Best mortgage lenders 2026

Best UK mortgage lenders compared

We compared 21 mortgage lenders, examining their deals and analysing feedback from their customers.

See providers’ customer scores and customer service ratings in our table.

This article is for information purposes only and doesn't constitute advice. Please refer to the particular terms and conditions of a provider before committing to any financial products.

• Find out more: head to our guide on the best mortgage rates to compare deals – it's updated daily and includes the cheapest deals on the market, plus the cheapest fee-free options.

The Which? Recommended Providers for mortgages

Four mortgage lenders, Barclays, First Direct, Nationwide Building Society and NatWest, passed our strict criteria to become a Which? Recommended Provider (WRP). 

Cheapest UK mortgage lenders

We analysed the rates and upfront fees of thousands of mortgage deals over a three-month period, in the summer/autumn of 2026, to understand which lenders typically offer the cheapest deals.

Our analysis allows us to spotlight the overall cheapest providers, and also the cheapest lenders for first-time buyers, home movers and remortgagers. 

• Find out more: cheapest mortgage lenders of the month - we keep tabs on lenders to see which lenders offer the most competitive rates each month

How to choose a mortgage provider

Although our WRPs are great all-rounders, the best mortgage lender for you will depend on your circumstances.

For example, some lenders are more willing to give mortgages to self-employed homebuyers, while others specialise in guarantor mortgages or solutions for people with credit issues. 

According to data from UK Finance, the largest mortgage lender in 2025 was Lloyds Banking Group, which includes Lloyds Bank and Halifax.

Choosing a big lender can have some advantages. For example, they often have a more extensive range of products and may offer in-branch services.

However, you don't need to go with one of the big players just because you recognise the name or you're already a customer. Smaller lenders, including building societies, may offer tailored products that better suit your circumstances.

It's worth taking the time to do some research on the different types of lenders and mortgages available, and consider taking advice from a mortgage broker if you're unsure. A good broker will also be able to take you through the application process from start to finish.

Should I consider the 'worst' mortgage lenders?

Sam Wilson, Which? mortgage expert says:  'Borrowers continue to report high levels of satisfaction with residential mortgage lenders. Only four lenders received a customer score below 70%: TSB, Virgin Money, Royal Bank of Scotland and Bank of Ireland UK.

'When choosing a mortgage lender, I'd start by looking at the deals it typically offers. A lower customer score doesn't necessarily mean a lender doesn't offer competitive mortgages. For example, Bank of Ireland UK was the joint-fourth cheapest lender on average for remortgagers in our analysis. 

'I'd then look at our star ratings to see how lenders perform in the areas that matter most to me. Bank of Ireland UK was the only lender to receive two stars for customer service, for example, which is something I'd take into consideration.

'For other borrowers, online access might be more important. In that case, I'd check the online access star rating to get an idea of how easy it is to manage your mortgage, check your balance and make payments through an app or online.

'But if you want to cut down your research time, we have four Which? Recommended Providers for mortgages, all of which combine excellent customer satisfaction with competitive mortgage deals. I'd look at the deals offered by these lenders first before considering other providers.' 

• Find out more: do you need life insurance for a mortgage?

The next step: finding the best mortgage deal

Now that you know which lenders are keeping their customers satisfied, you can check which are offering the best deals.

You can use our guide on the best mortgage rates to continue your research. We list the cheapest rates for first-time buyers, home movers and remortgagers for a variety of deposit sizes, as well as the top fee-free deals. This information is updated twice a day.

Remember to research the full cost of the deal, taking into account upfront fees, early repayment charges and any incentives such as cashback.

A mortgage broker can also help you research deals that suit your circumstances.

• Find out more: how to apply for a mortgage

Ready to find your best mortgage rate?

L&C Mortgages can search through 1000s of deals to find your best mortgage rate. Plus, they won't charge you any fees for their advice.

Find your best mortgage rate

If you click on the link and complete a mortgage with L&C Mortgages, L&C is paid a commission by the lender and will share part of this fee with Which? Ltd helping fund our not-for-profit mission. We do not allow this relationship to affect our editorial independence. Your home or property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

How we analyse mortgage lenders

Our editorial independence means we work on behalf of consumers, not lenders. This means you can trust that our reviews are impartial and fair.

Customer score

Our customer satisfaction table is produced using results from our survey of 6,514 members of the public in August-September 2026.

The customer score reflects how satisfied customers are with their provider and how likely they would be to recommend it.

Lenders must receive a minimum of 40 responses to be included in our results.

Mortgage deals analysis

We analysed thousands of mortgages, using Moneyfacts data, over three months in the summer/autumn of 2026. To find the lenders that offer the deals borrowers typically need, we created 28 mortgage scenarios, based on typical loan amounts, term lengths and mortgage products.

What makes a lender a Which? Recommended Provider?

To be named a WRP, a mortgage lender must:

• achieve a customer score above 71%
• score at least four stars for customer service
• rank among the 10 cheapest mortgage lenders for first-time buyers, home movers and remortgagers
• be fully covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme and Financial Conduct Authority banking standards regime.

Find out more: what the Which? symbols, logos and ratings mean