Can Universal Credits be counted towards my mortgage affordability?
The Universal Credit system was introduced to replace several existing benefits and tax credits with a single payment. It is designed to provide financial support to individuals and families on low incomes or who are unemployed.
Under the Universal Credit system, eligible claimants receive a monthly payment that includes various components, such as a standard allowance, additional amounts for housing costs, children, and disabilities. The amount received is based on factors such as income, savings, and household circumstances.
Universal Credit aims to simplify the welfare system and make work more financially rewarding by gradually reducing benefits as individuals earn more from employment. It also encourages claimants to actively seek work or increase their working hours.
There are mortgage lenders who will consider using some or all of your Universal Credits towards your affordability, although there are several factors that will determine whether a mortgage lender will allow this income to form part of your affordability, such as:
-
The age of children the benefits are received for, especially if they are aged 14 or older, as the benefits will stop long before a typical mortgage would end.
-
Housing allowance will invariably cease once a property has been purchased. Therefore, most mortgage lenders will not consider this element of your Universal Credit.
-
What proportion of your total income is made up from government benefits. If there is an over reliance on the universal credits, mortgage lenders may consider this higher-risk and decline to use this as part of your income.
To understand how much you can borrow, we’d recommend that you speak with us, as our team has a wealth of experience in arranging mortgages for clients that receive benefit income.
What evidence will I need?
You will need to provide the most recent 3 months Universal Credit statements, which you can obtain from the website linked below:
1. Log in to https://www.universal-credit.service.gov.uk/sign-in
2. Click ‘Payments’
3. Click on the most recent statement
4. You can then select the option to ‘Print to PDF’ or ‘Save as PDF’
5. Repeat to complete the most recent 3 months.
A mortgage is a loan secured against your home or property. Your home or property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage or any other loan secured on it. The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate most forms of buy to let mortgage.
What Our Clients Are Saying
-
The whole process was quick, efficient and hassle free. Andrew is always a pleasure to deal with and finds the best option for your needs and offers clear advice throughout. I have recommended Thameside Mortgages to friends and will continue to.
15th July 2024Andrew at Thameside mortages has been brilliant in helping us secure great mortgage deals for my last 2 properties. He provides straight forward, honest advise and makes what can be a complex process very easy. Our most recent remortgage has been complex due to our requirements for an expat buy-to-let mortgage, but Andrew has been very thorough and persistent is scouring the market for the best deal that suits our financial needs.
16th June 2024Andrew worked very diligently and quickly to secure us a good deal and explained everything in clear and understandable terms. This is the 4th or 5th time I have used Andrew and I would definitely recommend him to anyone - always available, lots of good advice, proactive with the lender trying to push everything through. 5 stars
16th June 2024I’m so grateful for all of Thames Mortgages help throughout the process of buying our home. It wasn’t an easy purchase, but Andrew and the team have been so supportive throughout and we couldn't have met our deadline we wanted to meet without their helping. Thank you so much. Lexy
16th June 2024Andrew and his team have proven to be invaluable in helping me secure a great deal on my mortgage for both Buy-to-Let and residential properties. They consistently go above and beyond to ensure their clients receive the best possible service. When it was time to remortgage, Andrew reached out to me and gave me the confidence that they were committed to finding the best deal. They searched diligently and were able to secure me an absolute fantastic offer. Throughout the entire process, they have been extremely helpful, friendly, and readily available around the clock to assist me. They keep us informed and involved whenever applicable, ensuring that we have a clear understanding of all discussions and decisions. Their unwavering support and exceptional assistance have earned our utmost appreciation. Without hesitation, I highly recommend Thameside Mortgages to anyone looking for assistance with their mortgage needs. Their professionalism, dedication, and expertise make them the perfect choice for anyone looking for mortgage, Lfe policies etc.,
16th May 2024 -
I’ve just completed my remortgage with Thameside and highly recommended. They constantly checked the market to ensure we got the best rate in these challenging times, and were always on hand to explain anything I didn’t understand.
16th March 2024I worked with Andrew and Laura at Thameside Mortgages when purchasing my first home. The help and guidance I received was fantastic. Andrew was responsive and knowledgeable, and he was able to explain things simply to me. Would highly recommend to any first time buyers! Thank you both.
