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What is a secured loan?

A secured loan means that you can borrow money secured against an asset that you own. Secured loans are taken out over a fixed period of time, in which you agree to pay back the loan. Failing to do so, or defaulting on the loan, may result in the sale of your property, such as your home, in order to recoup any losses.

What are secured loans for?

Secured loans help you borrow large sums of money against something you own, using it as collateral. They are often used for major expenses, such as large-scale house improvements or debt consolidation, and can be taken out over a long period of time. If a secured loan is taken out against your property, you are agreeing that, in the case that you can't pay off the loan, you may need to sell your house to make the payment. Likewise, if you used your car as an asset, it may be repossessed if you don't keep up your repayments. Lenders may see secured loans as lower risk because they know they can collect the money you owe from your assets if you don't make the repayments.

Because of this security, secured loans may come with better interest rates and longer repayment terms. This can mean lower monthly repayments compared to an unsecured loan. As with all borrowing, you should consider the total amount you will need to repay overall when considering a product. The amount you are able to borrow and the rate that you are quoted by the lender will depend on your circumstances as with all loans, but with a secured loan, the amount of equity you have in your property will also affect this. If you are a homeowner but your credit history is not perfect, you might find that you are offered secured loans.

How long will it take to process a secured loan?

Applicants can complete the secured loan process fairly quickly if you can provide all the information efficiently and accurately.

After you've made your secured loan application, you'll normally receive a quotation that requires both validation and confirmation by your lender. If you decide to take the next step, then your lender will assess your credit report.

If the loan you want is secured against your property, then the lender will want to know its value. In essence, they need reassurance that the amount of equity (another word for 'worth' or 'value') you have in your home covers the amount of the loan.

With the secured loan process, you may also need to supply banking details and other financial information. This process varies from lender to lender but can take several weeks. You can always ask for an estimated time at the point you decide to proceed.

I have taken out a secured loan, but I'm moving – will this be a problem?

Not necessarily. There are a few options with a secured loan when moving house.

  1. The first option is to see if you have enough money from the house sale to repay the debt in total.
  2. The second option is to transfer the loan to the next house you're moving to. It's important to note that not all lenders will allow it.
How to know if a secured or unsecured loan is right for you?

When looking at a secured loan vs an unsecured loan, there are several things to take into account.

If you're looking to borrow from £500 to £35,000 then an unsecured loan could be an option for you. With an unsecured loan, you don't need to secure the loan against an asset, like your home. The lender will simply lend you the money, and you'll repay it in regular monthly instalments, plus interest. For this reason, unsecured loans are quicker to set up than secured loans and you could have the money in your account the same day.

The rate you are offered for an unsecured loan will depend on your credit score and individual circumstances. You can use an unsecured loan for any legal purpose, such as consolidating your debts, making home improvements, buying a new car or spreading the cost of a holiday or wedding. Unsecured loan repayment terms range from 1 to 7 years.

To be eligible for a secured loan (or homeowner loan), you need to be a homeowner. This is because the loan will be secured against your property, meaning the lender can take your property to recover their costs if you can't repay what you owe.

Secured loans are used to borrow larger sums of money than unsecured loans, with loan sizes ranging from £10,000 to £500,000+. This is why the lender requires the loan to be secured against an asset. With a secured loan, you can receive advice from a qualified adviser on which loan option is before for you and your circumstances, as well as benefit from much longer repayment terms, ranging from 1 to 30 years.

The most common uses of a secured loan are to consolidate debts or make home improvements, however they can be used for any legal purpose. Although your credit score does impact the rate you're offered for a secured loan, there are also other factors involved such as the amount of equity you have in your home.

Warning: Late repayment can cause you serious money problems. For help go to moneyhelper.org.uk.

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on a mortgage or any other debt secured on it.

Find personal loans from £500 to £50,000 over a minimum of 1 year to a maximum of 8 years, with interest rates ranging from 8.3% APR to 252.6% APR.

Representative example: 48.8% APR Representative based on a loan of £7,500 repayable over 60 months at an interest rate of 48.8% pa (fixed). Monthly repayment of £335.71. Total amount repayable is £20,142.53. APR calculation 1st July 2024 to 31st December 2024.