Unfortunately agreements in principle aren't really worth the paper they're written on even in the best of times. It's basically a lucky dip to whether you can find a lender after you find a property thats actually willing to lend given your financial circumstances and your property of choice.
It's quick and easy to apply for an AIP online. It should take about 15 minutes. We'll need to know details of your income and outgoings. You'll also need your addresses for the last 3 years. We'll do a soft credit check as part of the process. This won't affect your credit rating or your ability to borrow in the future.
You may be wondering why you should apply for an AIP instead of a mortgage straight away. The simple answer is that it's quicker and less effort to get a mortgage in principle. You can often get one in under an hour if there are no issues, and at most, it should take only a few days.
You can often get one in under an hour if there are no issues, and at most, it should take only a few days. This frees you up to go house hunting and puts you in a strong position to make an offer on a home you want.
What's an Agreement in Principle? An AiP lets you know whether we'd be willing, in principle, to offer you a mortgage for a certain amount. It doesn't involve a hard credit check, so it won't affect your credit score.
It's usually a quick and simple process and you'll normally get a decision within 10 working days.
If you or your landlord are not enrolled with a rent-reporting service, your rental payments will not make it to your credit reports. However, if you and your landlord have enrolled with a rent-reporting service, your monthly rental payments will be reported to credit bureaus and will appear on your credit report.
But it doesn't guarantee you a mortgage, and it is possible to be refused by a mortgage provider after they've given you an agreement in principle. If this happens, it's often because the lender found something that didn't meet their criteria when they did a full search of your information.