Choosing a mortgage broker

What does a mortgage broker do?

A mortgage broker, or adviser, is someone who will review the mortgages available to you based on your personal financial situation and apply for one on your behalf.

They can save you time by telling you which lenders are likely to accept you and how to improve your application, and can speed up the process by dealing with some of the paperwork.

Why use a mortgage broker?

Using a broker can save you a lot of time and stress, as they will handle everything from searching for a deal to applying and communicating with the lender on your behalf.

Mortgage brokers have expert knowledge of the mortgage market and will be able to recommend deals that suit your personal situation. They should also have access to software that allows them to search mortgage deals much faster and more thoroughly than you could yourself.

A good broker will know which lenders are most likely to accept you and help you steer clear of applying for deals you're unlikely to get (which can have a negative impact on future applications).

Also, if you take out a mortgage using a broker you have the right to complain if the mortgage turns out to be unsuitable – an option that isn't available if you apply without taking advice.

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How to choose a mortgage broker

1. Look for a whole-of-market broker

There are several things you should consider when choosing a mortgage adviser. One of the most important is whether they are whole-of-market.

Some mortgage advisers and brokers will only recommend mortgages that are available from a select 'panel' of lenders.

Meanwhile, if you speak to an adviser based in a bank or building society, they will only tell you about their own product range.

A whole-of-market broker will be able to assess every available mortgage so they can recommend the very cheapest or most suitable deal for you. This could potentially save you a lot of money.

2. Ask about direct-only mortgages

While many mortgages are only available via brokers, some are only available if you apply directly, without a broker. These are known as 'direct-only' mortgages.

Brokers have no obligation to inform you of these deals. However, it's worth asking your mortgage adviser if they will tell you about any direct deals that could be cheaper.

You may wish to do some of your own research if your broker is unable or unwilling to discuss direct-only deals.

3. Consider which type of broker to use

While most mortgage brokers work with customers in person or over the phone, there's now a growing number of 'robo mortgage advisers' – web-based services that allow you to carry out some or all of the mortgage application process online.

There are pros and cons to this approach. Our guide to online mortgage brokers explores how some of the best-known companies work.

Mortgage broker fees and commission

It's normal for mortgage brokers to earn commission from lenders after arranging a mortgage.

Some will also charge you a fee, which will either be a flat rate or a percentage of the amount you want to borrow.

All mortgage brokers must clearly outline these charges and any fees or commission they receive from a lender prior to entering into a contract to act on your behalf.

Key questions to ask a mortgage broker

• Are you whole-of-market?
• Will you tell me about mortgages that are only available directly from lenders?
• What are your fees and charges?
• What is included in the service you offer? For example, will you handle all the admin and chase lenders?
• When will you be available – office hours only, or during evenings and weekends?
• Do you offer life insurance or mortgage protection insurance?

Mortgage broker jargon-buster

A decent mortgage broker will explain anything you don't understand, but it's still helpful to have some idea of the most common terms.

• Agreement in principle (AIP): a document from a mortgage lender confirming, in principle, how much they'd be willing to lend you
• Early repayment charges (ERCs): penalty fees you'd have to pay to leave your mortgage deal before a certain point
• Standard variable rate (SVR): what your lender will charge after your mortgage's initial deal period ends
• Leasehold and freehold: the two different forms of property ownership

These are just a few of the terms you might hear.

What to look for in a mortgage deal

Once they've found a range of mortgages for you, a broker will be able to talk you through the pros and cons of each of deal.

Before deciding which one to apply for, think about:

• whether you want a fixed-rate, discount or tracker mortgage
• the cost of mortgage fees
• whether a mortgage offers cashback or other incentives
• the lender's customer service and reputation.

Find out more: finding the best mortgage deals 

Traditional mortgage brokers

Below we set out the traditional mortgage brokers that have access to a wide range of lenders, have hit our benchmark on customer reviews and are fully regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. We've listed them in alphabetical order. 

• Check out our guide to online mortgage brokers if you'd rather use a robo-adviser.

Traditional brokers

Alexander Hall

A direct mortgage broker with access to 120 lenders. 

Alexander Hall’s advice is free, but it has a £499 fixed procurement fee to be paid once your mortgage has been chosen.

You can check deals 24/7 online or phone 0800 038 3736 Mon-Fri 9am-6pm or Sat-Sun 10am-4pm to speak to an advisor.

John Charcol

John Charcol works with 120 specialist lenders that you can access online, on its app or over the phone. 

Its fees are not fixed but based on the loan amount and individual circumstances – which could save you money.

You can check your options online and on the mobile app 24/7 or via phone on 0332 304 467 Mon-Fri 8.30am-5.30pm. The phone service is not available for weekend mortgage enquiries.

L&C Mortgages

L&C is the UK's largest fee free mortgage broker, which means it won’t charge you for its mortgage advice service.

It has access to 1000s of deals from over 90 different lenders across the market and its advisers are on hand to help seven days a week, online or over the phone.

You can get in touch with L&C on 0800 073 2306 and its offices are open Mon-Thurs 9am-8pm, Fri 9am-5.30pm, Sat 9am-5pm and Sun 10am-4pm.

Mortgage Advice Bureau

With whole-of-market direct-to-lender products, Mortgage Advice Bureau’s application and advice is free. If you do use it to purchase a mortgage product, it charges a fee of up to 1%, but a typical price is 0.3% of the amount borrowed. 

It works with a large selection of brokers and broker and insurance advisors who can help you find a product that is best for you. But it has no central operation system to pair you with a specific broker. 

You can get in touch over the phone on 0333 344 8348 Mon-Fri 9am-7pm and 9am-5pm on weekends.

• Find out more: what is equity release?

Your rights when using a mortgage broker

You should always check that your broker is authorised to give mortgage advice by consulting the Financial Services Register.

They should do the following before you apply for a mortgage:

• thoroughly explore your circumstances
• explain what different deals and types of mortgage there are
• advise you on which ones they feel meet your needs
• give you good, clear reasons why they're recommending a particular mortgage deal.

If you think you've received bad advice, you can make a formal complaint.

First, go to the firm that advised you to see if it can offer a solution to the problem.

If it doesn't resolve your complaint satisfactorily within eight weeks from the date you complain, take your complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service (0800 023 4567).

• Know your rights: I think I've been mis-sold my mortgage, what can I do?