Mortgage Guides

This page is the index for every guide we publish. Our guides are organised into collections by area — home buyers, buy-to-let, commercial and development finance — so you can start from the section that matches your situation and browse from there.

General mortgage guides

How mortgage brokers work and are paid, common application mistakes, bridging loans and short-term finance, specialist lending and adverse credit, and our plain-English glossaries of mortgage terms.

mortgage-broker

Do you need a mortgage adviser?

Learn whether a mortgage broker (also called a mortgage adviser or financial mortgage advisor) is necessary, what they do, and when using one can help you find the right mortgage—especially if your circumstances are complex.

Home buyer guides

Deposits and loan-to-value, affordability and how lenders assess your income, credit history, mortgage types and rates, and the practical steps of buying, moving home and remortgaging — for first-time buyers, home movers and homeowners.

First-Time Buyer Guides

Browse our first-time buyer mortgage guides: deposits and government schemes, affordability, mortgage types and rates, credit history, and special situations like single buyers, shared ownership and guarantor mortgages.

Home Buyer Mortgage Guides

Browse our home buyer mortgage guides: deposits and loan-to-value, affordability and income assessment, credit history, mortgage types and rates, and the practical steps of buying, moving and remortgaging - for first-time buyers, home movers and homeowners.

Home Mover Mortgage Guides

Browse our home mover mortgage guides: porting your mortgage, the moving home process, applying for a new deal when you move, and moving with self-employed income, credit issues or an IVA.

Remortgage Guides

Browse our remortgage guides: when to remortgage and how timing works, rate switches and product transfers, costs and early repayment charges, borrowing more, paying off your mortgage early, and remortgaging with bad credit or complex income.

Buy-to-let guides

How rental income is assessed, stress testing, deposits and loan-to-value, repayment structures and portfolio borrowing — plus the specialist routes: HMOs, holiday lets and limited company (SPV) structures.

Buy-to-Let Guides for Landlords

Browse our buy-to-let guides for landlords: how rental income and affordability are assessed, stress testing, deposits, repayment choices, portfolio borrowing and specialist situations - from a first rental property to a growing portfolio.

HMO Buy-to-Let Guides

Browse our HMO buy-to-let guides: licensing and planning, multi-let rental assessment, lender criteria and stress tests, conversion and refurbishment finance, and running a compliant HMO portfolio.

Holiday Let Guides

Browse our holiday let mortgage guides: how short-term rental income is assessed, lender criteria, owner-use rules, Airbnb and short-term lets, and switching from a standard buy-to-let.

Limited Company Buy-to-Let Guides

Browse our limited company buy-to-let guides: how company applications are assessed, director income, SPVs and SIC codes, stamp duty, and moving a personal buy-to-let into a limited company.

Browse all buy-to-let guides →

Commercial and development finance guides

How commercial mortgages work and how lenders assess them, sector-specific lending for hotels, pubs, farms and care homes, and development finance from self-build and conversion to multi-unit schemes.

Commercial Mortgage Guides

Browse our commercial mortgage guides: how commercial mortgages work, how lenders assess deals, deposits, rates and fees, bridging finance, semi-commercial property, bad credit, and sector-specific finance for hotels, pubs, farms and care homes.

Development Finance Guides

Browse our development finance guides: how development finance works, project budgets and drawdowns, how lenders assess projects, experience and exit routes, and how it compares with bridging and term lending - from self-build and conversions to multi-unit developments.

Can’t find what you need?

Our advisers answer questions like these every day, and there is no charge for an initial conversation.

Your message

Your Name

Your Email

Your Phone Number