownership, the First Homes scheme, and how shift patterns and bank work affect an application.
• Buying at auction: bridging and mortgage optionsHow to finance a property bought at auction in the UK, why a standard mortgage rarely completes within 28 days, what bridging finance costs, and how to exit onto a standard mortgage.
• Expat mortgagesHow UK nationals living abroad and foreign nationals can get a UK mortgage, the extra stamp duty for non-UK residents, the limited lender pool, and what income evidence is required.
• New build mortgagesHow new build mortgages differ from standard purchases, why lenders limit the loan-to-value, what to check about developer incentives, and the exchange deadline problem.
• Shared ownership mortgagesHow shared ownership mortgages work in the UK, what you pay rent and mortgage on, how to buy more shares (staircase), and the stamp duty rules.
• Green and eco mortgagesWhat green mortgages are, how Energy Performance Certificate ratings affect eligibility, the rate discounts available, and whether it's worth improving your EPC before applying.
• Second charge mortgagesWhat a second charge mortgage is, how it differs from a remortgage and a further advance, when it makes sense, and the FCA rules that apply.
• Holiday let mortgagesHow holiday let mortgages differ from buy-to-let, how lenders calculate borrowing from seasonal rental income, the Furnished Holiday Letting tax regime, and what to tell a broker.
• Help to Buy: what existing borrowers need to knowFor existing Help to Buy equity loan borrowers in England: how the interest charges work, how to repay or staircase, the impact on remortgaging, and what happens when you sell.
• Offset mortgagesHow a UK offset mortgage links your savings to your mortgage to reduce the interest you pay, the trade-off against higher rates, and who benefits most.

General information, not advice. Mortgage Brokers List is a directory and a set of free tools. Only an FCA-authorised adviser can recommend a mortgage for your circumstances. See our editorial standards.