The UK has over 14,000 mortgage products from hundreds of lenders. Navigating this without help is possible but time-consuming, and for complex cases a broker accesses deals you cannot find alone.\n\nWhat a Broker Does — Searches the market, recommends products, handles paperwork, liaises with the lender and solicitor, and troubleshoots underwriting problems. Whole-of-market brokers access virtually every UK lender. Tied brokers only recommend from a panel.\n\nWhen a Broker Adds Most Value — Complex income (self-employed, contractors). Adverse credit. Unusual property types. High LTV applications. Portfolio buy-to-let. Expat applications where the lender pool is limited.\n\nWhen Going Direct Makes Sense — Simple applications with good credit, standard property, and reasonable LTV where your bank offers a competitive deal. Product transfers are always direct and usually fastest. Some exclusive deals are only available direct from the lender.\n\nBroker Fees — Fee-free brokers (L and C, Habito, Mojo, Better.co.uk) earn commission from the lender only. Fee-charging brokers typically charge 300 to 500 pounds. Commission is the same regardless of which product you choose, so a good broker has no incentive to recommend a worse deal.\n\nQuestions to Ask — Are you whole-of-market? Do you charge a fee? How many lenders on your panel? Will you handle start to completion? What is your typical timeline?