16th February 2024mark melbourne
16th December 2023We were originally introduced to Andrew by a friend and we never looked back following our first introductory meeting. Our purchase was complicated by being based overseas, having an existing property in the UK, and other factors that meant certain mortgage products weren't suitable for our circumstances. Andrew took the time to understand our needs and tailored his advice accordingly, leveraging his comprehensive knowledge of the products available particularly during the fast-changing market as interest rates spiked. His personalised approach and patience ensured we understood the options available and enabled us to structure our purchase in a way that was optimal for us. It was evident that Andrew had our best interests at front of mind to build a trusted and lasting relationship. We'll definitely be using Andrew again when we look to remortgage in the future and for advice regarding the other insurance services he provides.
16th November 2023 -
Can't fault the service we got from Jason and Laura. Highly recommend Thameside Mortgages. Thank you both for your hard work.
16th November 2023We were referred Andrew & Laura by a friends who has recently bought their first home and we are so glad they did! As first time buyers this was all new and scary to us but Andrew reassured us and made things so easy every step of the way. He proactively updated us and explained things so clearly. They have exceeded our expectations not just by helping us find a mortgage suitable for us but also sorting out all our insurances making the process stress free. Even once we got the keys to our home we received a lovely new home hamper and the attention to detail was fantastic! Thank you Thameside Mortages!
16th November 2023Andrew and Laura have been a great support throughout my (long!) process of buying and selling. Andrew has always made the options available to me in terms of various mortgages or insurance crystal clear so I understand everything clearly as I am not one naturally with a head for figures. It became overwhelming at times but the Thameside team would help break things down so I got a grasp of everything before making huge decisions. My journey to eventually get to my new home was a bit of a rollercoaster but the team were always patient and supportive when I'm sure at times they were equally as frustrated by the challenges as I was. Above all though, Andrew and Laura (and Zoe) are all thoroughly nice people and that in itself is priceless.
16th October 2023My mortgage renewal was made very easy and feel I got a good deal considering the current market, thank you for kindness and help to do this! 😊
16th October 2023 -
Our experience with thameside was very very good. Andrew and Laura were very helpful and supported me and my partner throughout the whole mortgage process which made it a lot easier than we first feared. We would highly recommend thameside to anyone in a heartbeat. We wouldn’t have been able to get through without them both.
16th September 2023Massive thanks to Andrew and Laura. Couldn’t fault either of them, helped me throughout the entire process from getting the price range I wanted all the way to completion and making sure my insurance was all set up and everything was ready for when it needed to be! Couldn’t recommend anyone better!
16th September 2023Myself and my partner spoke to different company’s before speaking to Andrew and Laura at Thameside Mortgages and was absolutely blown away by the time and effort they put in straight away. They secured us a much better rate then we had previously been offered by 3 other companies and took the time to explain everything to us, as first time buyers we was unsure of the process. Not only securing us a brilliant rate in uncertain times with rates constantly rising but also helping with our life insurance and home insurance policies too. We could not have done this whole process without them and would highly recommend them to anyone in the process of sorting a mortgage!
16th September 2023Very efficient and streamlined service. Our mortgage re-application has gone through smoothly and pleased with the service we have received. Would highly recommend.
16th September 2023I am so grateful to Andrew and Laura for their guidance through my original mortgage application as well as my recent renewal. They have always been on hand to answer any queries or questions and have made the process as stress-free as possible. I would highly reccomend.
16th September 2023I had the pleasure of working with Thameside Mortgages for my recent home purchase, and I cannot praise them enough for the brilliant job they did. From start to finish, the team at Thameside Mortgages demonstrated exceptional professionalism, expertise, and dedication. Throughout the entire mortgage process, they exhibited a deep understanding of the market and their attention to detail and thoroughness in explaining every step of the process ensured that I felt informed and confident in my decisions. What truly set Thameside Mortgages apart was their personalised approach. They took the time to understand my financial goals and tailored their services accordingly. Their excellent communication and responsiveness made me feel valued as a client, and I never had to worry about any aspect of the mortgage application. I am immensely grateful for the support and guidance I received from Thameside Mortgages. I wholeheartedly recommend Thameside Mortgages to anyone seeking mortgage services, as they truly go above and beyond to deliver outstanding results.
16th August 2023 -
I've know Andrew Sheen for a number of years and he helped us with our remortgage and was very professional, gave excellent advice and knew and understood all our needs and requirements. I would highly recommend him and his company to anyone wishing to use them.
16th August 2023Excellent and very friendly service! Jason helped me to secure my mortgage and was always super quick to respond. As a first time buyer I found his advice incredibly helpful, throughout what ended up being a very long process after one purchase fell through. Andrew was also very helpful when Jason was on leave. I would recommend Thameside to anybody.
