You can start your mortgage journey in the ClearScore app. We’ll help you get a mortgage in principle and connect you with one of our expert mortgage partners, who can then help you apply for a mortgage.
ClearScore isn’t a lender. We don’t decide who gets a mortgage – the lender does.
This article covers England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. We’ll tell you where things work differently in Scotland.
The information in this article isn't intended to be advice from ClearScore Technology Limited, its group companies or its affiliates. It's not a substitute for getting advice from a lawyer, financial advisor, or any other professional.
How it works in ClearScore
There are 4 main steps:
- Tell us about your plans
- Tell us about your income
- Get your mortgage in principle
- Speak to a mortgage broker
Where to start
You can start in 2 places:
- The home-buying section in Credit Health
- Mortgages in Offers
First, we’ll ask what you want to do:
- Buy your first home
- Buy your next home
- Remortgage your current home
To remortgage means to change the mortgage on a home you already own. If you choose this, we’ll ask about your home and your income. Then you can speak to a broker. You won’t get a mortgage in principle, as it isn’t needed for a remortgage.
Tell us about your plans
If you’re buying a home, we’ll ask:
- Where you are in your home-buying journey
- When you expect to buy
- If you’ve found a property, and its address
- How much you expect to pay
- How much deposit you’ve saved
- If you’re a first-time buyer
Your deposit is the money you pay towards the home yourself. The mortgage usually covers the rest.
If you’re more than 1 year away from buying, or you’ve saved less than a 5% deposit, we may suggest our home-buying tools first. You can still choose to carry on.
Tell us about your income and expenses
We’ll ask about your income and expenses so we can estimate how much you could borrow. This includes:
- Your job type
- Your income before tax
- Any bonuses or overtime
- Other income you get
- Your household spending
If you receive income from more than 1 place, you can add each one separately.
Applying with someone else
If you’re buying with someone else, we’ll ask about them too. This includes their name, address, job, income and whether they’re a first-time buyer. Before you add their details, make sure you have their permission and have shared our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy with them.
We won’t run a credit check on them. We’ll use what you tell us.
Before you carry on, you’ll see a summary of everything you’ve told us. You can change anything that isn’t right.
Your mortgage in principle
A mortgage in principle is an estimate of how much you could borrow. It’s based on what you tell us.
Good to know:
- We don’t run a credit check, so it won’t affect your credit score.
- We don’t send your details to a lender at this stage.
- It isn’t a mortgage offer, and it doesn’t mean a lender will say yes.
You’ll see your amount in the app. We’ll also email you a certificate. You can download it and share it with an estate agent or broker.
In Scotland your solicitor makes the offer, so share your mortgage in principle with them, not just an estate agent
Your certificate shows the date we made it. It doesn’t expire, but your situation can change. A broker may give you a different amount after they look at your details more closely. They might also issue a separate mortgage in principle document altogether.
Can I get another mortgage in principle?
Yes. Go back to the journey, update your details and get a new one. The app shows your latest result. Your older certificates stay in your emails.
Will my progress be saved if I don’t complete the application in one go?
Yes. We remember the details you enter. If you leave after the summary where you can review your details, you’ll come back to that point. If you leave earlier, you may need to start again – but your details should already be filled in.
Speak to a mortgage broker
A mortgage broker is an expert who looks at your situation and helps you find a mortgage. You’ll see this as Connect with a mortgage expert in the app.
We work with more than 1 broker. We may match you with one based on your situation. Depending on your broker, you’ll either:
- Go to their website and book a call or
- Get a call from them - we’ll ask you for your phone number during the application process.
Your broker will do their own, more detailed check. They may ask you some of the same questions again. They may also give you a new mortgage in principle.
If you have questions about which mortgage is right for you, or how much you could borrow, your broker can help. Our Customer Support team can explain how the ClearScore journey works, but we can’t give financial advice.
Making a full mortgage application
Once you’ve found a home, you’ll need to make a full mortgage application. ClearScore can’t help you with this directly, but we can refer you to a broker. You can also find a broker independently or apply for a mortgage with a lender directly.
The lender makes the final decision.
If you’d like to learn more about what that part of the buying process looks like, please take a look at the “Making a full mortgage application” article.
More help
MoneyHelper is a free service backed by the government. It has more information on:
- How to apply for a mortgage
- The money timeline for buying in England, Wales and Northern Ireland
- The money timeline for buying in Scotland
- Buying a home in Northern Ireland, from nidirect
If you need help with the ClearScore app, contact us using the chat messenger at the bottom right of this page.