How to Improve Your Credit Score in Sheffield

What credit score will I need for a mortgage in Sheffield?

The higher your credit score is, the more likely that a lender will accept your application for a mortgage. This is different from the likelihood of someone with a poor credit score finding the same success. A mortgage lender will study your application carefully to determine whether or not you can afford a mortgage.

However, there is still no guarantee to be accepted the first time. Even if your credit score is pretty high. Each mortgage lender will have their own specific criteria that you need to match to obtain their deal, and it is unlikely that you will meet the criteria for all lenders across the panel.

Each lender’s criteria are different from another and they have developed their own unique ways of figuring out whether you match what they’re looking for or not. In some cases, you might actually find yourself matching up with the majority of them and in some cases, maybe you only match up with a few of them.

Speak to a Mortgage Broker in Sheffield

Here at Sheffieldmoneyman, our mortgage advisors in Sheffield will work alongside you and find the most suitable lender who offers the best deal for your circumstances, with criteria that you can meet. It is the job of your dedicated mortgage broker in Sheffield like us, to search for thousands of deals and hold your hand throughout the entire process, and always have your best interests at heart.

You will be kept in the loop at all times with what’s going on, so you’re not left stressed and confused about the process. It’s one of our many aims during your mortgage journey to make sure everything goes as smoothly and stress-free as it possibly can.

Whether you are a First Time Buyer in Sheffield, planning on Moving Home in Sheffield, or Self Employed, we will do our best to provide you with helpful tips and tricks to help you improve your credit score and eventually, secure an amazing mortgage that you’ll be thrilled to be walking away with.

Credit Score Mortgage Advisor in Sheffield

There are a variety of different credit reference agencies in Sheffield you could go with, though the most popular ones are Experian and Equifax. Before you rush into anything, make sure that you do some research into each agency as some of them may be holding incorrect data and it could help you identify any discrepancies.

We personally would suggest using a platform called Check My File, as this collates data from all the major ones like the aforementioned two, giving you a wider overview of how your credit file is looking. In signing up, you will receive a free 30-day trial, followed by a monthly fee of £14.99. Your account can be cancelled at any time prior to the end of the trial should you see fit.

There are lots of different things you can do to improve your credit score. Here we have some for you to have a look at:

Avoid Unnecessary Credit Searches

You will find that having multiple credit searches taken out against you could actually end up having a negative effect on your credit score in the long run. Even the use of price comparison websites is a factor that could harm your credit score.

If you are planning to apply for a mortgage, we strongly suggest that you avoid applying for any other credit in the meantime. Paying your credit back is a good thing for your score in the long run, providing that you can show lenders that you are able to maintain your monthly repayments.

That being said, borrowing during a mortgage application is something that could make the lender think that you cannot afford the deposit and are relying on the credit to give you a financial boost.

Check You Are On The Voters’ Roll

A great yet very simple way for you to get a boost to your credit score, is to register yourself for the electoral roll. It can demonstrate stability and this is something that the lenders like to see. You must make sure that your name is spelled correctly, and you must include your current registered address, not your previous one.

If you are not registered on the voters’ roll, you should definitely sign up for it. It is very easy to do online and it is something that could contribute well to improving your credit score.

Don’t Run Close to Your Maximum Limit

Maxing out your card each month is something else that can actually reduce your credit score. The lender will prefer to see that you are using a credit card and paying off the balance in full each month, as this will show that you are good with your money management.

If a lender sees that you are exceeding credit card limits or overdrafts,it might give them the impression that you don’t take your finances seriously. This once again could drastically harm your chances of getting accepted for a mortgage.

Check Your Address History is Keyed Correctly

Sometimes, if you have forgotten to tell a previous credit provider that you’ve moved into a new property, it can come across like you are actually living in multiple properties at the same time. Lenders don’t like to see this so you must make sure that you are on top of your address history so that it displays correctly on your credit report.

Remove Financial Links To Others

If you have a family member or ex-partner financially linked to you, this could be affecting your score without you even being aware of it. If the account is still live, then you won’t be able to get the financial association removed. If you want to remove any of these links, you should absolutely get in touch with the credit reference agencies and make a request.

Applicants see credit scoring as an unfair way to assess a mortgage application. Your mortgage lender would disagree with that, as at the end of the day, they are in the business of making money and they need to be sure you will be able to keep up your payments. It’s also much cheaper for them to operate through a computer-generated credit scoring system, as this keeps the process consistent and efficient.

Send an up-to-date copy of your credit report to your dedicated mortgage advisor in Sheffield ahead of time to increase your chances of being accepted the first time. The more your in-the-know your advisor is regarding your finances, the better it will be.

Also, there are still some lenders that prefer to operate the way companies used to and will manually assess your application. They will still have rules that they stick by regarding the number of defaults and CCJs that they will allow customers to have.

Last Edited: 22/08/2022