Published on Dec 20, 2025 - By Lenderhive Team
Will I Be Accepted for a Mortgage? What Lenders Look For
* Your home may be repossessed if you don't keep up repayments on your mortgage.
"Will I actually be approved?" It's a question almost every buyer or remortgager asks at some point — and understandably so. Mortgage approval can feel mysterious, but it becomes far more manageable once you understand what lenders look for and, crucially, how differently they all approach things.
What may be a "no" for one lender can very easily be a "yes" for another.
Your Credit Profile — And the Story Behind It
A clean, well-managed credit history is ideal, but lenders do not view credit issues in the same way. Some are extremely strict, while others take a more nuanced approach. A missed payment from two years ago might be ignored entirely by one lender, while another could treat it more seriously. Even defaults, if they are older or satisfied, may not prevent you from securing a competitive product.
What matters most is matching your profile to the lender that is comfortable with it.
How Income Type Influences Approval
Income is not just about the number; it's about the certainty lenders see in it.
For Salaried Borrowers
Lenders generally agree on the basics — but they differ dramatically on what counts as additional income. If you earn commission, regular overtime or bonuses, your acceptable income could vary significantly between lenders.
For the Self-Employed
The range is even wider. One lender might want an average of three years' accounts; another might use your latest year only. Contractors can sometimes be treated like high earners if a lender uses their day rate. The wrong lender may underestimate your income, while the right one sees your full financial picture.
Deposit, Debts and Spending Patterns
A larger deposit almost always helps, but lenders also look at how you manage your financial commitments. Car finance, loans or high credit card balances don't automatically lead to a decline — but they do affect affordability. Again, lenders differ widely in how much weight they place on each factor.
Your Job, Your Situation and Even Your Property
Some lenders specialise in borrowers with fixed-term contracts, agency work, newly qualified professionals or individuals who have recently changed jobs. Others are more focused on the type of property you're buying — such as new builds, flats above shops or homes built with non-standard materials.
The point is that a decline from one lender says nothing about your overall chances. It simply means you weren't the right fit for that particular lending policy.
How Lenderhive Improves Your Chances from the Start
Instead of applying blind and hoping for the best, Lenderhive helps you understand which lenders are most likely to accept you based on your full circumstances. Our smart tools and advisers review your profile, compare it against detailed lender criteria, and point you toward the options where you're most likely to be approved.
You can:
Use a Quick Quote to Get Early Clarity
Get an initial assessment of your mortgage options without impacting your credit score, helping you understand where you stand.
Explore Mortgage Calculators to Assess Affordability
Use our tools to understand your borrowing capacity and see how different scenarios might affect your mortgage options.
Start Our Tailored Advice Process
Receive personalised recommendations based on your complete financial profile, matched to lenders most likely to approve your application.
Speak Directly with a Lenderhive Adviser
Get expert guidance from an adviser who will help strengthen your application and match you with the right lenders for your situation.
If you're unsure where you stand, let Lenderhive guide you — quickly, confidently and without impacting your credit score.