Loans Warehouse review
Using a credit broker can be an easy way to help you find the right type of loan. We look at what Loans Warehouse has to offer.
There are many reasons why you might want to approach a credit broker to help you find a loan. For a start, using a credit broker can save you time as they’ll take the stress out of searching the market for the right deal. This can be particularly useful if you have a low credit score and have struggled to get credit in the past. A credit broker can help match you with lenders that are more likely to accept your application.
The drawback of using a credit broker is that there may be fees to pay. Some credit brokers will be paid a commission by lenders, while others will charge you a fee, so make sure you know how much you might have to pay before proceeding. Also check that the broker you wish to use is authorised. Legitimate credit brokers will be authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and listed on the Financial Services Register. They should also make it clear to you that they are a credit broker and not a direct lender.
Here, we look at broker Loans Warehouse.
Compare Loans Warehouse loans
If you borrowed £46,000 over a 15-year term at 8.40% p.a. (variable), you would make 180 monthly payments of £499.13 and pay £89,843.40 overall, which includes interest of £38,853.40, a broker fee of £3,995 and a lender fee of £995. The overall cost for comparison is 10.7% APRC representative.
Who is Loans Warehouse?
Loans Warehouse is a credit broker mostly known for secured loans, although it is gradually increasing its presence in other market sectors. The company was founded in 2006 by Matt Tristram and Sam Busfield, and its registered office is based in Watford, Hertfordshire.
In 2020 Loans Warehouse selected fintech Credit Kudos as its Open Banking partner. This has enabled it to use Credit Kudos’ platform to enhance the data available to its panel of lenders and help them better assess borrowers’ eligibility.
What type of loans does Loans Warehouse offer?
Loans Warehouse offers a range of different loans as outlined below:
Secured loans
Secured loans enable you to borrow a lump sum that must be repaid in monthly instalments over a fixed term, with interest added on top. You can borrow between £5,000 and £2.5 million with a secured loan through Loans Warehouse and you’ll even be able to borrow if you have poor credit or arrears.
The downside of secured loans is that they need to be backed by an asset such as your home. This means that if you can’t keep up with your repayments, your asset will be at risk. In the very worst cases, you could lose your home.
Unsecured loans
If you’re looking for a loan that does not need to be secured against an asset, an unsecured or personal loan could work for you. You can borrow between £1,000 and £50,000 through Loans Warehouse and those with both good or poor credit histories will be accepted.
You’ll be able to check your eligibility for a personal loan within minutes by filling in a few details on the Loans Warehouse website. This won’t affect your credit score.
Guarantor loans
If you have a low credit score, you’re likely to pay a higher rate of interest on your loan compared to someone with a good credit score. However, if you apply for a guarantor loan, you could get accepted for a loan of between £1,000 and £10,000 at a more affordable rate.
A guarantor loan can be used in the same way as any other loan, but you’ll need to find someone (usually a family member) who will be willing to step in and meet your loan repayments if you’re not able to. A guarantor should be over the age of 18 and have a good credit history. In some cases, they should also be a homeowner.
Again, you can check your eligibility on the Loans Warehouse website without affecting your credit score.
You can also apply for a bridging loan through Loans Warehouse. These are short-term loans designed to help you “bridge” a financial gap until funds become available. For example, you might use a bridging loan to purchase a new home if yours hasn’t sold yet. With Loans Warehouse, you can borrow between £25,000 and £25 million over a term of 1 to 24 months.
School fee loans
With this option, you’ll be given a line of credit (or flexible loan facility you can access at any time) of between £25,000 to £1 million. You can then draw on these funds to help you cover tuition fees. The amount borrowed, plus interest, can be repaid over a term of up to 30 years.
You’ll have a 5 year flexible period in which you can draw funds as they are due each term and you’ll only pay interest on the amount you use. At the end of this period, the outstanding balance reverts to a standard term loan. There are no fees for repaying the loan early.
Note that this is a secured loan.
Business loans
You can also borrow a small business loan of between £5,000 and £1 million, which can be repaid over a term of between 6 months and 10 years. There are no repayment charges if you want to repay your loan early.
Pros and cons of Loans Warehouse
Pros
- Wide range of borrowing options to choose from
- You may be able to borrow even if you have poor credit
- Eligibility checkers available
- Funds can be used for a range of purposes
Cons
- If you use a secured loan, your home is at risk if you can’t keep up with repayments
- Fees may be payable depending on your choice of loan
- Loans Warehouse only has access to a panel of lenders, not the whole market
Loans Warehouse customer reviews
Loans Warehouse scores highly on Trustpilot, achieving a rating of 4.9 out of 5 based on 324 reviews. This is considered an “excellent” rating overall.
A total of 97% of customers gave Loans Warehouse an “excellent” rating, with positive comments focusing on the simple and stress-free process, outstanding customer service, prompt communication and speedy completion.
Only 2 reviews were negative, commenting on poor customer service.
Other UK secured loan brokers
If you’re not sure whether Loans Warehouse is the right choice for you, there are other UK secured loan brokers to consider. These include the following:
Fluent Money. Offering help with secured loans, mortgages, bridging loans, equity release and insurance. Read our full review here.
Loan.co.uk. Offering help with secured loans, personal loans and bridging loans.
Our verdict
If you’re looking for help finding the right loan for you, Loans Warehouse could be an excellent place to start. It offers a wide range of different loan types, including both secured and unsecured options, so you don’t necessarily need to secure your loan against your home.
Using a credit broker such as Loans Warehouse is particularly worth considering if you have poor credit as it can help widen your options and find you a suitable loan. The eligibility checker tool available on the site is also worth a mention as it will enable you to see which loans you’re most likely to be accepted for without damaging your credit score.
Frequently asked questions
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