Mortgage in principle

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What is a mortgage in principle?

If you’re in the process of buying a house, you'll need a mortgage in principle before you submit a formal mortgage application. The mortgage in principle, also called a decision in principle, provides an estimate of how much you can borrow and can sometimes help you secure a property viewing ahead of buyers without one.

This guide explains what a mortgage in principle is, how you can get one and where to seek advice.

What is a mortgage in principle?

A mortgage in principle is a certificate indicating how much a lender is theoretically willing to lend you. It’s not a guarantee of a mortgage approval but it’s the initial step in the mortgage process.

This certificate is an indicator that if you pass a lender’s affordability checks, you might be able to buy a property up to the stated value. You’ll also be able to see what your monthly repayments could hypothetically cost.

Different names for a mortgage in principle

There are lots of ways that people refer to a mortgage in principle. You might have heard it called a:

  • Decision in principle (DIP)
  • Mortgage agreement in principle (MIP)
  • Mortgage promise
  • Agreement in principle (AIP)

Estate agents, building societies, banks and brokers may call them different names. However, they all mean the same thing.

Why do you need a mortgage in principle?

Without one, you have no idea how much you can borrow. That makes viewing properties tricky because the homeowner and estate agent usually prefer buyers in a position to proceed.

From their point of view, they could have ten people view the house but five of them might not be able to even buy the property, which is a waste of time for all involved.

However, by taking that first step and having an indication of how much you can afford, and which lender is likely to approve you, the seller and estate agent have confidence in your ability to buy and may even favour you over people without a mortgage in principle.

How is a mortgage in principle different to a mortgage offer?

 If you successfully apply through L&C, you’ll be sent an ‘L&C Decision in Principle’ certificate.

The online certificate (which can be printed) can be shown to sellers and estate agents as proof that you have an understanding that if you pass a lender’s checks, you can buy a property up to a certain amount.

Once you’ve found a property, completed the full mortgage application process and passed your lender’s affordability checks, you could receive a mortgage offer. This is confirmation that your lender is going to provide you with a mortgage to purchase the property you love.

How to get a mortgage in principle

You can start the process with our online mortgage finder which is designed to be easy and quick to use. It will show you:

  • how much you could borrow
  • the deals you could be eligible for
  • today's lowest rates and payments from across the market

Using the online mortgage finder doesn’t commit you to a mortgage application, but it gives you a good idea of how much you can borrow and what your mortgage might cost.

If you need a mortgage in principle now, the online mortgage finder is the place to start.

What do you need to apply for a decision in principle?

  • Details of existing credit agreements
  • Addresses from the last three years
  • Details of income amount and source
  • Details of any other outgoings

How long does a mortgage in principle last?

A mortgage in principle does have an expiry date, and typically lasts for 60 to 90 days. If your search for the right home takes longer, you can usually extend this period, provided your circumstances haven’t changed.

Mortgage deals can change frequently. Having a mortgage in principle doesn’t lock in a specific rate. It’s important to monitor rate changes and how they might affect your payments during your home search.

If your mortgage in principle expires before you need it, you can re-apply. However, be cautious about requesting too many agreements in principle, as multiple credit searches could negatively impact your credit score.

Mortgage lenders can change their decision

A mortgage in principle is not a guarantee of a mortgage. Your lender could change their decision about lending you money based on their findings from their underwriting checks, or property survey.

Every lender has different criteria that they’ll check.  A definite will be looking at your pay slips to check if your income is enough to be able to make your mortgage repayments.

Your lender could also change the terms that are on offer to you if they think another route would be more affordable for your circumstances. For example, you might have enquired about a mortgage with a small deposit of 5% but on reflection the lender could decide that a larger deposit is required to reduce the amount you’re borrowing.

An L&C mortgage adviser’s help is invaluable at this stage because they can quickly check if your circumstances mean you’re likely to meet the lending criteria, rather than you apply without knowing and then getting knocked back.

Does applying for an L&C decision in principle affect your credit score?

Applying for a mortgage in principle through L&C doesn’t involve a credit check, so your credit score remains unaffected. However, some mortgage lenders and other brokers might perform a credit check that could impact your score.

Don’t apply for multiple mortgages in principle

Avoid applying for multiple mortgages in principle with different lenders as this can harm your credit score. Multiple applications can suggest that you’re an unstable borrower with an urgency to borrow which could reduce your chances of getting approved.

Speak to one of L&C’s mortgage advisors to check your eligibility before you enquire about a mortgage in principle, so you can see whether you’re a good match for that lender’s criteria.

Next steps after you receive a mortgage in principle?

Once you’ve found a property, you can begin a formal mortgage application. Your lender will want a valuation to be carried out on the property before they’ll issue a formal mortgage offer.

There are four levels of valuation that are usually performed by a surveyor who’s a member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors. These vary from a basic report to confirm the value of the property through to a full building survey.

Your lender will also complete any final checks on your circumstances, including your credit history and the source and reliability of your income and outgoings.

If your application is successful, you’ll receive a formal mortgage offer which is official confirmation from the lender that they’ll provide a mortgage to you.

