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Get a Decision in Principle (DiP)

Who can get a Decision in Principle?

  • First Time Buyers
  • Home Movers
  • Switchers
Start a Decision in Principle

Why get a Decision in Principle?

A DiP takes about 10 minutes and lets you see if you are eligible to borrow. It won't affect your credit score and can show sellers you're ready to buy.

Start a Decision in Principle

Access your mortgage application

If you’ve already completed your DiP, you can access and complete it in the Mortgage Portal.

Continue your mortgage application

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, please 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.
Customer support at Killeaton

Not sure what to do next and need a chat first? Don’t worry our local team are here to help
Call us

Mon-Fri: 8am-6pm / Sat: 9am-1pm / Sun: Closed

0800 389 0833

0800 389 0833
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Mon-Fri: 8am-6pm / Sat: 9am-1pm / Sun: Closed

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Not ready to start your Decision in Principle?

Use our calculators to find out how much you can borrow and how much your repayments might be.
  1. Calculator icon

    Find out how much you could borrow

    Start with our borrowing calculator to find out how much you might be able to borrow.

    Calculate borrowing
  2. Share gross spend pie chart icon

    Find out what your repayments could be

    Use our repayment calculator to find out how much your mortgage may cost monthly. This helps you see what you could afford.

    Calculate repayments
  • Share gross spend pie chart icon
    1

    Find out how much you could borrow

    Start with our borrowing calculator to find out how much you might be able to borrow.

    Calculate borrowing
  • Account Statement icon
    2

    Find out what your repayments could be

    Use our repayment calculator to find out how much your mortgage may cost monthly. This helps you see what you could afford.

    Calculate repayments

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

Whether we provide credit depends on your circumstances, and you must be 18 or over.

Applications are subject to status and lending criteria. Your home is security for your mortgage, other security may be requested.

We offer mortgages for properties in Northern Ireland. If your home is in England, get in contact with your local Mortgage Advice Bureau External icon blue broker to find out how much you could borrow.

Decision in Principle (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.

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