What Do Mortgage Underwriters Do?
Underwriters assess mortgage applications to decide approval. They verify income, check credit, review affordability, and ensure criteria are met. Takes 1-5 days typically.
Mortgage underwriters are the behind-the-scenes decision-makers who determine whether your mortgage application is approved. When you apply for a mortgage, the underwriter receives your application and supporting documents. They methodically verify that everything you've stated is accurate - checking payslips match stated income, bank statements show affordability, credit reports are acceptable, and the property valuation supports the loan. They apply the lender's specific criteria and policies to make a decision: approve, decline, or refer for additional review.
Your property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.
Key Points
- 1Verify income matches documents provided
- 2Check credit report and score
- 3Review bank statements for affordability
- 4Assess property valuation and condition
- 5Ensure application meets lender criteria
- 6Make approve/decline/refer decision
Eligibility Criteria
- Income verified against payslips/accounts
- Credit score within lender thresholds
- Affordability stress tested
- Property valuation supports loan amount
- Employment/income stability demonstrated
Typical Timeframe
Standard underwriting takes 1-5 working days. Complex cases (self-employed, adverse credit, non-standard properties) may take 1-2 weeks. Respond promptly to any requests for additional documents to avoid delays.
Next Steps
- 1Gather all required documents before applying
- 2Ensure bank statements show responsible spending
- 3Check your credit report for errors
- 4Avoid new credit applications during process
- 5Respond quickly to underwriter queries
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MortgagesContent reviewed: 13 January 2026