What documents might I need to have?

It can vary from bank to bank, but we've put together a list of the most common documents you need to have ready to apply for a mortgage. If you want to know which documents we need at first direct you'll find a comprehensive list in our how to apply for a mortgage guide.

A countersigned, full and valid UK or foreign passport, or a photocard driving licence (full or provisional) that displays your current address will be acceptable. 

Most lenders should accept the following documents as evidence of where you live:

• household bills from the last 3 months (such as utility bills, benefit award letters and council tax statements)
• Bank statements less than three months in age are also usually asked for (print-outs might not be accepted, so you may have to contact your bank ahead of time for copies).
• a driving licence in paper or card form should be accepted if it details your address ( it can't be used for both proof of address and ID).

You may need your last P60, which shows your salary and how much you were taxed in a 12-month period, as well as your last 3 months’ worth of pay slips. If you receive things like benefits payments, such as tax credits or child benefit, gather your latest award letters or highlight the payment on a bank statement. What you might need:

• your last P60
• benefits payments
• tax credits
• child benefits
• savings Accounts/Pensions
• 2 years income if you’re self-employed

Get hold of statements from any savings accounts and pensions as well, as those may be taken into consideration too.

If you’re self-employed, you’ll probably be asked to provide evidence of your income for at least 2 years (including accounts audited and signed off by a qualified accountant) as well as your self-assessment tax forms in the shape of the last 3 years SA302 from HMRC. These can be downloaded from the HMRC portal Opens an overlay [Will show a security message first] or they should be provided to you for free if you call up with your URN 10-digit tax code and National Insurance number. It could take a couple of weeks for these to arrive so best to do it now.

Lenders will probably want to see your money going in as well as all your regular payments going out to get a real view of what you can afford on your mortgage. Your bank statements from the last 3 to 6 months will likely be accepted by most lenders.

If you have expenditure coming out of different accounts, you might need statements for all of them.

You might be asked to provide latest annual statements if you’re remortgaging or you have a mortgage on another property.

Your credit report will give a mortgage provider a lot of detail about any other loans or credit cards you have open or have had open in the past. An example would be if you’re paying off a car on finance. It might be worth getting a copy of your credit report before you apply for a mortgage so that you are aware of the detail.

When you find your dream home and you’ve had your offer accepted, you’ll usually need to find a solicitor or licensed conveyancer who can manage all of that legal stuff for you. When you have their details your mortgage provider may need these, along with the details of the property and the estate agent.

If you have any of these types of insurance policies in place you may be asked to give the details to your mortgage provider.

Whether you’ve found your dream home or you’re still on the hunt, getting your paperwork together could put you ahead of the game. So you could be in a great position when it’s time to apply for a mortgage.

The material contained in this document is for information purposes only and does not constitute advice.

You should obtain relevant legal or other advice if you are unsure about the effect on you of any matter in this document.