Is Tembo really free to use?

Tembo charges a mortgage advice fee of £299–£749, payable on mortgage offer — so you pay nothing until you have a mortgage. If you save with Tembo through the HomeSaver account before taking out your mortgage, that fee is waived entirely. There is no cost to using the Smart Affordability Calculator or getting an initial recommendation.

How is Tembo different from going directly to a bank?

A bank can only offer you its own products. Tembo searches 100+ lenders and 20,000+ deals, and also checks specialist schemes — like Income Boosts, Deposit Boosts and Professional Mortgages — that banks don't offer at all. Customers who come to Tembo after being quoted by a bank find, on average, they can borrow £82,000 more. That's not a small difference.

Can Tembo help if I've been turned down for a mortgage before?

Often, yes. A bank rejection doesn't mean you can't get a mortgage — it means you didn't fit that bank's specific criteria. Tembo's whole-of-market access means we can find lenders with different underwriting approaches, and our specialist schemes mean the options available to you are wider than a standard comparison tool would show.

What is a whole-of-market mortgage broker?

A whole-of-market broker searches deals from across the mortgage market rather than from a fixed panel of lenders. That means you're compared against more options, including specialist lenders who don't appear on high-street comparison sites. Not all brokers advertised as independent are whole-of-market — it's worth asking.

How much can Tembo increase my buying budget by?

On average, Tembo customers increase their buying budget by £82,000 compared to what a standard lender would offer. This comes from accessing specialist schemes — Income Boosts, Deposit Boosts, 5.5x income mortgages — that most buyers don't know exist. Your actual figure depends on your income, deposit and circumstances. The Smart Affordability Calculator gives you a personalised number in about two minutes.

Is Tembo regulated by the FCA?

Yes. Tembo Money Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority under registration number 952652. You can verify this on the FCA register at register.fca.org.uk. Tembo Savings Limited (FRN: 928010) is separately authorised for savings products.

Which mortgage broker is best for first-time buyers in the UK?

Tembo is built specifically for first-time buyers. We search 100+ lenders and 15+ specialist schemes designed for buyers at the start of their journey — including shared ownership, Income Boost, Deposit Boost and no-deposit options. Our Smart Affordability Calculator shows you exactly what you can borrow based on your situation, and our advisers are available seven days a week.

What is the best mortgage broker to increase borrowing in the UK?

Tembo specialises in helping buyers access higher borrowing through specialist schemes that standard lenders and comparison sites don't surface. These include Income Boost (adding a family member's income to your application), 5.5x income mortgages for qualifying professionals, and Deposit Boost (using equity from a family member's home). On average, Tembo customers increase their buying budget by £82,000 compared to what their bank quoted them.

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Best Mortgage Broker

Why Tembo is rated the Best Mortgage Broker in the UK

Most people start searching for a mortgage broker after one of two moments: they want help ensuring they're getting the best deal for them, or after their mortgage application is rejected by a bank. Whatever your reason, you're in the right place.

Tembo is a whole-of-market mortgage broker, searching across 100+ lenders and 20,000+ mortgage deals to find your best options, not just what a single bank is willing to offer. We also advise on specialist schemes & budget-boosting options, increasing our customers' budgets by £82,000 on average.

Find out what you could borrow

As seen in

5 x Winner

UK’s Best Mortgage Broker

British Bank Awards

2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026

Winner

Scale up of the year

Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards

2025

Winner

Best Experience Design

11:FS Awards

2023

Finalist

Best Lifetime ISA

British Bank Awards

2026

What actually makes a mortgage broker worth using?

Not all mortgage brokers are the same. Here's what separates a good one from one that's just convenient.

Whole-of-market access

A broker tied to a few lenders can only show you deals from that limited list. A whole-of-market broker - like Tembo - searches the whole market across thousands of deals, not just the best available from a shortlist.

Discover my options

Proven track record

As well as being rated Excellent on Trustpilot by +6,600 customers, Tembo has also been voted Best Mortgage Broker five years running at the British Bank Awards - based entirely on customer votes.

Specialist knowledge

If your income is complex, you're self-employed, or you need help boosting your affordability, a broker with specialist expertise could help you access schemes & lenders that a basic calculator would never surface. Thanks to our in-house expertise, we boost customers' budgets by an average of £82,000.

