A soft credit search (also called a soft check or soft inquiry) is a look at your credit information that does not leave a visible footprint for other lenders. Only you can see soft searches on your credit report. They are used in a variety of situations, including checking your own credit score, employer background checks, insurance quotes and mortgage eligibility tools.
In the mortgage market, soft searches are particularly valuable because they allow brokers and comparison tools to check which lenders are likely to approve your application without affecting your credit score. Many modern mortgage sourcing platforms use soft searches to filter suitable products before a formal application is made.
Some lenders now offer soft-search Agreements in Principle (AIPs), meaning you can get an indicative mortgage offer without a hard search. This is useful if you are property hunting and want to show estate agents that you are a credible buyer, without risking your credit score.
There is no limit to how many soft searches can be carried out on your file, and they have absolutely no impact on your creditworthiness in the eyes of lenders.
Priya is browsing mortgages online and uses a comparison tool that performs a soft credit search to show her which deals she is likely to be approved for. She checks three different tools in one afternoon. None of these searches are visible to lenders, and her credit score is unaffected. When she is ready to proceed, her broker submits a single formal application, which is the only hard search recorded.
Key Points
- Soft searches are only visible to you — other lenders cannot see them
- They do not affect your credit score in any way
- Mortgage brokers use soft-search sourcing tools to identify suitable lenders
- Some lenders offer soft-search Agreements in Principle
- Checking your own credit report is always a soft search