What Documents Do I Need to Apply for a Mortgage?

Whether you’re looking to buy your first home (congrats!) or upgrade to something bigger, you’ll need to gather some documents for your mortgage (or remortgage). Let's dive in. 

How to get a mortgage 

Once you have your deposit in hand, you’ll need to find out how much you can afford for a mortgage. That way you know what your budget is and can start looking for properties. But a lot of people find getting a mortgage intimidating – where to start? What documents do you need to get a mortgage?  

Here are the documents you're likely going to need (don’t worry, we'll go into each one and why in more detail): 

• Proof of identity 

• Proof of address 

• Payslips 

• P60 

• Recent bank statements 

• Proof of deposit 

• Any information on life or home insurance policies 

• Information on any loan commitments or debts — like credit cards or car loans 

Whether you’re looking to buy your first home, upgrade, find an investment property – or simply just remortgage for a better deal – you’ll need to go through the mortgage process. And that means some paperwork.  

All the documents you need to gather for a mortgage basically boil down to proving that you can handle the size of the loan and that you can afford to pay it back. And the lender is also going to want to make sure you are who you say you are, of course.  

Every lender or mortgage advisor will talk you through all of the documents you’ll need, but it can help to be prepared and do a little legwork ahead of time. That way, you’ll feel confident right from the beginning.  

Gather some documents

Salary details 

One of the most important figures that a lender will look at is your annual salary (or previous income, if you’re self-employed). How much you make shows how much you can comfortably and reasonably pay back. Employed applicants should have their last three monthly payslips handy. If you’re paid weekly, gather 13 weeks of pay records.  

If you’re self-employed or a freelancer, normally your mortgage lender will want to see at least two (and often three) years’ worth of records from your own accountant and from what you submit to HMRC using form SA302 (which is evidence of your earnings). Many lenders will want to see your tax year overview and your recent business bank account statements too.  

If you have a side hustle or two or receive any benefits, be sure to bring that paperwork along to show your mortgage advisor or lender. 

Do you need a P60 for a mortgage?

It’s handy to have your most recent P60 available when applying for a mortgage. If you’re not sure what a P60 is, it’s a document given to you at the end of every tax year by your employer, and it shows how much money you’ve earned and all the tax you’ve paid for the year. If you don’t have one of these, ask your employer to provide a replacement.  

Debt statements

This part isn’t as scary as it sounds! Your lender will want to see any documents relating to debt you’ve taken on, such a student loan, credit cards, car financing or other mortgage commitments. All this information will help paint your financial picture to the lender so they can work out how much you can realistically afford. 

If you have had past credit-related issues, don’t worry, it’s still possible to get a mortgage. The advisor or lender will need to understand what happened, when it happened and your current position. Have this information to hand and don’t try to hide it – it’s best to be upfront so they can find the best way to help you.  

It’s wise to check your credit score before applying for a mortgage, just to make sure there aren’t any mistakes. We go through that in a little more detail here. 

Proof of identity and proof of address 

The lender and advisor will want to know that you are who you say you are. Bring along a couple of utility or council tax bills as proof of address, as well as a photographic form of ID, such as your driving license or passport.  

Additional information 

There are a few other bits and bobs that you may need, such as: 

• Details of any home or life insurance policies you have 

• The price and address of the property you intend to buy (if you’ve already found a potential place!) 

• Estate agent details (to arrange the survey) 

• Contact details of your chosen solicitor  

• Proof of your deposit (either your own bank or savings account statement or – if you’re getting a leg up from a family member or friend – a signed letter from the person giving you the money, with a copy of their statement showing they have the funds 

• A copy of your credit report to hand is advised  

Find your mortgage advisor 

If you’re thinking of getting a mortgage or have questions about your current deal, our friendly advisors are here to help. Contact the expert team at Purplebricks Mortgages today to talk to us about remortgaging or taking out a first-time buyer mortgage.