Do Gambling Transactions Look Bad on My Bank Statements?

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What has it got to do with the lender whether l gamble or not?

Will gambling affect my chances of getting a mortgage?  

What will lenders be looking for on my bank statements? 

What can I do to show the lender I am reliable? 

Get in Touch with a Mortgage Broker in Doncaster 

Why does the lender need my bank statements? 

No matter the mortgage route that you end up taking, you could be a first time buyer in Doncaster, home mover in Doncaster or looking to remortgage in Doncaster, your mortgage lender will always request a copy of your bank statements. In fact, they will ask for numerous pieces of evidence to support your affordability for a mortgage.

Lenders look at bank statements for multiple different reasons. They will need to measure your mortgage affordability, reliability and determine whether you are someone who manages their finances responsibly.

The planning stage of your mortgage journey matters the most. As a mortgage broker in Doncaster, we would strongly advise that you think about your bank statements and consider what you want to show on them in the months leading up to your mortgage application.

Furthermore, when it comes to what a lender is looking for on your bank statements, a big thing that will catch their eye is gambling transactions.

What has it got to do with the lender whether l gamble or not?

Although gambling is not illegal, lenders do seem to judge your mortgage application less favourably if they can see large amounts of gambling transactions on your bank statements.

There’s a big difference between spending a little bit here and there when the grand national is on to frequently betting lots of money every weekend. This is why, especially during your mortgage application and the months leading up to it, you should remember to ‘gamble responsibly’.

A mortgage broker in Doncaster like us, nor a lender can ever tell you how to live your life, all we can do is ask for you to be careful. Lenders do have a duty to lend responsibly. 

Lenders need to prove to regulators that they’re lending to responsible applicants, therefore they will never lend to someone who can’t take care of their own finances. Would you lend to someone who is constantly gambling over an applicant who hardly gambles?

Will gambling affect my chances of getting a mortgage?  

The odd gambling transaction here and there shouldn’t affect your ability to get a mortgage. Lenders will look at the size of the transactions and how frequent they are.

They will also look at how these transactions affect your overall account balance. Do they make you dip into your overdraft? Are you borrowing money to gamble/gambling money that you don’t have?

If you’re acting irresponsibly with your money in the lead up to your mortgage application, the lender will notice all of these transactions straight away.

What will lenders be looking for on my bank statements? 

It’s not just gambling transactions that lenders will look for, they will also be looking for different things on your bank statements:

• Loan repayments
• Exceeding into your overdraft
• Other current accounts
• Credit cards
• Recurring payments

They need to be sure that you are the type of applicant that they want to lend to. From monitoring your accounts to asking you questions about your transactions, they need to be certain that they can trust you.

On the other hand, if you do happen to dip into your overdraft now and again, it shouldn’t have too much detrimental effect on your mortgage application. It’s when you are constantly dipping into your overdraft and are struggling to get out of it.

What can I do to show the lender I am reliable? 

Being reliable and sensible is exactly what a lender is looking for. Plan ahead, show the lender that you’re serious about the mortgage process and want to present yourself the best that you can.

Usually, you will be asked to provide up to three months of your most recent bank statements. With this in mind, during these months, make sure that you take care of finances and be responsible and sensible.

If you gamble regularly, perhaps it could be an idea to take a break for a little while. Betting apps often hold betting limit features; this could be something to think about. As well as aiding your mortgage application, this may also be good for your mental health. 

Get in Touch with a Mortgage Broker in Doncaster 

Our job as a mortgage broker in Doncaster is to help you through your whole mortgage process, from the very start! We will take a look at your evidential documents with you, making sure that you are presenting yourself in the best way possible for your situation.

Our mortgage advisors in Doncaster will hold your hand throughout your application. We have availability 7 days a week, so don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Date Last Edited: December 6, 2023