Build Your Mortgage Muscle

A fitness plan to boost your borrowing power

Getting a mortgage is a bit like training for a big event, preparation, consistency and good habits all ensure success. Think of this as your Mortgage Fitness Programme.

Follow these simple exercises to strengthen your finances so Moat can help find you the best deal, completely fee-free.

Ready to start training? Let’s begin.

Exercise 1: Cabinet dips

Before we can help secure your mortgage, lenders will want to see some key documents, so you’ll need to dip into your filling cabinet. Tackling the admin early keeps everything running smoothly.

You’ll usually need:

Last 3 months’ bank statements
3 recent pay slips
Proof of bonuses or commission
Your latest P60
3 years of accounts or tax returns if self-employed
Proof of your deposit
Photo ID (passport or driving licence)
Proof of address
A gift letter if someone is helping with your deposit

Some lenders prefer official bank statements, so it’s worth requesting them from your bank early.

Exercise 2: Number crunches

Time to work those financial muscles.

Before applying, it helps to work out your numbers so you can share them with us.

The clearer the picture we have, the easier it is for us to match you with the right lenders and deals.

We’ll need to understand:

Your income (salary, bonuses or other earnings)
Your regular spending
Any existing debts or credit commitments
Whether repayments would still be manageable if interest rates increased

Having these figures ready helps us quickly identify mortgages that fit comfortably within your budget.

Exercise 3: Sign-ups

A quick win for your mortgage workout: check you’re registered on the electoral roll.

Lenders often use it to confirm your identity and address history, and being registered can also support your credit profile. If you’re not currently registered at your address, it’s an easy fix.

To sign up, go to the official UK Government page: www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

You’ll need:

Your National Insurance number
Your date of birth
Your current address

You can still register without a National Insurance number, but they may ask for extra proof of identity.

Exercise 4: Debt jumps

When building mortgage muscle, it helps to skip overdrafts and new credit where possible.

Frequent overdraft use can concern lenders, so try to keep your account in credit in the months before applying.

It’s also wise to avoid new loans, credit cards or finance agreements, as these can affect your credit score and reduce how much you can borrow.

As a guide:

Skip new credit 3–6 months before applying
Avoid borrowing after your mortgage offer
Keep out of that overdraft

Keeping your finances in the black helps show lenders you’re ready for a mortgage.

Exercise 5: Payment planks

Strong financial habits build your core mortgage strength, so it pays to keep on top of your bills and balances

Lenders like to see that you:

Pay bills and credit on time
Keep balances manageable
Stay within credit limits
Build savings

Missed payments, defaults or CCJs can weaken an application.

Continuing to build savings while house-hunting can also help, especially as buying a home often comes with extra costs like legal fees and Stamp Duty.

Exercise 6: Clean splits

If you’ve previously taken out joint credit with someone, such as a bank account or loan, lenders may also look at their credit history.

If you’re no longer financially connected, you may want to:

Close joint accounts
Remove your name from shared agreements
Request financial disassociation

This ensures their financial history doesn’t affect your application.

Exercise 7: Credit swats

Before applying, give your credit report a quick look over.

Your credit file shows lenders how you’ve managed borrowing over the years.

In the UK, the main credit reference agencies are:

Experian
Equifax
TransUnion

Checking your report means you can spot and correct any errors before lenders see them.

Exercise 8: Protection punches

When building your borrowing muscle, you need to think about getting financial protection in your corner.

Life doesn’t pull its punches, so having the right protection in place can help make sure you and your family can keep up with the mortgage payments if something unexpected hits.

Your main protection options are:

Life Insurance
Critical Illness Cover
Income Protection

Used together, in the right combination, these covers help soften the financial blow from things like illness, injury or worse.

Workout complete.

Now you’ve toned up your mortgage muscle it’s time to cool down and let Moat do the heavy lifting.

Simply give us a call on the big number below, and we’ll:

Clarify exactly how much you can borrow
Search the market to find the best mortgage deal
Recommend the right combination of protection products
Oversee the whole application process

The right advice for free

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

Moat Mortgages is a trading name of Hazelwood Financial Services, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Our FCA Register number is 303934. Registered Address: 12 Hamlet Hill, Roydon, Essex, CM19 5LA

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