Pros and cons of secured loans
There are pros and cons of secured loans, so it’s best to consider both to decide whether this option is right for you.
Pros
- You can usually borrow more with a secured loan compared to an unsecured loan
- You may be able to access lower interest rates than you would with an unsecured loan
- You don’t need a perfect credit score to be approved for a secured loan
- You could spread the repayments over a longer period, meaning lower monthly repayments
Cons
- Your home could be at risk if you stop making the repayments, so it’s important to make sure you can afford them for the full term of the loan
- Spreading repayments over a longer loan term may mean you pay more interest overall
- Borrowing more can lead to financial difficulties if you can’t afford the loan
- Your credit score could be damaged if you fall behind with your repayments
What is the difference between a secured and unsecured loan?
The main difference between a secured and an unsecured loan is that a secured loan requires an asset to be used as collateral, whereas an unsecured loan doesn’t require any security.
Securing a loan to an asset reduces the level of risk for the lender (in terms of them getting their money back). As a result, you may be able to:
- borrow larger amounts - even if you have a less-than-perfect credit score
- spread your repayments over a longer period
- pay lower interest rates - compared to an unsecured loan
It’s important to remember that if you stop making your repayments, your lender has the right to repossess your property, in order to get back the money you owe them.
Unsecured loans (often referred to as personal loans) don’t have this safety net. That can make this type of borrowing riskier from the lender’s point of view. So unsecured loans tend to be more expensive in terms of interest, and you normally need a good credit score to be accepted. If you can’t make your repayments, your credit score may be damaged, but your home will not be affected.
Read on for more information about the difference between secured and unsecured loans.
What are the types of secured loans?
There are five main types of secured loans, and while they’re all similar (in that they all require collateral), they do have some differences. These generally centre on what purpose they’re used for. Understanding these differences will help you decide which one will work best for you.
1. Mortgages
Mortgages are a type of secured loan that many of us are familiar with. As standard mortgages are tied to your property, they are classed as secured loans. However, a mortgage differs from other types of secured loans in that it has one specific purpose (to purchase a property), and the amount you can borrow can be high, as they it will be based on the value of the property to which it is secured.
2. Bridging Loans
Bridging loans are a type of secured loan for short-term borrowing. They are usually used by people who want to buy their new home before the sale completes on their old one, and so they financially ‘bridge the gap’ between the purchase and sale. Bear in mind, bridging loans tend to come with high interest rates and extra charges, and they’re only intended as a stopgap.
3. Homeowner loans
Homeowner loans (sometimes called ‘second charge mortgages’, or simply ‘secured loans’) are the most common type of secured loan. Homeowner loans can only be tied to your property (not any other high value asset). They can be used on almost anything (not just home improvements).
Homeowner loans allow you to borrow large amounts from around from £10,000 to £500,000 (depending on the lender and your individual circumstances). You repay this in monthly instalments, including interest, over an agreed period.
4. Home improvement loans
Home improvement loans (also known as ‘renovation loans’) can be secured or unsecured. You may wish to get one of these loans to fund renovations if you haven’t got the money upfront. Again, if you’re applying for a secured home improvement loan, you must be a homeowner to be eligible.
5. Debt consolidation loans
As the name suggests, debt consolidation loans are specifically designed for repaying debts. These types of loans can be secured or unsecured. They allow you to combine all your debts into one, so you only have to think about one monthly repayment to one lender. This can make your debt repayments more manageable and affordable – if you can find a deal that charges you less interest.
Remember, if you consolidate your existing borrowing, you may be extending the term and increasing the amount you repay in total.
What can a secured loan be used for?
You can use a secured loan for almost anything you like, but people tend to put the money towards large-scale purchases or expensive projects such as:
- home improvements (e.g., a new kitchen or bathroom)
- debt consolidation (where you combine multiple debts into one)
Secured loan lending criteria
As with all types of lending, there are certain criteria you must fulfill to be approved – here’s a quick run through some of the main factors.
You must be a homeowner
This one is a bit obvious, but important to specify nevertheless. To qualify for a secured loan, you must be a homeowner. This is because your property is the preferred security for secured loan lenders (and the only option if you’re going for a homeowner loan).
Note, if you own your home and are mortgage-free, you won’t be eligible for a secured loan, but you could consider remortgaging, where you borrow more against your property by switching to a new mortgage deal.
You must have equity in your property
As well as being a homeowner, you must have equity in your home. Equity is the portion of your home that you own outright; it’s the amount you’re left with after you subtract your outstanding mortgage from the current value of your property.
The more of the property you own outright, the better your chances are of getting approved for a secured loan – and with competitive interest rates. This is because there’s less risk of you going into negative equity if house prices drop. (Negative equity is where you owe more than your house is worth.) So, the more equity you have, the more comfortable the lender may feel in approving your loan application.
Having a good credit history is beneficial
While secured loan lenders place less weight on your credit history than unsecured loan lenders (because they have the security of your home), having a good credit history is still beneficial and may boost your application. It shows lenders that you can manage your money well, which may reduce the risk to the lender further.
Why is secured loan affordability important?
A secured loan is a big commitment – they can take years to fully repay so it’s important that you’re confident you’ll be able to repay it – both now and in the future.
Before deciding whether to lend to you, the lender will carry out affordability checks, where they look at your income and outgoings to assess whether you can afford the loan repayments. While it’s in their interests that you can, it’s important not to simply take their word for it, particularly when it comes to secured loans.
Remember, in the worst-case scenario, the lenders have the right to recover unpaid money by repossessing your home.
Use a loan repayment calculator
It’s important to work out how much you can realistically afford to repay each month. We suggest you make a list of all your income and outgoings and work out exactly how much you have left after you’ve covered all your costs. If it’s tight, then you know that taking out a big loan is probably not the best idea. If there’s money left over, but you’re not sure it’s enough then use a loan repayment calculator.
This online tool is totally free to use and will help you work out how much you can afford to repay each month, so you don’t end up applying for a loan that you’ll find difficult to repay.
How to get the best deal
If you’ve weighed up your options and you feel a secured loan is right for your individual circumstances, then there are a few steps you can take to help you find the best deal for your needs.
- Check your credit report for any mistakes and fix any errors before you apply
- Use an online eligibility checker to see what your chances of approval are before you apply – this won’t affect your credit score
- Shop around or get a broker (like us) to compare loans to find the best deal for you
Can you pay off a secured loan early?
Whether you can pay off a secured loan early depends on the agreement that you have with your lender. There are typically charges (known as ‘early repayment charges) for repaying secured loans early, because doing so means the lender loses out on interest.
Make sure you check the terms and conditions of the loan before agreeing to it, so you don’t get caught out with charges like this further down the line.
Read our helpful guides to learn more about loans.
Secured Loans from £10,000 to £500,000
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- We compare 100s of secured loans
- Getting a secured loan quote won’t affect your credit score
Secured loans are secured against your property.
