What credit score do you need for a mortgage?

By Sam Kane · Last checked 9 October 2026

What credit score do you need for a mortgage in the UK? There is no single number. Each lender uses its own scoring, built from your credit file, your application and its own rules, and it does not see the number you see in a credit score app. What matters most is what is on your credit file, what you earn and spend, and the size of your deposit.

The short version

• There is no minimum credit score for a mortgage. Experian says there is no universal number, because each lender sets its own rules.
• Lenders read your credit file, not your app score. The score you see is a guide to how a lender may see you.
• Experian scores run from 0 to 1,250 and Equifax scores from 0 to 1,000. Each has its own bands.
• A “thin” file can hold you back. Many renters have very little on their file, even if they always pay their bills.
• Rent is usually your biggest bill, and usually missing from your file. Rent reporting can add it to your Experian, Equifax and TransUnion credit files.
• If you are refused, do not rush to apply again. Find out which agency the lender used and check your file first.

Is there a minimum credit score for a mortgage in the UK?

No. Experian says plainly that there is no universal minimum score for a UK mortgage. Equifax says there is no single UK score at all, because each agency and lender uses its own model.

The reason is simple. The score you see from Experian, Equifax or TransUnion is not the score a lender uses. A mortgage lender works out its own score. It looks at:

• your credit file, which is the record the credit reference agencies keep about how you have paid credit and some bills
• your application, such as your job, income and spending
• anything it already knows about you, for example if you bank with it
• its own lending rules, which differ from lender to lender

So two lenders can give different answers to the same person. Still, Experian says a good score with a main agency usually means a good score with a lender. Your own score is a guide, not a pass mark.

Experian scores run from 0 to 1,250 and Equifax scores from 0 to 1,000, and each has its own bands. Wollit’s guide to UK credit score ranges by agency shows them side by side. Experian says that in its Low band, from 0 to 640, borrowing may be hard and interest rates could be high.

What do mortgage lenders look at on your credit file?

When you apply, the lender does a hard search, which is a full check of your credit file. According to Experian and MoneyHelper, the main things they look at are:

• your payment history, such as missed or late payments on credit cards, loans and phone contracts
• public records, such as county court judgments (CCJs) and individual voluntary arrangements (IVAs)
• how much you owe, and how much of your credit limits you use
• whether you are on the electoral register at your address
• recent applications for credit, because lots of them close together can look like you rely on borrowing

Lenders also check that you can afford the payments now and if interest rates rise. A bigger deposit means less risk for the lender. Experian says people with bad credit may be asked for a deposit of 15% to 25% or more. Our guide on how much deposit you need for a house explains deposits in full.

Can you get a mortgage with no credit history?

It may be possible, but it can be harder. Experian says lenders use your history to judge how you handle borrowing, so with little history your income, deposit and spending carry more weight. Our guide to rent and your credit file explains what a credit file holds and why rent is often missing.

This is common for renters. A “thin” credit file means there is very little on it. You may have paid rent on time for years, but if you have never had a loan or a credit card, a lender sees almost nothing.

Rent is a big part of the gap. For most renters it is the largest bill they pay each month, yet it does not appear on the credit file unless someone reports it. Experian says its 1,250 score includes rent payments reported to it. Equifax says rent gives lenders a more rounded view of a renter.

Our guide to rent history and mortgages explains how lenders can see your rent, and the lender that uses rent history in place of a deposit.

What to do if you are refused a mortgage because of your credit

Being turned down is not the end. MoneyHelper and Experian suggest these steps:

1. Do not apply again straight away. Each full application leaves a hard search on your file, and many in a short time can count against you.
2. Ask the lender which agency it used. A lender may not give you a detailed reason, but it should tell you which credit reference agency it checked.
3. Check your credit file with that agency. You can see your basic credit report at no cost. Look for mistakes, such as a wrong address or a payment marked as missed by error.
4. Get mistakes fixed. Ask the lender who added the wrong entry to correct it. Experian says it can contact the lender for you.
5. Register to vote at your address if you have not.
6. Talk to a mortgage broker. A broker knows which lenders may accept your situation.
7. Give it time. MoneyHelper suggests avoiding new credit for at least a year before you apply for a mortgage. GOV.UK says a CCJ stays on the register for 6 years unless you pay it in full within a month.

How renters can get ready for a mortgage

1. Check your Experian, Equifax and TransUnion files a few months before you apply, so you have time to fix problems.
2. Pay every bill on time and keep balances low.
3. Pay rent from your own account by standing order or Direct Debit, so it is clear in your bank statements.
4. Add your rent to your credit file. Report My Rent reports your rent payments to Experian, Equifax and TransUnion each month, from the day you join. You connect your bank read-only and your landlord is not involved. Past rent is not reported, so start early. Each rent payment shows on your credit file the month after you pay it.
5. Save the biggest deposit you can. Our renter to first-time buyer guide covers deposits, costs and schemes. If you have no deposit, read about 100% mortgages.

Renting has its own checks: see the credit score you need to rent.

Common questions

What is a good credit score for a mortgage?

There is no fixed figure. As a guide, Experian’s Good band starts at 861 out of 1,250. Each lender still decides for itself.

Do mortgage lenders see my credit score?

Not the one in your app. They see your credit file and work out their own score from it, along with your application.

Can I get a mortgage with a low credit score?

It may be possible, but your choice of lenders could be smaller and the interest rate higher. You may need a bigger deposit. A broker can help you find lenders that may accept you.

How can I get my rent onto my credit file?

Rent only shows if it is reported. A rent reporting service such as Report My Rent can add your rent payments to your Experian, Equifax and TransUnion credit files each month, from your bank account, without involving your landlord.

Sources

• Experian, What credit score do you need for a mortgage?, read 8 October 2026
• Experian, Introducing the 1250 score, read 8 October 2026
• Experian, Bad credit mortgages
• Experian, Can paying rent build your credit score?
• Equifax, Your Equifax credit report and score, read 8 October 2026
• Equifax, Check your credit score, read 8 October 2026
• Equifax, Why tenants now have an even bigger reason to report their rent payments, 5 March 2020
• MoneyHelper, What to do when your mortgage application is declined
• GOV.UK, County court judgments for debt

This guide is general information, not financial advice. A mortgage is a loan secured on your home. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.