When might going direct to a lender work?
When your case is simple and you already know the lender suits it. A salaried job you have held for a while, a clear credit record, a healthy deposit and a standard property are the kind of case a direct application can handle well. If your own bank's offer fits, going direct is a perfectly reasonable choice.
The thing to weigh is what you can't see. A direct application tells you what one lender will do. It doesn't tell you whether another lender would lend more, accept a smaller deposit, or treat your income differently.
When does a broker tend to make more of a difference?
When something about your case is not standard. Being self-employed, buying with a 5% deposit, using a gifted deposit, buying with family help, having a blip on your credit record, or earning some or all of your income overseas all narrow the list of lenders that will say yes, and the lenders on that list are not necessarily the obvious ones.
Across the lenders we work with, first-time buyer deposits start from 5%, and the choice widens at 10% and again at 15% (indicative, panel positions checked September 2026, not the terms of any one lender, and not a recommendation). What you're offered depends on your circumstances.
Will a broker's checks affect my credit record?
They can, which is why the order matters. An agreement in principle is a lender's first indication of what it would lend, and it involves a credit check. Getting one from the right lender matters, because the wrong one leaves a credit footprint for nothing. Part of a broker's job is choosing which lender to approach first, so you are not collecting declines while you shop around.
Are all mortgage brokers whole of market?
No, so it is worth asking. Some brokers work with a restricted panel of lenders, and some advisers work for a single lender. Ask any broker you speak to whether they are whole of market and how many lenders they can approach. For our part, we are an independent, whole-of-market broker with access to 80+ lenders.
How much does a mortgage broker cost?
It varies: some brokers charge a fee and some are paid only by the lender, so ask before you start. Whoever you use, you should know the total before any work begins.
Our standard fee is £495, payable when your application is submitted. In some more complex cases, an additional broker fee of up to 1% of the loan may apply. The first conversation is always free, and we always confirm your total fee in writing before any work starts.
We are also paid a procuration fee by the lender if your case completes, and we will tell you what it is before you proceed.
What should I have ready before I speak to a broker?
Your income, your deposit and your commitments. That means recent payslips or, if you're self-employed, your accounts or tax calculations; where the deposit is coming from, including any gift; and what you pay each month on cards, loans or car finance. With those, a broker can tell you where you stand before you start viewing rather than after an offer is accepted.
Our first-time buyer page covers deposits, costs and the timeline in more detail, and the stamp duty calculator shows what tax, if any, applies to the price you have in mind.
The short version
You don't have to use a mortgage broker. You can apply to a lender directly, and for a simple case that can work well.
A broker compares lenders, prepares the case and sees it through to the offer. That tends to matter more when your income, deposit or credit record is not standard.
The first credit check matters, so choose the first lender with care.
Ask any broker whether they are whole of market and what they charge before any work starts.
Read next: our first-time buyer page, or find out where you stand in a few minutes. No credit check · no obligation.
Lawes Financial Limited (FRN 1046161) is an appointed representative of Andrew Charles Consulting Ltd, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 304904).