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Get a Decision in Principle (DiP)

Whether you’re buying your first home, moving home or switching your mortgage to us, take the first step in your mortgage journey.

Why get a Decision in Principle?

  • It’s an estimate of how much you may be able to borrow and shows vendors you’re serious about their property
  • It's quick and easy
  • It won't impact your credit score

What we'll ask you about

  • The property and how much you'd like to borrow
  • Your employment and income
  • Your outgoings

It may be helpful to have your payslips and bank statements at hand so you can refer to them.

A Decision in Principle does not guarantee that we will approve any future mortgage application that you make or reserve you a particular product or rate.

Things you need to know

  • This decision in principle is for the use of customers purchasing a property in Northern Ireland. If you are an existing customer buying a home in the UK, outside Northern Ireland, get in contact with us on 0800 389 0833 to see if we can support you. Lines are open between 8am and 6pm Monday to Friday, (except for bank holidays in Northern Ireland) and 9am and 1pm on Saturdays.
  • Whether we provide credit depends on your circumstances, and you must be 18 or over. Lending terms and conditions apply.
  • This information does not contain all of the details you need to choose a mortgage
  • Your home is security for your mortgage. Other security may be required.
  • Think carefully before securing other debts against your home.

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage

Start a new Decision in Principle

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Continue or review your Decision in Principle

Access my DiP

Already got a DiP?

Start your mortgage application

Already booked your meeting?

View or reschedule here

Talk to us

If you’re not sure about what to do next, or you would prefer to speak to us about our mortgages and how we can help, get in touch.

0800 389 0833.

Lines are open between 8am and 6pm Monday to Friday, (except for bank holidays in Northern Ireland) and 9am and 1pm on Saturdays.

  • Q. What happens when I click on 'Continue to next steps'?

    • Step 1 – You'll be able to check your Decision in Principle information. If anything has changed, you can amend your answers.
    • Step 2 – We'll ask you for some personal and financial information as well as some details of the property you're buying. It may be helpful to have your payslips and bank statements at hand so you can refer to them.
    • Step 3 – Based on your answers we'll let you know what documents you need to provide (for example payslips, bank statements, Co-Ownership offer letter (if applicable))
    • Step 4 – You'll need to upload these documents.
    • Step 5 –We’ll open your meeting booking window and you can select an available meeting within 30 days of uploading your documents.

    Q. I’ve changed my email address, how can I update my personal details?
    A. You’re unable to amend your personal details. Just call us on 0800 389 0833 and we'll help.

    Q. I want to book my mortgage meeting. How can I speed up the process?
    A. Answer all questions as accurately as possible. Your answers will affect the documents we ask you to upload. Once you've uploaded your documents, we’ll open your meeting booking window and you’ll be able to select an available date and time within the following 30 days.

    Q. Can I reschedule my meeting?
    A. You can reschedule from your Danske Mortgage Portal Home screen under 'Action’.

    Q. Will you do another credit search?
    A. Once you submit your mortgage application, we’ll carry out a ‘soft’ credit search but only you will be able to view this search on your credit file and it won’t affect your credit score or ability to borrow money in the future.

    Q. Does my sale have to be agreed before I book my mortgage meeting?
    A. If you’re buying your first home or moving home, you’ll need to have had your offer accepted and be ‘sale agreed’ before you proceed any further.

    Q. Can you give me some helpful tips for uploading my documents?
    A. Before you start, have your documents already saved on your phone or computer. Then when you're ready, go to the upload screen within the Danske Mortgage Portal, click the upload button to search for your saved document and upload. The maximum file size is 10 MB and the document's name can't be more than 24 characters, including spaces. It also can't be password protected or encrypted.

    Q. Can I upload using my mobile?
    A. Yes. You can use a phone, tablet or computer.

    Q. What format do my documents need to be in?
    A. They should be in .docx, .pdf or .txt. You can even upload a photo (.jpg/.jpeg or .png) of your document(s) as long as it's clear and we can read them.

