Which credit report do mortgage lenders use?

Mortgage lenders in the UK use credit files from Experian, Equifax, TransUnion or a combination of them. Most do not say publicly which agency they use, and some use different agencies for different products. They do not use the consumer score shown in an app; they apply their own scoring to the data in the file.

Because each lender chooses its own agency and model, there is no single score that matters most. The file that matters is the one the chosen lender reads, which is why checking all three is a common step before applying.

A credit report lists current and past credit accounts with their payment history, credit limits and balances, along with any defaults, county court judgments, bankruptcies or individual voluntary arrangements. It also shows electoral roll registration, previous addresses, financial associations with other people and the hard searches made by lenders.

Not every lender reports to every agency, so the three files on the same person can differ. An account missing from one file, or a mistake on another, can change how a lender reads the application.

Most entries stay on a UK credit file for 6 years from the date they are recorded, including defaults, county court judgments and missed payments, whether or not they are settled (credit reference agencies, accessed 20 Oct 2026). Lenders can see this whole period, although many give more weight to recent events than older ones.

Lenders set their own rules on how far back they look. Some ask about any adverse credit in recent years on the application form itself, and the answers need to match what the file shows.

The scores shown by credit reference agencies are designed to help consumers understand their files. Lenders do not see these numbers. A high agency score suggests the file reads well, but a lender's own model may weigh items differently, so an application can still be declined with a high score or accepted with an average one.

This is also why consumer tools that compare agency scores with a mortgage outcome can only give a rough guide. The guide to what credit score is needed for a mortgage explains how the decision is made.

Each agency must provide a free statutory credit report on request, and free online services show the files too. Checking all three a few months before applying gives time to correct errors, close unused accounts, remove old financial links to former partners and register on the electoral roll at the current address.

Disputes are raised with the agency, which checks with the lender that supplied the data. A notice of correction can be added to explain a genuine past problem.