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Questions people ask us first
The honest answers, including the ones that are not in our favour. If your question is not here, ask it on a call — there is no charge for asking.
Cost and fees
What this costs you
What does the advice cost?
There will be a fee for the mortgage application, charged by Match Financial Partners Ltd. For a standard residential or buy-to-let mortgage it is typically £495. For commercial, semi-commercial and specialist lending it is typically 1% of the loan amount. Fees are set case by case, and Match Financial Partners Ltd will confirm yours in writing before your application is submitted, including when it becomes payable and when it becomes non-refundable.
The initial consultation is free. The application fee is charged by Match Financial Partners Ltd upon submission of your full application, not at the first conversation.
Match Financial Partners Ltd will also usually receive a commission from the lender. You will be told the amount before you commit to anything.
Is the first conversation really free?
Yes. It is usually twenty to thirty minutes, by phone, video or WhatsApp, whichever suits you. We will tell you what you can realistically borrow and what the process looks like.
If we cannot help, or you decide not to go ahead, you owe us nothing and we will not chase you.
Do I pay anything for protection advice?
For protection and insurance we are usually paid by commission from the insurer, so there is normally no separate fee for you. The premium you are quoted is the premium you pay — it is not increased because you came through us. See our protection page for the detail.
Borrowing
How much, and how
How much can I borrow?
The rough rule is four to four and a half times your income, but the rule is not the answer. Lenders differ enormously once your situation is anything other than a single salaried job — bonuses, commission, dividends, contract work, second jobs and benefits are all treated differently.
Our affordability calculator gives you a starting figure. The real number comes from matching your circumstances to the lenders whose criteria actually fit.
What deposit do I need?
Five per cent of the purchase price is the usual minimum, and some lenders offer 100% or guarantor products in specific circumstances. More deposit means access to better rates, with meaningful steps at 10%, 15% and 25%.
Remember the deposit is not the only cash you need. Budget for the solicitor, searches, a survey, Stamp Duty if it applies, and moving costs.
Can you help if I am self-employed?
Yes, and it is a large part of what we do. Most lenders want two years of accounts or tax calculations, but a number will consider one year, and some assess limited company directors on salary plus retained profit rather than salary plus dividends — which can change what you can borrow substantially.
Contractors are often assessed on day rate rather than accounts. The right lender depends on how you are paid, so bring the detail to the first call.
What if my credit is not perfect?
Missed payments, defaults, county court judgments and past bankruptcy do not automatically rule you out. What matters is how recent it is, how much was involved, and what has happened since.
There is a whole tier of lenders who work with adverse credit. Rates are higher than the headline high-street deals, and the usual plan is to get you settled now and remortgage onto a mainstream rate once the record has aged.
The process
How it actually runs
How long does it all take?
An agreement in principle usually takes 24 to 48 hours. From full application to formal mortgage offer is typically two to six weeks depending on the lender and how quickly the valuation happens.
Completion then depends on the conveyancing and the chain, which is the part nobody controls. Eight to twelve weeks from offer accepted to keys is a fair expectation for a straightforward purchase.
Will talking to you affect my credit score?
No. The initial conversation and the research we do leave no mark on your credit file at all.
An agreement in principle may involve a soft search, which only you can see. A hard search — the kind other lenders can see — happens only at full application, and only once you have told us to proceed.
What documents will you need?
Photo identification and proof of address, three months of payslips and bank statements if you are employed, or two years of tax calculations and tax year overviews if you are self-employed. Plus proof of your deposit and where it came from.
You send them once. We handle the back and forth with the lender from there.
Do I have to meet you in person?
No. Most of our clients are handled entirely by phone, video call and WhatsApp, with documents sent securely online. We are based in Bicester, Oxfordshire and are happy to meet if you would prefer, but nothing about the process requires it.
Will I deal with the same person throughout?
Yes. Ujjwal handles your case from the first conversation to completion. You will not be passed to a processing team or repeat your situation to somebody new halfway through.
About us
Who you are dealing with
Is the advice whole-of-market?
For mortgages, yes — Ujjwal can recommend from a comprehensive range of lenders across the market. The exception, which applies to every broker, is deals that a lender only offers direct to the public and never through intermediaries.
For protection, Ujjwal can recommend products from a range of insurers for life assurance, critical illness cover and income protection.
Who is actually regulated here?
This matters, so here it is plainly. Iconic Mortgages Ltd is not authorised or regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. This website is an information and enquiry service.
The regulated advice comes from Ujjwal Malik (individual reference number UXM00304), who is authorised and regulated by the FCA as an adviser at Match Financial Partners Ltd, firm reference number 983246. Every recommendation and document you receive will come from Match Financial Partners Ltd.
You can check both on the Financial Services Register at register.fca.org.uk.
What if something goes wrong?
Complaints about regulated advice are handled by Match Financial Partners Ltd. If you are not satisfied with their response you can refer the matter to the Financial Ombudsman Service free of charge.
Our full complaints procedure sets out the steps and the timescales.
What do you do with my personal information?
We use it to respond to your enquiry and, if you go ahead, to arrange your mortgage or protection. We do not sell it and we do not pass it to anyone who is not part of arranging what you asked for.
The detail, including how long we keep it and your rights over it, is in our privacy notice.
Still got a question?
Ask it on a free call. Twenty minutes, no charge, and no obligation to go any further afterwards.