In the UK, there is an abundance of mortgage lender available to the UK customer. Each mortgage lender caters to different clients, different needs and different situations. In this article. we put together a list of mortgage lenders in the UK to give you an understanding of which each offer
High-street Mortgage Lenders
A category of lender in the UK are called “High-street” lenders. These lenders are banks and building societies that have a high-street presence, meaning they have branches on the high street.
List of mortgage lenders (High-street)
Mortgage lenders that fall onto this list would be some quite recognisable names such as:
| Lender | Type | Popular For | First-Time Buyer Friendly? | Online Mortgage Options? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nationwide Building Society | Building Society | Great fixed rates, member rewards | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Halifax | Bank | Cashback offers, simple application process | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Barclays | Bank | Family springboard mortgage, green homes deals | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| NatWest | Bank | Offset mortgages, strong mobile experience | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Lloyds Bank | Bank | Low deposit options, Club Lloyds perks | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| TSB | Bank | Fixed-rate deals, free valuation offers | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| HSBC | Bank | Competitive tracker rates, international lending | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Virgin Money | Bank | Flexible deals for professionals, cashback | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Santander | Bank | Loyalty deals, fast-track for current customers | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Skipton Building Society | Building Society | No-deposit mortgages for renters, flexible deals | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Metro Bank | Bank | Manual underwriting, 90%+ LTV lending | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Did you know?
Metro Bank was the first new high street bank to launch in the UK in over 100 years. Founded by Anthony Thomson and Vernon Hill, it opened its first branch in Holborn, London, in July 2010.
Specialists Mortgage Lenders
Specialist lenders are mortgage lenders that do not have a high-street presence and usually cater for more difficult cases, such as clients with a poor credit history or unique properties that fall out of the high-street lenders criteria. These type of mortgage products usually come with higher interest rates.
List of mortgage lenders (Specialists)
Specialist mortgage lenders that fall into this category are ones such as;
| Lender | Type | Good For | Accepts Poor Credit? | Self-Employed Friendly? | Online Only? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kensington Mortgages | Specialist Lender | Complex income, poor credit, self-employed | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Bluestone Mortgages | Specialist Lender | Adverse credit, missed payments, debt consolidation | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Precise Mortgages | Specialist Lender | Limited credit history, buy-to-let | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Aldermore Bank | Challenger Bank | Contractors, buy-to-let landlords | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Atom Bank | Challenger Bank | Tech-savvy buyers, remortgages | ❌ Limited | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes (app-only) |
| Together Money | Specialist Lender | Unusual properties, bridging loans | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| The Mortgage Lender | Specialist Lender | Adverse credit, complex incomes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Accord Mortgages | Broker-Only Lender | First-time buyers, 99% LTV mortgages | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No (via brokers only) |
Did you know?
Accord mortgages offer a £5,000 deposit mortgage which allows first time buyers to borrow up to 99% of the property.
Building Societies
As you may have noticed in the list of high- street lenders, some are listed as building societies.
What’s the difference between a Bank and A Building Society?
-
- Bank – owned by shareholders with a goal to make a profit for the share holders
-
- Building Society – owned by its members (the customers) with the goal to reinvest profit’s to benefit the members.
Recently, Nationwide Building Society launched the Big Nationwide Thank you campaign, in which Nationwide gave 12 million of their customers £50, totalling a £600,000 million payout to the members, after a successful purchase of Virgin Money.
- Building Society – owned by its members (the customers) with the goal to reinvest profit’s to benefit the members.
Which Mortgage Lender should you go with?
In the UK, deciding who to get your mortgage with is not as simple as looking down a list of mortgage lenders, there are multiple factors you have to consider, such as your credit score, the property and your circumstances.
To get the best option, you are always best talking to a professional who has access to the whole of the mortgage market, and can find you the best deal.
You can get free mortgage advice from a mortgage expert here
FAQs
Who are the top mortgage lenders in the UK?
The top mortgage lenders in the UK include high-street names like Nationwide, Halifax, Barclays, and HSBC. These lenders are popular for offering competitive rates and wide accessibility, especially for first-time buyers.
How do I choose the right mortgage lender?
Choosing the right mortgage lender depends on your credit history, income type, and the property you’re buying. A mortgage adviser can help you compare high-street and specialist lenders to find the best deal for your situation.
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