FAQ’s

A mortgage broker acts as an intermediary between you and lenders. We compare suitable options across the market, explain the choices clearly, and manage the application from start to finish.

You can go direct to a lender, but that only shows you that lender’s products. Using a broker gives you wider market access and advice based on your circumstances, rather than a single bank’s range.

We are whole-of-market. That means we can look across the vast majority of UK lenders, rather than being limited to a small panel.

Yes, we can access some mortgage products and rates that are only available through brokers. That can widen your options, although the most suitable deal will always depend on your circumstances and the lender’s criteria.

Yes, our mortgage business operates under FCA regulation. You can check our regulatory details on the Financial Services Register.

You can check our details on the Financial Services Register. Search for Mortgage Medics or use our reference number, 475626.

We focus on clear advice, local knowledge, and practical support throughout the process. Our aim is to make things feel straightforward and well managed, rather than confusing or rushed.

Yes, we have client reviews and testimonials available online. You can find feedback on our website and on review platforms such as Trustpilot and Google.

Yes, you can choose the meeting style that suits you best. We offer appointments by video, phone, and in person at our Hove office.

You can book an initial appointment through our website or by calling our team. We offer flexible ways to get started, depending on what works best for you.

No, there is no upfront charge for the initial appointment. It is a chance for us to understand your plans and explain how we can help.

In the first appointment, we talk through your goals, finances, borrowing options, and likely costs. Where appropriate, we can also help you work towards an Agreement in Principle so you have a clearer idea of what you may be able to borrow.

It helps to have your latest payslips, bank statements, and proof of ID ready. The more complete the information, the more accurate and useful our guidance can be.

Most first appointments take around 45 to 60 minutes. That is usually enough time to cover the basics and answer your initial questions properly.

Most first appointments take around 45 to 60 minutes. That is usually enough time to cover the basics and answer your initial questions properly.

No, the first appointment is exploratory and there is no obligation to proceed. It is simply a chance to understand your options and decide whether you want our help.

Yes, we can work alongside your solicitor and estate agent. Keeping the different parties informed can help the transaction move more smoothly from application to completion.

If your circumstances change, tell us as soon as possible. We can review the impact and check that the mortgage recommendation still fits your position and the lender’s criteria.

If something goes wrong, we have a formal complaints procedure. We will look into the issue fairly and aim to resolve it as promptly as possible.

We use secure, encrypted systems to protect your personal data. We also follow UK data protection requirements, including GDPR.

Yes, first-time buyers are a core part of our work. We help explain the process clearly and support you from the early planning stage through to completion.

Yes, we regularly help clients remortgage their homes. This may be to secure a new rate, change the mortgage term, or review whether another lender is more suitable.

Yes, we can help clients who want to raise additional borrowing on their mortgage. This might be for home improvements or other planned needs, subject to affordability and lender criteria.

Yes, we advise on buy-to-let mortgages for both individual and limited company landlords. The right option will depend on your plans, the property, and the lender’s criteria.

Yes, we help people arrange mortgages when moving home. We can guide you through the timing of selling, buying, and changing or replacing your existing mortgage.

Yes, we can help you explore ways to access equity from your home. The right route depends on your age, needs, and circumstances, and any borrowing secured on your home needs careful consideration.

Yes, we provide specialist advice on equity release for eligible homeowners. Equity release is not right for everyone, and it can affect the value left in your home and any inheritance you leave.

We are usually paid a commission by the lender, and in some cases, we also charge a broker fee for our advice and processing work. Any fee we charge is explained clearly before you proceed.

Yes, we usually charge a broker fee and explain it upfront before any chargeable work starts. Our typical fee is £499 for a purchase and £299 for a remortgage, and it is usually payable at the application stage.

Whether a broker fee is refundable depends on the terms of our agreement with you. We will make that clear before you decide to go ahead.

In practice, there is usually no difference. Both terms are commonly used for the lender’s charge to secure a particular mortgage product or rate.

Alongside your mortgage costs, you should budget for items such as Stamp Duty, legal fees, surveys, and removals. The total will vary depending on the property price and the type of purchase.

Early repayment charges are fees a lender may apply if you repay the mortgage or switch deals during a tie-in period. The amount and the dates they apply will be set out in your mortgage offer.

Many lenders let you overpay by up to 10% of the balance each year without a penalty, although the exact limit depends on the product. Overpaying can reduce the interest you pay and may shorten the term, but you should always check the lender’s rules first.

Many lenders may offer around five to six times your gross annual income, but there is no single rule that fits everyone. The amount you can borrow depends on affordability checks, your outgoings, your deposit, and the lender’s criteria.