Your next step now

Head to the Online Mortgage Finder

If you’re excited to kickstart the process we get it. We created the Online Mortgage Finder to keep the process super simple and show you how much you could borrow and the deals you’re likely to qualify for. You can then submit the finder and get your decision in principle certificate.

Lender

Accord

Aldermore

BM Solutions

Bank of Ireland

Barclays

Bath BS

Beverley

Buckinghamshire

Cambridge

Chelsea

Chorley BS

Co-op

Coventry

Cumberland

Darlington

Digital Mortgages

Dudley

Earl Shilton

Ecology BS

Family BS

First Direct

Furness

HSBC

Halifax

Handlesbanken

Hanley Economic

Harpenden

Hinckley & Rugby

Hodge Lifetime

Leeds

Leek United

Loughborough BS

Mansfield

Market Harborough

Marsden

Melton Mowbray

Metro Bank

Monmouthshire

NatWest

Nationwide

Newbury

Newcastle

Nottingham

Paragon

Penrith

Platform

Post Office

Principality

Saffron BS

Santander

Scottish BS

Scottish Widows

Skipton

Stafford Railway

Suffolk BS

TSB

Teachers BS

The Mortgage Works

Tipton & Coseley

Vernon BS

Virgin Money

West Brom BS

Yorkshire BS

Previous SVR %

8.24

9.73

9.59

7.79

8.49

8.39

7.79

8.79

8.54

8.24

8.74

8.12

7.49

8.24

7.84

7.14

8.54

8.39

6.29

8.44

6.99

8.69

6.99

8.74

8.75

7.99

8.04

8.04

8.85

7.99

8.24

7.49

8.89

8.24

9.19

8.44

8.75

8.49

8.24

7.99

7

6.94

8.7

9.6

7.99

8.12

7.79

7.6

8.79

8.5

8.49

8.74

6.79

5.95

8.69

8.74

8.79

8.49

8.59

8.1

9.24

6.74

8.24

% Change

0.25

0.2

0.25

0.25

0.25

0.2

0.45

0.2

0.25

0.25

0.15

0.25

0.25

0.2

0.25

0.15

0.2

0.2

-

0.25

-

0.15

-

0.25

0.25

0.5

0.25

0.25

0.25

0.25

0.25

0.45

0.25

0.15

0.2

0.25

0.25

0.1

0.25

0.25

0.25

-

0.25

0.25

-

0.25

0.25

0.17

0.25

0.25

0.25

0.25

-

0.25

0.25

0.25

0.15

-

0.15

-

0.25

0.15

0.25

New SVR %

7.99

9.53

9.34

8.04

8.74

8.19

8.24

8.59

8.29

7.99

8.59

7.87

7.24

8.04

8.09

6.99

8.74

8.19

-

8.19

-

8.54

-

8.49

8.5

8.49

7.79

7.79

8.6

8.24

7.99

7.94

8.64

8.39

8.99

8.69

8.5

8.39

7.99

7.74

6.75

-

8.45

9.35

-

7.87

8.04

7.43

8.54

8.25

8.24

8.49

-

6.2

8.44

8.49

8.64

-

8.44

-

8.99

6.59

7.99

Fee free since 1999

Get your mortgage in principle today

Use our online Mortgage Finder to see which deals you're likely to qualify for and get your L&C decision in principle certificate.

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Frequently asked questions

How reliable is a Mortgage in Principle?

A Mortgage in Principle can provide you with a useful guide as to how much you might be able to borrow and give sellers confidence in your offer, but it’s not a guarantee that you’ll be able to get a mortgage.

What happens after I get a Mortgage in Principle?

Once you’ve found a property you want to buy, you’ll need to submit a full mortgage application. If your application is successful, you’ll receive a formal mortgage offer which is official confirmation from the lender that they’ll provide you with a mortgage.

How long does a Mortgage in Principle take?

You can get a Mortgage in Principle in just a few minutes with L&C’s online Mortgage Finder. This allows you to check your eligibility against a wide range of lenders’ criteria to see which deals you qualify for, how much you can borrow and what it will cost without carrying out a credit check. You can then click ‘submit’ to receive an online Decision in Principle certificate, which will typically last up to 90 days.

Will getting a Mortgage in Principle affect my credit rating?

Our online version doesn’t require a credit check and is based on the information you provide us with, so won’t harm your credit score. If you go directly to a lender, they’ll usually require a credit check before they’ll issue you with a Mortgage in Principle. So if you request it several times this could damage your credit score. Find out more about credit scores in our guide What credit score is needed to buy a house?

Is getting a Mortgage in Principle easy?

To obtain a Mortgage in Principle, you will need to speak to a mortgage lender or broker and provide certain personal and financial information. It’s usually a quick process so if all is okay with the information you’ve provided, you should have a Mortgage in Principle in a day or two. Remember, though, that a Mortgage in Principle isn’t a guarantee of a mortgage or of a particular amount you can borrow. Rather, it’s an indication of what you could potentially borrow, pending a full application and further checks.

Do you need a Mortgage in Principle to make an offer?

It’s not a legal requirement to have a Mortgage in Principle before you start house hunting, and you don’t need one to make an offer. However, sellers will take you more seriously if you have one in place before you start viewing homes, increasing the likelihood of your offer being accepted. It can also be helpful for you when it comes to working out your budget and finding properties in your price range.