About this application
How the UK Secured Loan Application Process Works
Reviewed by Samantha Turner, FCA-authorised specialist lending broker · Charles Frank Finance Limited (FRN 624668) · Published · Last updated
The application above is the first step in obtaining a UK secured loan (also called a homeowner loan or second charge mortgage). It collects the information our advisers need to identify which lenders on our panel can support your case and at what indicative rate. Submission triggers a soft credit search only — there is no impact on your credit file at this stage, and the soft search is not visible to other lenders.
Charles Frank Finance Limited is an FCA-authorised credit broker (FRN 624668). We arrange UK secured loans from £5,000 to £500,000 across a panel of specialist UK lenders including Selina Finance, Pepper Money, Spring Finance, Central Trust, Norton Finance, Evolution Money, West One, Equifinance, United Trust Bank, Together, Mercantile Trust, and Step One Finance. All recommendations are made on a regulated basis under the FCA's Mortgage Conduct of Business (MCOB) rules.
What you'll need to complete the application
No documents are required at this stage — just the information below. Document uploads come later if you proceed to full application with a specific lender.
- Your full name, date of birth, and title
- Email address and contact phone number
- Current address and postcode (plus previous address if at current for under 3 years)
- Property address, estimated current value, and property type (detached, semi, terraced, flat, bungalow)
- Outstanding first charge mortgage balance
- Loan amount you want to borrow and preferred term (1-30 years)
- Purpose of the loan (home improvement, debt consolidation, large purchase, business, other)
- Employment status (employed, self-employed, retired, unemployed, other) and gross annual income or net monthly income
- Credit profile self-assessment (clean, minor issues, adverse credit)
What happens after you submit
- Indicative quote (immediate). Your application is matched against our panel of FCA-authorised UK specialist lenders. You see indicative rates and monthly payments before you commit to anything. Soft credit search only — no impact on your credit file.
- Adviser call (within 1 business day). An FCA-authorised adviser at Charles Frank Finance Limited will call to confirm case details, walk through the available quotes, explain product differences, and answer any questions. There is no obligation — you can review the options and decide whether to proceed.
- Full application (Day 1-3). If you choose to proceed with a specific lender, a full application is submitted with supporting documents (ID, address, income evidence, bank statements, mortgage statement). A hard credit search runs at this stage.
- Decision in Principle (Day 2-5). The lender issues a binding Decision in Principle subject to valuation and final underwriting.
- Property valuation (Day 5-12). Lower LTV cases typically use an AVM (Automated Valuation Model); higher LTV, larger loans, or non-standard property require a physical valuation by a RICS surveyor.
- Legal work and completion (Day 12-28). The lender's solicitor handles legal charge registration. You receive a binding offer with full APRC, all fees, and the FCA risk warning before completion. Funds are released typically same-day or next-day after completion.
Frequently asked questions about applying
How long does the secured loan application take?
The initial application takes around 5-7 minutes to complete. Your indicative quote is generated immediately from a soft credit search. If you proceed to a full application with a lender, completion to funds release typically takes 2-4 weeks — most of which is the property valuation and legal work, not paperwork on your end.
What information do I need to apply for a secured loan?
To complete the application you'll need: your full name, date of birth, current address (and previous address if at current for less than 3 years), email and phone, the property address and estimated value, your outstanding mortgage balance, your gross annual or net monthly income, employment status, and the purpose of the loan. You do NOT need to upload documents at this stage — that comes later if you proceed.
Will applying affect my credit score?
No. Our quote process uses a soft credit search only — not visible to other lenders and no impact on your credit file. A hard credit search only happens when you formally proceed with a specific lender after seeing your quote. This means you can compare across our panel without credit damage.
What happens after I submit the application?
An FCA-authorised adviser at Charles Frank Finance Limited (FRN 624668) will call you within 1 business day to confirm your case details, walk through your indicative quote across our panel, answer any questions, and explain next steps. There is no obligation at this stage — you can review the options and decide whether to proceed.
Is there a fee to apply?
No. The application is free and there is no obligation. If you choose to proceed with a lender and the loan completes, our broker fee (£2,495 for loans above £25,000, or 10% of the net loan amount for loans below £25,000 — minimum loan £5,000) is payable on completion only. All fees are disclosed in writing before you commit.
Why use a broker instead of applying direct to a lender?
Three reasons: (1) one soft search covers our entire panel of FCA-authorised UK specialist lenders, whereas applying direct to each lender triggers a hard search each time; (2) we know which lender accepts which case profile — saving you declined applications; (3) our advisers translate your circumstances into the right product across the panel, including specialist underwriting for self-employed, complex income, or adverse credit cases that mainstream lenders decline.