Mortgage affordability is usually affected by your income, existing credit commitments, regular living costs, and the size of your deposit. Lenders also look at how your budget would cope with future rate changes.

An Agreement in Principle, sometimes called a Decision in Principle, is an early indication from a lender of how much they may be willing to lend. It is not a full mortgage offer and still depends on further checks and a full application.

Most Agreements in Principle last around 60 to 90 days. The exact timescale depends on the lender, so it is worth checking before you rely on it for a property search.

Many mortgages need at least a 5% deposit, although a larger deposit often gives you access to more choice and lower rates. Some lenders also offer no-deposit or family-supported options, but eligibility is more limited.

Loan-to-value, or LTV, is the size of your mortgage compared with the property value. A lower LTV usually means less lender risk, which can lead to better rates and a wider choice of products.

With a fixed-rate mortgage, your interest rate stays the same for an agreed period. With a variable-rate mortgage, the rate can go up or down, so your monthly payments may change.

A tracker mortgage is a type of variable-rate mortgage that follows an external rate, usually the Bank of England base rate. If that underlying rate changes, your mortgage rate and monthly payments can change too.

The Standard Variable Rate, or SVR, is the lender’s default rate after your initial deal ends. It is often higher than introductory rates, which is why many borrowers review their options before they move on to it.

A mortgage term is the full length of time over which the loan is set to be repaid. A longer term can reduce monthly payments, but it will usually mean paying more interest overall.

Yes, longer mortgage terms are available with some lenders. They can make monthly payments lower, but you must still meet the lender’s age and affordability rules.

With a repayment mortgage, each monthly payment covers both interest and part of the capital you borrowed. If you keep up the payments for the full term, the mortgage should be fully repaid at the end.

With an interest-only mortgage, your monthly payments cover the interest but not the capital balance itself. It is usually only suitable if you have a clear and acceptable plan for repaying the original loan at the end of the term.

With capital repayment, you gradually reduce the loan balance over time as well as paying interest. With interest-only, the balance stays in place and must be repaid in full at the end of the term.

If you are on a tracker or other variable rate, your monthly payments may rise or fall when rates change. If you are on a fixed rate, your payments stay the same until that fixed period ends.

A mortgage application often takes around one to three weeks from application to offer, but timescales vary between lenders and cases. Delays can happen if extra documents are needed or the property valuation takes longer.

A mortgage valuation is arranged for the lender to check that the property is suitable security for the loan. A survey is for you, and it gives a fuller view of the property’s condition and any issues that may need attention.

Subject to valuation means the lender’s decision still depends on the property being valued acceptably. If the valuation is lower than expected or raises concerns, the mortgage offer may change or not proceed.

Conveyancing is the legal work involved in transferring ownership of a property. A solicitor or licensed conveyancer deals with the contracts, searches, and transfer of funds so the purchase can complete properly.

A mortgage offer is the lender’s formal confirmation that it is prepared to lend on agreed terms. It often lasts for around three to six months, although the exact expiry date will depend on the lender.

If your application is declined, it does not always mean you cannot get a mortgage. We can look at the reason, review the case, and see whether another lender may be a better fit.

In some cases, yes, you can change the mortgage product after applying. This depends on what the lender allows and whether a more suitable or better-priced option is available before completion.

Most lenders ask for proof of identity, proof of address, income documents, and bank statements. The exact list can vary depending on whether you are employed, self-employed, or have more complex income.

Most lenders ask for the last three months of bank statements. Some may ask for more if your case is more complex or they need extra evidence.

Income can include salary, bonuses, overtime, self-employed profits, dividends, and some benefits, depending on the lender. If your income is less straightforward, we can help you understand what may and may not be accepted.

Committed expenditure usually means regular financial commitments such as loans, credit cards, childcare costs, and car finance. Lenders include these when they assess how much you can afford to borrow.

For first-time buyers, the process usually starts with an Agreement in Principle and a budget review before you begin looking seriously at properties. We then help with the application, liaise with the lender and solicitor, and support you through to getting the keys.

Many first-time buyers need at least a 5% deposit, although having 10% or more usually opens up more options. Some lenders do offer no-deposit products, but the criteria can be tighter.

A gifted deposit is money given to you, usually by a family member, to help with your purchase. Lenders normally ask for a signed gift letter and evidence showing where the money came from.

Yes, parents can sometimes help through a gifted deposit, a guarantor arrangement, or a Joint Borrower Sole Proprietor mortgage. The most suitable route depends on your income, the lender’s rules, and how much support is needed.

