Mortgage lenders

When choosing a mortgage, it helps to understand how different lenders work, what they specialise in, and how they assess applications.

Rather than focusing on one brand, it’s often more useful to look at lender types, product ranges, and how underwriting varies across the market.

Our lenders

Types of mortgage lenders

High street lenders

Large, well-known banks and building societies.

• Often provide a wide range of residential mortgages
• May offer some buy-to-let options
• Typically have standard criteria and automated underwriting
• Products are widely available through brokers and direct channels

Specialist lenders

Lenders that focus on more complex or niche cases.

• May consider adverse credit or non-standard income
• Often more flexible on property types
• Pricing can be higher, reflecting higher risk
• Usually accessed via brokers

Private banks

For high net worth clients with complex financial profiles.

• Often more flexible with affordability assessments
• May consider international income, multiple properties, or large portfolios
• Usually accessed via specialist brokers

Building societies

Member-owned organisations with a regional or mutual structure.

• Often have a strong focus on local markets
• May offer more manual underwriting
• Can be competitive for certain customer profiles

What lenders typically consider

Most lenders look at a mix of the following when assessing a mortgage application:

Lender specialisms

Different lenders specialise in different areas:

Residential vs Buy-to-let lending

Residential mortgages

• Based on your personal income and affordability
• Typically used for your main home
• LTVs can go higher (e.g., up to 95% in some cases)
• Rates are generally lower than buy-to-let

Buy-to-let mortgages

• Based on rental income and the property’s yield
• Used for investment properties
• LTVs are often lower (e.g., 75–80%)
• Stress tests may apply to rental coverage
• Rates and criteria differ from residential

Why use a broker?

• Access to more lenders than going direct
• Understanding of who fits your profile
• Help with complex cases and specialist routes
• Support through the application process
• Access to exclusive deals or broker-only products

Compare lenders and deals

The best lender for you is usually the one that:

• Accepts your profile (income, property, credit)
• Offers competitive total cost (rate + fees)
• Provides the product features you need
• Is likely to complete within your timeframe

If you’d like to compare options, the next step is to review deals based on your specific circumstances and the type of mortgage you need.