    Q. What do I do if I can't upload my documents?
    A. Check your file size is no bigger than 10MB, the file name is no longer than 24 characters including spaces and it's in the right format (.docx, .pdf, .txt or (.jpg/.jpeg or .png if it's an image). Still having trouble? Give us a call on 0800 389 0833.

    Q. I don't have all the documents you've asked for. Can I still book a meeting?
    A. Unfortunately not. You can't book your meeting online until all documents have been uploaded. Don't worry if you're having problems uploading or finding a document. Just call us on 0800 389 0833 and we'll help.

    Q. Who can upload documents?
    A. Only the person with access to the Danske Mortgage Portal. This will be the person first named on the Decision in Principle, who gave us their mobile and email.

    Q. What if I want to cancel my application?
    A. If you need to, you can withdraw your application up until you're due to meet your Mortgage Consultant. Just log onto the Danske Mortgage Portal and withdraw your application from your Home screen under 'Action'. This will cancel your active mortgage application. You will be able to start a new application if your circumstances change at a later stage.

    If you've already met with your Mortgage Consultant, just call us on 0800 389 0833 and we'll take care of it for you.

    Q. How will you keep me updated?
    A. We’ll send you SMS updates.

    Q. Can I email you my documents?
    A. We don’t recommend doing this. Your information is important to us, and email isn’t secure. This is why it’s better to use the upload facility on the Danske Mortgage Portal which is secure.

If you are not ready to start a Decision in Principle you can use our calculators to find out how much repayments may cost.

How much could I borrow?
How much will it cost?

DiP Explained

  • A Decision in Principle (DiP) gives you an idea of how much you may be able to borrow from us towards the purchase of a property.

    It is not an official mortgage offer but is useful if you are house hunting.

  • No. We complete a ‘soft’ search with the credit reference agency, Experian, to help us make our decision. In some cases, we also make a soft search with TransUnion. Only you will be able to view this search on your credit file and it won’t affect your credit score or ability to borrow money in the future.

  • No, you don’t – but it may help, as it shows vendors and estate agents that you’re serious about bidding for their property and that you may be in a financial position to purchase it.

  • No, you can contact us to discuss a mortgage application, but applying for a DiP gives you a good idea of what you may be able to afford before you make a full application.

  • No. As part of a full mortgage application, we’ll assess your income and expenditure in more detail and will also carry out a full credit search. We’ll then use this information, alongside other criteria, to help us decide how much we could formally offer.

  • A DiP is an estimate of the amount we could lend to you based on what you’ve told us about your finances. A mortgage offer is provided after you make a full mortgage application and is official confirmation that we’ll give you a mortgage for a particular property and amount (subject to you meeting certain conditions).

  • Our online application takes about 10 minutes to complete, and we’ll be able to give you an instant decision.

  • 30 days from the date it was approved. We’ll send you an email with its expiry date as well.

  • There could be a couple of reasons, for example your application not meeting our required level of affordability, or information we have found when we completed a soft credit search. We won’t be able to tell you why exactly, but you can ask Experian, the Credit Reference Agency External link icon.

Troubleshooting FAQs

  • Once your application has been completed, you can’t change the email address you provided so you won’t be able to resume or view any previous applications. You can, however, create a new application using the correct email address and will be able to save and resume or access previous applications going forward.

  • Just like the email address, once your application has been completed you can’t change the mobile number you provided. You’ll need to make a new application with the correct mobile number.

  • Wait 30 minutes then try again - we’ll then send you a new 6-digit code.

  • As soon as you hit the ‘Request code’ button it’s disabled for 10 minutes. Wait until that time has passed and try again.

  • The code is valid for 10 minutes from the time the SMS is sent.

Book a pre-application meeting

If you would like more information before making an application and prefer to speak to someone in person. You can book a pre-application meeting in one of our local branches.

  • Info

    If you would like more information before making an application and prefer to speak to someone in person. You can book a pre-application meeting in one of our local branches.

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