A mortgage offer can feel like the finish line - but for some buyers, it’s not quite over. Lenders often re-run credit and affordability checks before completion, especially if there’s a long gap or a change in the deal. New borrowing, rising balances or even a missed mobile payment can trigger a last-minute rethink.
New research from HSBC shows almost a third (29 per cent) of adults have never checked their credit score, and more than one in four (26 per cent) don’t understand how it’s calculated. That confusion, says Carl Watchorn, head of customer propositions at HSBC UK, “means many are missing out on significant savings without even realising it.”
