Will being married help me to get a mortgage?

Getting married won’t automatically boost your chances of getting a mortgage – but applying as a couple might. It all depends on your credit history, income, and whether you’ve linked your finances.

Let’s break down what really matters when applying for a mortgage as a couple.

Marriage doesn’t link your finances

Being married doesn’t mean your credit files are joined up. Your finances are only officially linked if you’ve shared a financial product, such as:

• A joint bank account
• A joint loan or joint credit card
• A previous mortgage in both your names

If you are financially linked, lenders will check both your credit histories – even if just one of you is applying. This could either help or hurt your chances, depending on your partner’s credit record.

You can check for financial links by reviewing your credit report. You should do this with all three credit reference agencies:

• Equifax
• Experian
• TransUnion

This will show who you’re associated with under the ‘financial associations’ section.

When your partner’s credit affects your mortgage

If you’re applying together, both your credit histories will be taken into account. So:

• If you both have good credit, that’s great – it could improve your chances and help you borrow more.
• If one of you has bad credit, it might reduce how much you can borrow – or even affect whether you're approved at all.

In some cases, applying in just one name might be better if the other person’s credit is poor. But this only works if:

• You’re not already financially linked
• The solo applicant can afford the mortgage on their own

❗Remember: If you apply alone, your partner’s income usually won’t count – which could limit how much you can borrow. And if things go wrong, the mortgage is entirely your responsibility, so make sure you’re confident with the commitment.

Income matters – but so does affordability

Two incomes can help you:

• Save up for a deposit faster
• Pass affordability checks more easily
• Potentially borrow more, if your finances are healthy

But lenders don’t just look at how much money you bring in – they also look at what’s going out. As part of their affordability checks, they’ll consider:

• Your income (salary, bonuses, benefits)
• Regular bills and expenses (energy, subscriptions, childcare)
• Debts and credit commitments

Since 2022, the Bank of England removed its official “stress test” for mortgage applicants. However, lenders are still required by the FCA to carry out affordability checks and consider future interest rate rises – especially over a five-year period. So, while the BoE test is no longer required, stress testing hasn’t disappeared. Lenders just have more flexibility in how they do it.

So, will being married help you get a mortgage?

No – not by itself. What matters more is whether you apply as a couple and how strong your finances are.

If you’re financially linked and applying together, both of your credit scores and incomes will be reviewed. This can work in your favour if everything looks good – or against you if one person’s finances are struggling.

Whether you’re married, cohabiting or in a civil partnership, you might want to speak to a mortgage broker to find the best route forward. A broker like Ocean can help you:

• Understand how much you could borrow
• Compare deals from across the market
• Decide whether to apply jointly or solo

Next steps:

✅ Check both of your credit reports
✅ Review your income, outgoings and any joint accounts
✅ Consider whether you’re better off applying together or separately
✅ Speak to a mortgage adviser if you’re unsure