Which UK Lenders Will Actually Lend to Me?
Every UK lender uses different criteria. The same applicant is accepted by some and declined by others for reasons that have nothing to do with credit score. This hub is the plain-English map — by scenario, not by lender.
Information only — not advice. Lender lists are pulled from live criteria and refreshed regularly. Your broker remains the person to confirm your exact case.
Browse by category
Employment
Probation, self-employed, contractor, zero-hours, maternity leave.
Explore questionsResidency & Visa
Skilled Worker, pre-settled, years in UK, foreign-currency income.
Explore questionsCredit
CCJ, defaults, DMP, thin files and new-to-UK credit.
Explore questionsDeposit
100% LTV, gifted deposits, concessionary purchase.
Explore questionsProperty
Flats above shops, ex-LA, cladding, non-standard construction.
Explore questionsIncome types
Bonus, commission, dividend, lodger, maintenance.
Explore questionsWhy lender criteria vary
UK lenders are independent businesses, each with their own risk appetite, funding model, and manual-underwriting culture. Two lenders can look at identical income, identical credit history and identical property — and one lends £300,000 while the other says no. Understanding which factors move the lender pool most is the difference between a quick yes and a wasted credit search.
Each question page here answers a single narrow question ("which lenders accept probation?") with a real list of lenders pulled from their own policy documents. You can filter the list by deposit size, adverse credit status, and sole/joint, and see the caveats each lender attaches to your scenario.
Know the numbers, too
Knowing which lenders will consider you is half the picture. The other half is what each of them would actually offer. Our affordability check runs you across all 60+ UK lenders simultaneously.
Run My Affordability Check
