WHAT AFFECTS YOUR SCORE

1 ACCOUNT defaults and county court judgments: if moving home, redirect your post so you receive notifications about any unpaid bills and avoid a default or court judgment at your previous address.

2 LATE payments: a single late payment can damage your credit score, so set up a direct debit to make monthly payments on time.

3 USING too much of your credit limit: lenders like to see a proven track record of responsible borrowing, but try not to use too much of your credit limit.

4 NOT registering on the electoral roll: if you are not already registered, do so as soon as possible as this is a sign of stability and will improve your credit score.

5 MAKING too many applications: applying too often can make you look desperate for credit, so space out applications by around six months.

6 FINANCIAL associations: if you previously had joint credit with a partner (or anyone else) but are no longer connected, ask the credit reference agencies for a ‘financial disassociation’ to separate your reports in the eyes of lenders.