Frequently asked questions

Call 0345 519 8532 or use the contact page to find our email and postal details. Explain what you are considering; you do not need to choose a product first. The enquiry form in this local preview does not send messages, so use the telephone or email details rather than entering personal information into it.

For a mortgage discussion, an outline of your income, regular spending, deposit and any existing mortgage is useful. For insurance, have details of current policies and employer benefits. You do not need to send bank statements, identity documents or medical records in a general enquiry. Ask how any documents should be supplied securely.

The current VFS material says any applicable advice or broker fee is explained before work starts and confirmed in writing before you proceed. Commission may also be received from a lender or insurer. The exact charges, timing, cancellation terms and commission disclosure for each service need VFS confirmation; this page does not promise free advice.

REQUIRES VFS/PRINCIPAL CONFIRMATION

The complaints page explains how to contact VFS, the information to include and what happens next. Whether an external complaints service can consider a case depends on the service and your circumstances. Do not assume the protections for a regulated mortgage or insurance service also apply to will writing.

Read the complaints procedure

Each monthly payment covers interest and repays part of the amount borrowed. The payments are calculated to repay the mortgage over its term, provided you make the required payments. The amount depends on the loan, rate and term. If the rate changes, your payments may change too.

Loan-to-value, often shortened to LTV, is the percentage of the property’s value you borrow. The rest usually comes from your deposit or existing equity. LTV is only one part of a lender’s assessment: a deposit or a particular LTV does not guarantee acceptance or access to a particular rate.

A lender considers your income, spending, existing debts and other commitments, alongside its criteria and checks on the property. Credit history and the evidence supporting your application also matter. There is no single income multiple or calculator result that establishes what every lender will offer.

No. An agreement in principle is an initial indication of what a lender might lend, based on the information and checks used at that stage. A full application, supporting evidence and assessment of the property are still needed. The lender can reach a different decision when it completes those checks.

The deposit needed depends on the property, the mortgage and the lender’s criteria. Your income, commitments and credit history can affect the options available. Keep buying costs separate from the deposit when planning your budget, and do not assume that having a deposit means an application will be accepted.

Allow for mortgage-related charges, legal work, surveys, moving costs and any property tax that applies to your purchase. The amounts and timing depend on the transaction and the services used. Obtain the relevant quotations and check what is included; the deposit is not the whole cost of buying a home.

Some schemes may help eligible buyers, but availability and rules vary by location and can change. Check the current eligibility requirements, ownership arrangements, ongoing charges and any restrictions on selling or increasing your share. A scheme does not remove the need for the lender to assess a mortgage application.

Moving an existing mortgage to another lender is generally called remortgaging. Taking a new deal with your current lender is usually called a product transfer. The available choices and checks depend on the lender and whether you are changing the borrowing. Compare the overall costs and terms, not just the advertised interest rate.

Yes. Early repayment charges and product, exit, legal, valuation or adviser fees can affect the comparison. A lower monthly payment alone is not an overall saving, especially if the term or amount borrowed changes. Check which costs apply and compare the options over the same period before making a decision.

Some mortgages allow you to apply to transfer the existing deal to a new property, often called porting. It is not automatic: the lender assesses the application and the new property. Additional borrowing may have different terms, and charges may apply. Check your mortgage terms before relying on this option.

Buy-to-let borrowing is for a property you intend to rent to tenants. Lenders assess it differently from a home you occupy, including the expected rent and their own requirements. You still need to plan for costs, repairs and periods without rent. Tax and regulatory treatment depend on the arrangement; seek appropriate advice rather than assume residential-mortgage protections apply.

These circumstances can change the evidence a lender needs and the options it considers. For example, self-employed income may need accounts or tax records; overseas income may raise currency and residency questions. Criteria vary, and acceptance cannot be guaranteed. Explain your circumstances so VFS can confirm whether it can advise or whether another specialist is needed.

Level term cover keeps the insured amount the same for a chosen period. Decreasing term cover reduces it over time, often to broadly follow a repayment debt. Both depend on the policy terms and normally pay nothing if you survive the term. The reducing amount does not automatically track your actual mortgage balance.

No. It covers the conditions and severity definitions set out in the policy, subject to its terms and exclusions. A diagnosis alone does not necessarily meet a claim definition. Policies can differ, including whether they make a full or partial payment for a condition. Check the actual wording rather than relying on the product name.

Income protection can pay a regular benefit if illness or injury prevents you working under the policy’s definition, usually after a waiting period. Critical illness cover typically pays a lump sum for a specified condition. Income protection normally replaces only part of earnings; definitions, benefit periods and exclusions vary. Do not assume ordinary redundancy is covered.

No. A quote is not confirmation that cover has started. The insurer may need information and checks before offering terms. Check acceptance, the start date, required premiums and any exclusions. Do not cancel existing cover simply because you have received a quotation for a replacement.

Buildings cover concerns the structure and permanent fixtures. Contents cover concerns belongings such as furniture and clothes. What is insured, the limits and the excess you pay towards a claim depend on the policy. Buildings cover is based on rebuilding costs, not simply the property’s selling price.

A landlord normally arranges insurance for the building, not a tenant’s possessions. Leaseholders should check the buildings arrangements under their lease or with the managing agent. Your responsibilities and belongings still need consideration; do not assume another person’s policy covers everything you own.

Use the insurer’s claims contact details and instructions in your policy documents. Keep evidence of the loss and check the instructions before arranging non-emergency repairs or replacements. The insurer decides the claim under the policy terms; contacting VFS or reading this page does not confirm that a claim will be paid.

No. A will records how you want your estate dealt with after death. A lasting power of attorney concerns decisions during your lifetime and has separate requirements. The will-writing information here concerns England and Wales. Confirm the service available for your circumstances rather than assume a power of attorney is included.

The provider, drafting and review arrangements, charges, storage and amendment options need confirmation for the service you are considering. Complex family, property, business or overseas circumstances may need specialist legal or tax advice. Ask who will do the work, what is included and which complaints procedure applies before proceeding.

REQUIRES VFS/PRINCIPAL CONFIRMATION

It estimates a repayment mortgage’s monthly payment from the property price, deposit, interest rate and term entered. It also shows the loan amount, deposit percentage, loan-to-value, total repayments and interest. It assumes an unchanged rate and excludes fees and other buying costs. It is not a mortgage offer, recommendation or affordability assessment.

It compares staying and switching over the same period, using the same starting balance and remaining term. Rates are assumed unchanged and switching fees are paid upfront. It compares interest plus the entered fees separately from monthly payments. It excludes extra borrowing, financed fees, cashback and future rate changes; it does not tell you to switch.

No. It explores an income-based example and how example repayments fit alongside the monthly costs entered. It is not a lender’s affordability assessment, an agreement in principle or a borrowing decision. A lender applies its own criteria and checks. The result cannot establish that a mortgage is available or suitable for you.