I’ve been declined for a mortgage: what can I do?

Getting declined by a lender can feel like a dead end. Especially when you’ve already found the home you love. But here’s the truth: you’re far from alone, and in most cases, being declined by one bank doesn’t mean you can’t get a mortgage at all.

In fact, we often help clients across the UK recover from mortgage rejections and secure better deals than they expected. Let’s break down what to do next.

1. Why mortgage applications get declined (even good ones).

Lenders in the UK are cautious and affordability rules have only become tighter.

Some of the most common reasons we see include:

• Self-employed income that doesn’t fit the lender’s model (e.g. less than 2 years accounts or a recent drop in revenue).
• Poor or limited credit history (e.g. missed payments, Count Court Judgements, or simply being new to the UK).
• The property itself not meeting the lender’s criteria (e.g. ex-local authority flats, above a shop, non-standard construction).
• High debt-to-income ratio, even if your income is decent.
• Changing jobs or going freelance shortly before applying.

And here’s the thing: banks rarely explain these reasons clearly. Which leaves you stressed, and unsure about how things can be fixed.

2. Does being rejected mean you can’t get a mortgage?

Absolutely not mortgage lenders in the UK don’t all follow the same rules. Just because one says no doesn’t mean others will.

• Some focus on salaried applicants.
• Others specialise in buy-to-let, self-employed, or “adverse credit” cases.
• Some will reject you for a missed payment 3 years ago. Others won’t.

Knowing where to go next and how to present your case makes all the difference.

3. What should you do now?

If you’ve been declined, take a breath and don’t panic. Here’s what we recommend:

• Avoid applying again straight away. Each failed application can leave a credit check or reduce your credit score, potentially reducing your chances if you apply elsewhere.
• Get a copy of your credit report. You may be able to get a copy for free via an initial trial period with Experian, Equifax or TransUnion.
• Speak to a mortgage adviser who understands your situation. Especially if you’re self-employed, new to the UK, or have complex income.
• Don’t assume it’s your fault. Often, it’s just that the wrong lender was approached based on your personal circumstances not matching up to their approved lending criteria.

How we can help.

We’ve helped over 900 families get mortgage approvals, including many who came to us after being turned down. We work with dozens of lenders across the UK market, not just the big high-street banks.

That means we can:

• Review your rejection and explain what happened.
• Advise whether you should wait, appeal, or reapply elsewhere.
• Connect you with lenders who are open to self-employed, those with credit challenges, or new to the UK.
• Save your time and help match you with a lender more likely to approve the application first time.

Next step: speak to an adviser who understands complex cases and speaks your language. We are here to help.