Moved to UK: Building a credit history and Getting a mortgage

marathonic

Hi,

I'm currently living in the Republic of Ireland and working in a steady (6 years) job in Northern Ireland. I have had a UK bank account for the past 10 years but it's registered to my Irish address and I'm not on any electoral registrar. For this reason, I doubt I have any chance of getting the 'good' mortgages in the North of Ireland.

What do you think my options are for getting a mortgage in Northern Ireland for a Northern Ireland property?

Obviously applying directly via my Irish address will be difficult so I'm considering the following actions:



June

• Move into flat in Northern Ireland with D/D for rent - 12 month lease and set up ISA
• Change bank address to Northern Ireland address
• Exchange Irish driving licence for UK one
• Request Bank Statement to new address
• Apply for credit card or overdraft (I may get this with my current bank without a credit check due to my history with them?)

September

• Apply for Electoral Registrar

October

• 1st: Added to Registrar
• 8th: Apply for mobile contract

December

• Apply for Argos store card

February

• Offer for house

March

• Apply for mortgage

Is there anything you would do differently?
Would it be better to rent for an additional few months until I've been on the Electoral Registrar for a year?
Would the above actions result in a better, or worse, credit score than someone, for example, who has a long credit history but a few missed payments in there?

marathonic

By the way, the mortgage I would be planning to get would be bang on the stamp duty threshold of £125,000 and I'd be aiming to have a 25% deposit available - £31,250.

This would leave me needing a mortgage of £93,750 which, on a salary of £27,000, would leave me on a salary multiple of just under 3.5.

marathonic

Has anyone any suggestions as to what I can/should do differently?

I'm thinking about calling into my Northern Ireland bank tomorrow to try to get an overdraft or small credit card.

My theory is, I can use my southern address for now and will probably get turned down - but the search will drop off my report in 12 months so I can push the mortgage application forward until that happens.