16th August 2023Amazing service. I couldn’t recommend more highly. Andrew has everything covered and knows his stuff. He has spoon feed me at every step (much needed). Andrew and his team have gone above and beyond for me and I will always be grateful for the advice and support they have given.
16th August 2023Andrew and his team have been incredibly helpful with our recent mortgage change. They have been very comprehensive with the options available, and guidance has been balanced and clear. Would highly recommend them.
16th August 2023Excellent service from start to finish. Great communication throughout. Andrew and Laura were very helpful and always at the end of the phone if needed and always kept me updated throughout our process and communicated after ensuring everything went smoothly. Would highly recommend using Thamesside mortgages for a smooth and reliable easy process.
16th August 2023 -
Andrew provided an excellent service throughout our mortgage application and house purchase. We felt we got a really good deal through him, and I'd recommend him to anyone
16th August 2023Excellent service by Thameside Mortgages mainly by Andrew. I got two mortgages recently and Andrew helped me all through the process and got best deals on the market in those tough times. He is very much approachable and answered to all my queries with lots of patience and to his best. He is very knowledgeable and made the whole process smooth and simple. A BIG THANK YOU
16th July 2023Throughout the process, from my initial enquiry and telephone appointment, to his post completion call, I have felt well advised, supported and valued as a customer. With his clear and calm approach, Andrew has a way of making you feel, you are his only client and that nothing is too much trouble, (which is very reassuring to someone whose last mortgage was over 30 years ago). While he was personally recommended to me, I have no hesitation in extending that recommendation further, along with my thanks to him and his team for their excellent service.
16th July 2023Andrew was very supportive throughout the whole process of remortgaging-uploading the documents was easy and communication was excellent. He sorted any issues out swiftly via WhatsApp. I had issues with the solicitor which he was able to sort out and continued to look into after my mortgage completed.
16th July 2023 -
So so impressed with and grateful for the work of Andrew of Thameside Mortgages. He made every step of buying our dream home as easy as it possibly could be. Andrew was the perfect combination of friendly and professional, keeping us informed throughout such a daunting process. We cannot recommend enough. Ben & Hayley.
16th July 2023A really excellent service in which my advisor (Andrew) took time to really understand my situation, priorities and suggest a product that would work best for me. I really felt treated like a human being - and was shown real patience in how something that feels complicated to me was explained. Andrew asked lots of clear questions and gave me a really clear explanation of what each potential product would mean for me - both verbally and then in writing. Can't recommend highly enough!
16th July 2023Andrew was recommended to me by my Mum who had recently used him and his team for her purchase. I am 20 so am on a learning curve of what’s involved, and Andrew was a perfect choice for all the support I needed to make my first purchase come true! From initially satisfying the mortgage lender, managing the process, and getting to completion which wasn’t straight forward. My initial offer fell through due to the seller, but Andrew and his team kept me on track with reapplying my mortgage offer to another property and extending so it didn’t expire. This also included guidance on a homebuyer’s report and a huge amount of easily explained detail to helpfully understand the importance of mortgage protection. In addition to my daughter’s review above, as her parent, I’d like to add: Andrew helped myself and partner purchase a property which I have already left a review for, but I also wanted to express my gratitude for helping my daughter. Especially at a time when the climate is so turbulent, as always, Andrew and his team went above and beyond what I have experienced from other advisors. I cannot express enough what an exceptional service Andrew and his team provides. His passion, knowledge and client experience shine at every opportunity adapting to suit your needs. Working in user experience, as a client and from a professional point of view, it is clear Andrew has an exceptionally high level of service that he wishes to deliver to all clients which captures that ‘above and beyond’ experience so well. I am truly grateful for successfully helping my daughter take her first, incredibly important step onto the property market. Sincerely, life changing. I will be recommending and using you again whenever opportunity presents itself. Thank you.
16th July 2023Cannot recommend highly enough. Very helpful throughout the whole process and was able to secure a better rate than a free broker.
16th July 2023Andrew and team were brilliant throughout the whole process, and made what could’ve been a very stressful time seem easy. They were so responsive and went out of their way to get our application in quickly to avoid interest rate rises, which made such a difference in such uncertain times. Would highly recommend to anyone and everyone!
16th July 2023Andrew and his team were not only very knowledgeable and able to find an excellent deal for me, but also incredibly helpful and supportive throughout the whole process. They were very responsive and flexible and made the mortgage application process very smooth and stress-free for me. I will certainly be back for my next mortgage deal!
16th July 2023