Secured or unsecured debt? - which one affects credit score most?

[Deleted User]

If I had £20K less secured debt on my mortgage because this was paid off with a £20K unsecured loan, would this adversely affect my ability to get further loan/credit card if I ever need to in the future?

Or doesnt it matter?

e.g. option 1
£100K mortage, £0 loan. (13 years left on mortgage)

option 2
£80K mortgage, £20K loan (7 years). Probably £100 a month more.

(but shorter term for loan and much less interest.

ACG

I doubt it would make any major difference but lenders are different and so some would see unsecured as a good sign that lenders are happy to lend to you, where as others would see it as you have £20k unsecured debt.

The biggest factor would be affordability. If it breezes through (in the lenders eyes) it is unlikely to matter massively one way or the other too much.