9 ways to improve your chances of getting a mortgage

1. Sharpen up your credit score

Lenders like to take a close look at your credit history to figure out what kind of borrower you’re likely to be. A good track record of repaying what you owe tells lenders you manage money well, which can lead to a higher chance of approval (and usually access to better mortgage deals too). 

• Check your credit score for free to get a feel for how lenders might view you 

• Spotted a mistake? Errors on your credit report can drag your score down, so get these corrected straightaway by contacting the relevant lender or credit reference agency

• Register to vote on the electoral roll (this is used to verify your address and identity)

• Keep up with your repayments. Even one or two missed or late payments can negatively impact your score 

• Avoid applying for credit in the run-up to your mortgage application - too many hard credit searches in a short space of time can look like you’re desperately trying to borrow money 

• Look out for ways to improve your credit score! Here are 25 tips to get you started

3. Prove your income

Lenders look for reliability and stability - basically, reassurance that you’ll be able to afford your monthly repayments. 

It’s usually a good idea to have been in your existing job around six to twelve months before applying for a mortgage, though some lenders do offer mortgages to those still in their probationary period. 

It’s particularly important to make sure you can prove your income. This might be trickier if you’re self-employed or have irregular income - but it’s certainly not impossible. Requirements vary by lender, but you’ll usually need:

• Three months’ worth of payslips 

• Three months’ worth of bank statements

• Your latest P60

• One to three years’ worth of personal accounts (if self-employed)

• One to three years’ worth of SA302 tax calculations (if self-employed)

Self-employed and need more support with your mortgage application? 

That’s what we’re here for! We’ll suggest the lenders most likely to accept self-employed applications, and will help to gather all the information you need to set you up for success. 

5. Be mindful of debt

The bottom line is that lenders want to make sure you’re comfortably able to afford your mortgage repayments without overstretching yourself financially. Too much debt can impact your affordability, and therefore your ability to get a mortgage. 

There are two big factors to consider here:

• Your credit utilisation. Try to spend less than 30% of your available limit on a regular basis, to show you’re not overly reliant on credit.

• Your debt-to-income ratio. Lenders generally want to see you spending less than 40% of your overall income on debt repayments. This is to make sure you’re able to meet the extra obligation of a mortgage payment. 

If you think your level of debt might hold you back, consider paying some of it off before applying. This could boost the amount you’re able to borrow, potentially making the home of your dreams that little bit more accessible. 

Revealed: the top 5 reasons mortgage applications are declined

We analysed our internal data* to discover the top reasons home buying customers were declined once they submitted a mortgage application. 

1. Property not suitable - 42% 

2. Did not meet policy criteria - 23% 

3. Affordability issues - 14% 

4. Issues at the audit review stage - 8% 

5. Credit score issues - 6% 

Do remember, though, that the vast majority of borrowers (93% of our home buying customers) are accepted once they submit an application through us! 

What to do if your mortgage application is declined

It’s important to take a step back and reflect before rushing into action. Applying with a different lender straightaway might end up making the problem worse. 

First things first, try to figure out why your application was rejected. A lender might not always tell you exactly why they declined your application, but it’s likely to be because of one of the following reasons: 

• You don’t meet the lender’s specific eligibility criteria. This is unlikely if you work with an expert broker but, if you didn’t check the lender’s criteria or policy requirements before applying, you may well find your application missed the mark. In this case, it can be worth going back to the drawing board and working with a broker to apply with a more suitable lender. 

• The lender isn’t happy with your chosen property. Whether they don’t lend on that specific property type or they don’t believe it’s worth what you want to pay for it, you may need to explore applying with a different lender or choosing a different property.

• You are asking to borrow too much. You may not have a high enough income or deposit amount to qualify for the amount you’re asking to borrow. Saving for a bigger deposit could lower the amount you’ll need to ask your lender for, making success more likely in the future. 

• The lender isn’t confident you can afford the repayments. Even if you meet your lender’s loan-to-value requirements, and have a good income, lenders will also assess what other demands you have on your finances. It’s a good idea to try and pay down existing debt and avoid taking out any new credit before applying for a mortgage.

• Your application has been audited. Some mortgage applications are pulled for an audit - think of this as an internal quality control check from your lender. We can’t stress enough the importance of being 100% honest at every stage of the application, and providing accurate, up-to-date documentation. You may have to start the whole process from scratch if the audit throws up a problem with your application, such as your circumstances have changed since you originally applied, or you haven’t declared important information on your application form. 

• Your credit score is too low. Scrutinise your credit report carefully and, if you spot room for improvement, take the necessary steps to boost your credit score. This might take time, but it’ll be worth it.

• Your situation is complex. If your circumstances are particularly complex, such as you have bad credit or you’re recently self-employed, you may have more success applying with a specialist lender versus a mainstream one. 

*All data taken from Mojo Mortgages’ own customer records from 1 January 2025 to 27 August 2025.