A mortgage is no more than a secured loan against an asset by way of a lien. A second charge works in exactly the same way.
In other words, a lender loans money to a borrower so that he / she may buy a property. The loan is conditional upon a variety of terms, one of which is the defined collateral for the debt. In this instance, collateral is another name for ‘security’ and this is secured by way of a lien.
The registration of a loan against a property’s title is referred to as a ‘charge’.
Most properties have only one debt registered against them (because most people take out only one loan when purchasing a property) although sometimes a borrower might extend or add to his or her mortgage during its term in order to raise money, perhaps for a home extension - or a child’s wedding.
From time to time, a home owner might be unable to raise money through their primary mortgage lender due to their circumstances or the criteria set by the lender. In these cases the homeowner may wish to borrow money but he cannot borrow it from his existing lender. In these circumstances, it is possible to raise more money by way of a secured loan, with a different lender. It is normal for the new lender to take a second charge against the borrower’s property.
A second charge is a secured loan but it will have less precedence than a first charge. If the borrower defaults on either the first or second charge, either lender can instigate repossession proceedings. However, the first charge lender gets their money first, and there may not be enough money left to repay the second charge lender. In this case, the lender will have to look at other ways to reclaim their outstanding debt.
When taking a second charge mortgage lenders will always consider the affordability of the new repayments and whether the loan will over extend their borrowings. However, in some cases borrowing by way of a secured loan is a far better way of raising money as terms are normally much cheaper and over longer periods than a shorter, unsecured loan agreement.
Here at Mortgage Required, we specialise in secured loans so please get in touch on 01628 507477 if you need more information.
Related articles:
Download our Free First Time Buyers Guide
Recent posts
Mortgage lenders are starting to recognise their “Green” responsibilities when it comes to the different products they offer.
A recent study by Boon Brokers where 1,000 people who had used an estate agent over the last year were surveyed, showed that a whopping 52% said they were pressured into using the estate agents’ in-house mortgage broker.
When will mortgage rates fall further?
10 days ago
Analysts are predicting further rate cuts this year, with the next one possibly coming down to 4% when the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee meet on Thursday 7th August 2025.
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has shared new changes to mortgage rules with the aim to simplify remortgaging, and encourage competition within the mortgage market.
Lloyds boost lending for first-time buyers
17 days ago
Lloyds Banking Group has jumped on the bandwagon to boost lending for first-time buyers as they allocate an additional £4 billion to help first-time buyers on to the property ladder.
As the Loan to Income (LTI) cap has been increased to 5.5 times income, applicants who fit the First Time Buyer Boost criteria could borrow up to 22% more.
The government is introducing mortgage reforms to boost homeownership, stimulate economic growth, and make the housing market more accessible, especially for first-time buyers.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has announced the most significant mortgage reforms in over a decade—great news for those dreaming of homeownership.
Nationwide ease criteria for first-time buyers
20 days ago
Nationwide ease their ‘Helping Hand’ mortgage designed to help first-time buyers get onto the property ladder by allowing them to borrow up to six times their income.
Ways to save money over the summer holiday
26 days ago
Keeping the kids entertained over the six-week summer holidays isn’t always easy, especially with the cost-of-living making it even more difficult. Below is a list of fun, inexpensive ideas to do over the break
More information
Trusted by