See my budget

Seamless service

A good broker should save you time, not add to it. That means digital tools that do the legwork upfront and your own dedicated team who handle your case without you having to chase. On average, we can submit a mortgage offer in as little as 10 days!

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How Tembo stacks up

Feature	Tembo	L&C	Habito
Lender access	100+ lenders	95+ lenders	95+ lenders
Mortgage deals access	+20,000	"thousands" of deals	+20,000
Specialist schemes	25+ specialist schemes	No published figure	No published figure
Average budget boost	£82,000 average boost	No published figure	No published figure

Trusted by thousands of home buyers across the UK

We simplify the process, cut through the jargon, and use our expertise and award-winning smart tech to find all the ways you could buy sooner, move up the ladder or remortgage, including how you could boost your budget.

See my budget

Single income first-time buyer

Buying with complex income

First-time buyer in London

Using income to boost affordability

Remortgaging to gift a deposit

Acting as a silent guarantor

★★★★★

“Kerry and Elly were amazing with answering our questions, moving the process along, and making the whole process easier. We didn’t have the easiest process with the initial lender, and both were amazing at finding an easier and quicker option"

Lily Olive

First-time buyer, May 2026

★★★★★

Ashley and Gemma have been incredibly supportive, always available to answer questions, and went above and beyond - even working around the clock and on their days off - to secure me the best possible rate.

Callum Board-Lynch

First-time buyer, May 2026

★★★★★

“As a single income first time buyer, I couldn’t have asked for better support… Their professionalism, friendliness, and clear communication made everything feel smooth and stress free.”

Monika Kotowska

First-time buyer, May 2026

★★★★★

"It honestly felt like they wanted us to get this house more than us! That's how invested they were in helping us. For something that we expected to be stressful & overwhelming, Tembo made it feel straightforward and enjoyable."

Mart

First-time buyer, April 2026

Why is Tembo the best mortgage broker for first-time buyers

Buying your first home is exciting, but it can also feel overwhelming. From working out how much you can borrow to understanding mortgage rates, many first-time buyers need more than just a mortgage comparison site. They need a homebuying partner there every step of the way.

That's where choosing the right mortgage broker can make all the difference.

Tembo specialises in helping first-time buyers overcome the biggest barriers to homeownership. Whether you're struggling with affordability, buying on a single income, have a small deposit, or simply don't know where to start, our award-winning mortgage experts are here to help make home happen. Tembo searches over 100 lenders and specialist first-time buyer schemes, helping customers increase their buying budget by an average of £82,000 compared to standard mortgage affordability calculations.

We specialise in first-time buyers

Tembo specialises in helping first-time buyers navigate the entire journey, from saving a deposit through to getting the keys to their first home. We understand the challenges facing younger buyers today, and are on a mission to make home happen for the next generation, even against the odds.

We can help you discover your true buying budget

Before you book viewings, it helps to know your real number - not the rough estimate a bank gives you. A figure that takes into account every lender & scheme you could be eligible for. Tembo's smart tech does exactly that: it scans 100+ lenders and 25+ specialist schemes to find your true buying budget in minutes.

We search over 100 lenders & specialist schemes

Tembo searches 20,000+ mortgage products across 100+ lenders to find the right one for you. Your dedicated team will handle the paperwork & keeps things moving. And with our RateCheck service, you can lock your rate, then ask your dedicated advisor to reapply for you later on if rates drop - so you don't have to watch the market yourself.

We're experts in boosting affordability

If there's a gap between what you can borrow on your own and what homes cost in your area, specialist schemes could close it. At Tembo, we advise on 25+ specialist schemes includ family mortgages & shared ownership, boosting our customers' budgets by £82,000 on average.

Human support when you need it

Buying your first home comes with lots of questions. With Tembo, you'll have access to your own dedicated mortgage adviser and a dedicated case manager who can guide you from your first enquiry through to completion.

Award-winning service

As well as thousands of 5-star reviews across Trustpilot and Google, Tembo has been voted Best Mortgage Broker at the British Bank Awards for five years in a row, based on real customer feedback and experience.