Who we are

Robin Mortgage Design are a whole of market mortgage & protection brokerage. Mortgage brokers who are whole of market have access to the largest pool of mortgage providers such as banks, building societies and pure mortgage lenders. When you choose us, you’ll be treated as an individual from the very start. We’ll take the time to understand your situation and propose suitable options for your mortgage & protection needs.

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On this page, we’ll share information to help you if you’ve had a mortgage declined and cover how you could get back on track and prepare for your next application. If you’d like to speak with an actual human at any point, then we can get you in touch with your personal mortgage consultant who will be on hand to guide you through every stage of your journey.

Had your mortgage declined?

If you've had a mortgage declined, you'll probably be feeling worried and wondering if it's even possible to get a new mortgage. Here at Robin Mortgage Design, our community of expert mortgage advisers will be able to let you know what your next steps are. There are many reasons for having a mortgage declined, so try not to worry too much as there is a good chance alternative options may be available.​

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Mortgages can be declined for many reasons and just because you’ve been declined a mortgage once, it doesn’t mean that you won’t be able to get one in the future. Here are some of the most common reasons for having a mortgage declined:​

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1. Bad credit

2. Little or low credit history/credit score

3. The loan amount applied for isn’t affordable

4. The property doesn't meet lenders requirements 

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This list doesn’t cover all the possible reasons for a decline, but they are the most common. There are a couple of things you can do to help you understand why your mortgage was declined.​

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1. Ask your mortgage adviser: Whether you’ve been to a bank or a mortgage broker, they are there to help secure your mortgage and should be kept in the loop on the progress of your application and understand the lending criteria. If your mortgage isn’t able to proceed then they should have some insight as to why.

2. Review your credit file: Your credit profile is your digital representation of your finances. Your credit file holds information about your address history, electoral role information, credit information and payment history. The information held on here is what lenders use to work out if you fall within their lending appetite.

3. Have you provided all the information?: Mortgage advisers can only help if they fully understand your situation. Make sure you’ve provided all the documents and information required and that your broker understand all about your finances, circumstances and the property.

Mortgage declined due to a low credit score?

Your credit score is a number determined by the lender that takes into account a lot of different information. This includes:

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• The level of debts you hold

• The conduct of those debts

• Are you on the voter’s role?

• Do you have any County Court Judgements, Defaults or other bad credit?

• The level of deposit you hold

• Joint or sole application

• Time in the UK

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​Ultimately, there may be many reasons why your mortgage was declined due to credit score as every lender has their own way of scoring an application. The good news though is that some lenders won’t credit score you. Although they’ll look at your application on its own merits, they will still look your credit conduct. In this instance, it’s best to get a copy of your credit report and share this with your adviser at the early stages of your discussions. This will help them to find the best way forward for your circumstances.

How do I increase my credit score?

Well, that's a very good question and one we get asked often. Although the answer is very personal to each and every person, we have listed some of the things you can do.

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• Register to vote. This can be a quick win for your credit profile and is very simple to do through your local council.

• Make sure your personal details are up to date.

• Avoid the use of payday loans, these are typically high interest short term loans.

• Don’t use all the credit available to you. Having a high usage of your available credit can have a negative impact on your score.

• Pay off where possible any late or missed payments.

• Pay off where possible any defaults or other adverse credit.

• Check to see if you are financially associated with anyone else as their credit profile can impact yours.

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​Sometimes your credit score may be low as you haven’t had any credit in the past. If this is you, don’t panic, there are lenders that won’t credit score. Speaking with a whole of market mortgage broker can be a great solution to helping you get the right mortgage.

Mortgage declined due to property type

Property is fantastic, it comes in all shapes and sizes, designs and materials and can be brand new or 400 years old. While each property will have its own reason for standing out to you, lenders want to make sure that they are happy to lend on it. ​​

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Once you've found your lender and submitted your application, they’ll carry out a mortgage survey on the property. Depending on the result, they may decline a mortgage because the property doesn’t meet their criteria. There are many reasons for this and the key is knowing why. Once you know, your mortgage adviser may be able to find a new solution.

Common reasons for property declines

• Leasehold properties with short leases: If you’re considering buying a leasehold property, then you’ll need to consider the term left on the lease. Generally speaking, 80 years or more will normally be OK, but less than 80 years will start to have an impact on your lending options. If you’re buying a property with a short lease, you might want to consider negotiating a lease extension for completion.

• Down valued: It’s not uncommon for a surveyor to down value your property. They tend to use sale price data for the surrounding area and will match the property to these.

• Non-standard construction: This is a rather large topic but put simply, if the property you are buying isn’t made from bricks or stone with a tile or slate roof, then the property may be considered non-standard. For example, a timber barn conversion or a modern eco house might require a more specialist lender. 

• Ex-council: These houses are typically renowned for being strong, solid houses but not every lender will consider them.

• Lots of land/ stables/ multiple buildings or part commercial: Again, while this section is rather broad, if you’re considering a property with lots of land, stables or kennels, outbuildings, Annexes, or an element of commercial, you may find it harder to obtain a mortgage. The are many reasons why properties like this can require more specialist lending, so it’s always best to seek advice.

What happens next?

​Once you've found your lender and submitted your application, they’ll carry out a mortgage survey on the property. Depending on the result, they may decline a mortgage because the property doesn’t meet their criteria. There are many reasons for this and the key is knowing why. This will normally be identified by the valuation report and communicated to you through your adviser. 

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There are many lenders that will consider a variety of property types but the key is knowing where to look. With so many variations in lenders criteria and construction methods, choosing a whole of market mortgage broker could save you a lot of time.​

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It's important to remember that if the property is rather unique, or has a defect, the result can sometimes rely solely on the valuer’s comments, which can yield mixed results.

I've had my mortgage offer withdrawn and I'm about to complete

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Having a mortgage offer taken away is rather rare, but unfortunately it can happen. In the period of time between having a mortgage offered and completion, you're under obligation to make the lender aware of any changes in your circumstances. The lender reserves the right to complete a new credit check before completion, so if something has been flagged up or the solicitor hasn’t been able to satisfy the conditions on the mortgage offer, this may cause the lender to pull the mortgage completely.​

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If you’ve had a lender retract their mortgage offer at the last minute, then you need to speak with a mortgage adviser as soon as possible. They can then establish what went wrong and why and look at alternative lenders to get you back on track.