Your protection
Your mortgage is likely your biggest financial commitment. These three types of cover help make sure illness, injury or worse doesn't put your home — or your family's security — at risk.
A lender checks you can afford repayments today. Protection is about what happens if your income stops tomorrow — through illness, injury or death. Without cover, savings can disappear quickly and keeping up mortgage payments becomes much harder.
We advise on protection as part of the mortgage journey, not as an afterthought. That means explaining what each product does, what it costs, and what fits your situation — without pressure.
Most mortgage protection plans combine some or all of these. Here's what each one does.
If you were too ill or injured to work, how would you pay your mortgage and bills? Income Protection replaces a portion of your income — typically 60–70% of your salary — for as long as you need it, right up until retirement if necessary.
Unlike a one-off payout policy, Income Protection can pay out every month, every time you need it. It covers almost any illness or injury that stops you working, from mental health conditions to back problems to serious diagnoses.
Life Insurance provides a lump sum to your loved ones if you pass away during the term of the policy. It's designed to make sure your mortgage could be repaid and your family wouldn't face financial hardship at the worst possible time.
Policies can cover just your mortgage balance (decreasing term) or provide a fixed payout regardless of what's left on your mortgage (level term). Many people place their policy in trust, which keeps the payout out of your estate and speeds up the process for your family.
Critical Illness Cover pays out a tax-free lump sum if you're diagnosed with a serious illness covered by the policy — such as cancer, heart attack, or stroke. You can use the money however you need: paying off your mortgage, covering treatment costs, adapting your home, or simply giving you time to recover without financial pressure.
It's often added alongside Life Insurance to provide a broader safety net. While nobody likes to think about the worst happening, having this cover in place can make an enormous difference when you need it most.
Life Insurance and Critical Illness Cover both pay lump sums — useful for clearing debt or funding a difficult period. Income Protection pays a monthly income while you can't work, which is often what keeps day-to-day bills manageable.
Many clients start with Income Protection and Life Insurance, then add Critical Illness if budget allows. We'll talk through trade-offs honestly — including what you may already have through work, and where gaps remain.
Buildings and contents insurance is separate from these products. If you're arranging a mortgage, your lender will require buildings cover; we can help with that too. See our protection & insurance service page for the full picture.
There's no obligation, and we'll always give you honest, transparent advice.
Maybe — but employer benefits vary. Death-in-service might be one or two times salary, which may not clear your mortgage. Sick pay often runs out after a few months. We review what you already have and identify gaps before recommending anything new.
Critical Illness pays a one-off lump sum when you're diagnosed with a specified serious illness. Income Protection pays a regular monthly income while you're unable to work due to illness or injury — and can pay out multiple times over the life of the policy.
No — arranging protection is separate from your mortgage underwriting. In fact, having a plan in place can give you peace of mind while your purchase or remortgage progresses. We typically discuss protection once your mortgage route is clear.
Ideally before completion on a purchase, or as soon as possible on a remortgage — especially if your circumstances have changed. The younger and healthier you are when you apply, the more options and better premiums you're likely to have.
This guide is general information, not personal advice. Product terms, exclusions and eligibility vary by insurer. If you want recommendations matched to your circumstances, start with a fact find or ask us for a protection quote above.
Your home/property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.
Start with a mortgage fact find — we'll discuss protection at the right point in your journey.
