Mortgages after using payday loans

Generally, lenders don’t like payday loans because they take it as a sign that you struggle to manage your money, and might again in the future. 

Lenders base all their decisions on risk, and people with a history of payday loans are deemed ‘high risk’. Some lenders think relying on payday loans to cover your everyday living expenses means you’ll struggle to keep up with your monthly repayments. But this isn't true in a lot of cases. And that’s why it’s important to work with a specialist mortgage broker who’ll take the time to understand you and your situation. Our Mortgage Experts will know the right lenders to approach. Make an enquiry to get started.

Lenders will be able to see any payday loans and other borrowings on your credit history for six years. Some lenders will still ask you if you’ve ever taken out a payday loan, even if it’s disappeared from your file. If this happens, you should always be honest about it - it’ll save you time and money in the long run! 

With any financial issues, it’s best to face them head on. Finding out your credit score and reviewing your report will give you a great place to start from. You can get a free copy of your credit file with a trial of checkmyfile* (usually £14.99 a month). Once you have your report, you can then check for any errors and see where you can improve.

*Heads up, when you click through to our affiliate links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend sites we truly trust and believe in.

Being refused a mortgage can be frustrating and demoralising. It can be really hard to know what to do next, or where to turn. It’s tempting to apply to another lender after being refused a loan, but too many unsuccessful mortgage applications can negatively affect your credit report.

It’s common that mortgage applications are rejected by mainstream lenders when there is a history of payday loans, especially if they were recent. But just because you’ve been rejected, it doesn’t mean you won't get a mortgage somewhere else. 

If your bank, building society or a mortgage broker has declined your mortgage application:

• Talk to a specialist mortgage broker who has a proven track record of helping people with a payday loan history (like us!).

• Make sure any outstanding payday loans are paid before your application. 

• If possible, save up a good-sized deposit because lenders will often be unwilling to approve mortgages with a higher loan-to-value (LTV).

Read more in our Guide: What to Do if You’ve Been Refused For a Mortgage

If your most recent payday loan was more than six years ago and you have no other credit issues, you’ll have far more mortgage options available to you than if you have lots of recent ones on your credit file. 

Some lenders will flat-out reject anyone who’s taken out a payday loan at any point, , while others will consider the reason why the money was borrowed, how it was repaid and the efforts you have made to make sure you do not need to use this type of loan in the past.

When it comes to getting a mortgage, it’s all about which lender you go to. Working with a specialist mortgage broker (like us!) who has experience getting mortgages for people who’ve used payday loans will really improve your chances. Make an enquiry to speak to one of our Mortgage Experts.

No. It’s not true that getting payday loans can help you get a mortgage. The reason some people think payday loans might help you get a mortgage is because it’s a form of credit. Paying any form of credit back on time is a good thing for your credit score as it shows you’re a good borrower who can pay on time. 

The issue is, lenders don’t just look at your credit score when they assess whether to give you a mortgage or not. They look at many other things too. So even if you had a perfect credit score because you always pay back your credit on time, they might still reject you for taking out a payday loan when they see that in your credit history.

It depends on your situation. Some lenders will be willing to offer you less on a mortgage if you’ve had payday loans in the past. Similarly, sometimes lenders will want you to put down a larger deposit. 

If your payday loan was a while ago e.g. five years, some lenders might be willing to give you a competitive rate. It’s best to work with a specialist mortgage broker who can find you the right mortgage, with the right lender, at the most competitive rate.

How much you’ll be able to borrow on a mortgage after using payday loans will totally depend on your situation. A lender will look at many different factors to decide how much they’re willing to lend you after a payday loan.

These are the things that will affect how much you can borrow:

• Affordability: A lender will assess what kind of affordability you have. This means they’ll look at your income and your outgoings to work out what they’re willing to let you borrow for your mortgage. 

• Mortgage type: If you have an excellent credit rating and no history of payday loans, this generally means there’s every kind of mortgage open to you. If you have a history of payday loans, this can mean there’s less mortgage types open – which affects how much you can borrow. 

• The loan-to-value (LTV): The LTV means how much a lender is willing to lend you as a percentage of the total value of the property. A good LTV would be something like 95-90% of the value of the property you want to buy. If you have bad credit or a history of payday loans, lenders might want to offer you a lesser percentage value. The LTV is also affected by the amount of deposit you have. The larger a deposit you have, the higher the LTV usually is. 

• Mortgage rates and fees: A lender could charge you a higher rate if you’ve used payday loans. They might do this with anyone who hasn’t got an excellent credit score.

Read more in our Guide: What Mortgage Lenders Look For in Mortgage Applicants

On their own, payday loans aren’t actually a bad credit issue and don’t reduce your credit rating if you’ve paid them back on time.

The problem when it comes to mortgages is that lenders see payday loans as a red flag, and that’s why it can be more difficult. Mortgage lenders carry out a detailed analysis of your credit report before they agree to give you a mortgage, and will look for bigger credit issues such asCCJs, IVAs and bankruptcies.

Usually, the higher your credit score, the easier it is to get approved for a mortgage. So it’s always a good idea to do what you can to improve your score before applying. However, if you’re really pushed for time and need a mortgage quickly, you definitely still have options., In this case, it’s best to speak to a specialist mortgage broker who can explore your options and find you the right mortgage.

Here are some top tips for improving your credit score with a history of payday loans:

• Pay off any outstanding debt in full (including credit cards, loans, and similar). If that’s not possible, just pay as much as you can.

• Make sure you’re listed on the electoral roll. 

• Consider reviewing the number of credit cards and accounts you’ve got open. Even if they don’t have outstanding balances. 

• Use your available credit in a sensible way. For example, make small purchases on your credit card and pay off the balance in full each month. That can help build your score because it shows that you’re making repayments on time.

Read more tips on boosting your credit rating before applying for a mortgage.