A Joint Borrower Sole Proprietor mortgage lets another person, often a parent, support the application with their income without being named on the property title. It can improve affordability, but the lender’s rules and legal structure need careful review.

A Lifetime ISA is a savings account designed for first-time buyers, and it includes a 25% government bonus subject to scheme rules. Those funds can usually be used towards a qualifying property deposit.

You can improve your chances by checking your credit record, reducing unsecured debts where possible, and making sure you are on the electoral roll. Keeping your finances stable and your paperwork ready can also make the application stronger.

There is no single credit score that guarantees a mortgage. Lenders look at your wider credit history, repayment conduct, and overall affordability, not just one number.

Yes, some lenders will consider a mortgage if you have a new job or a signed job offer. The options depend on the start date, your income, and the lender’s policy.

A rough budget of £2,000 to £5,000 is often sensible for solicitor fees, surveys, and moving costs, depending on the property and location. The final amount can be higher or lower, so it helps to plan for some flexibility.

Sometimes, yes, if your existing mortgage is portable and the lender approves the new application. Porting means taking your current deal to a new property, but you still have to meet the lender’s criteria.

If a different lender is needed, we can help you manage the switch and the timing involved. We will also check whether any early repayment charges apply on your current mortgage.

In many cases, your deposit for the next purchase comes from the equity released when your current home is sold. The exact amount depends on your sale price, the mortgage balance, and the costs of moving.

Yes, you may be able to borrow more when you move home. That will depend on affordability, the value of the new property, and the lender’s criteria.

A property chain means your move depends on other linked sales and purchases completing in sequence. That can make timescales less predictable and can lead to delays outside your control.

If your sale falls through, the mortgage application may need to pause while you review your next steps. We can help you understand whether the case can be held, amended, or restarted once you find another buyer or property.

Usually not, because the lender’s offer is tied to the specific property it has assessed. If the property changes, a new valuation and an updated offer are usually needed.

It is usually sensible to review your remortgage options before your current deal ends so you do not move on to your lender’s Standard Variable Rate. We normally suggest starting around six months before the end date.

Many lenders let you secure a new remortgage rate around three to six months before your current fixed rate finishes. That can give you time to plan ahead and avoid a last-minute rush.

A product transfer means switching to a new deal with your current lender rather than moving elsewhere. It can be quicker and simpler, but it is not always the cheapest or most suitable option, so it is worth comparing it with a full remortgage.

Yes, in some cases you can remortgage to release equity from your home. This may be used for renovations or debt consolidation, but it is still subject to affordability, loan-to-value limits, and lender criteria. Using your mortgage to repay unsecured debts can increase the total amount repaid over time.

Borrowing more on your mortgage usually means increasing the loan as part of a remortgage or further advance. The lender will assess affordability and loan-to-value before confirming whether that extra borrowing is available.

Yes, remortgaging with bad credit can still be possible. Your choice of lenders may be narrower and the rate may be higher, but there are often options worth exploring.

Yes, a change in income does not automatically stop you from remortgaging. We can look for lenders whose affordability approach fits your current circumstances.

If your property value has fallen, your loan-to-value may increase and that can affect the deals available. Even so, there may still be workable options depending on your wider circumstances.

That choice depends on how comfortable you are with payment changes and what you want from the deal. A fixed rate gives certainty for a period, while a tracker can move up or down with interest rates.

A buy-to-let mortgage is designed for a property you plan to rent out rather than live in yourself. The lender will usually assess both the expected rental income and your wider circumstances.

Many buy-to-let mortgages need at least a 25% deposit, although some lenders may accept 20% in certain cases. The deposit size can affect both the lender choice and the rate available.

Lenders often want the expected rent to cover around 125% to 145% of the mortgage payment, depending on the product and tax status. In some cases, surplus personal income may also be taken into account.

The main difference is who owns the property, you personally or a limited company. That can affect tax treatment and lender choice, so tax advice is important because it depends on your own circumstances.

Yes, some lenders do offer buy-to-let mortgages to first-time buyer landlords. The criteria are often tighter, so lender choice may be more limited than for experienced landlords.

Consent to let is permission from your existing residential lender to rent out your home for a period without moving on to a full buy-to-let mortgage. You usually need it if your circumstances change and you want to let the property temporarily.

Yes, self-employed borrowers can get mortgages. The key is being able to show your income clearly in the format the lender wants.

Self-employed borrowers are often asked for two years of accounts or tax calculations, along with SA302s and tax year overviews. The exact documents depend on how your business is set up and the lender’s criteria.