Preparing financially
Credit reports and your home loan application
What's on your credit report, your right to a free copy every three months, and why checking it early matters before you apply.
- You're entitled to a free copy of your credit report every 3 months.
- Your report records credit accounts, repayment history, enquiries, defaults and court judgments.
- Check your report well before applying, so you have time to correct any errors.
- A cluster of credit enquiries in a short period can be a factor lenders weigh.
What a credit report contains
A credit report generally records your credit accounts (loans, credit cards, buy-now-pay-later where reported), repayment history, credit enquiries you've made, and any defaults or court judgments. Lenders use it, alongside your income and expenses, to assess your loan application.
Your right to a free copy
You have a right to a free copy of your credit report every 3 months (ASIC (Moneysmart), verified 29 Jul 2026). Checking it well before applying for a home loan — not the week you apply — gives you time to identify and correct any errors, which can otherwise delay or affect your application.
Why multiple enquiries can matter
Each formal credit application typically generates an enquiry recorded on your file. A cluster of enquiries in a short period (for example, applying with several lenders at once rather than comparing first and applying once) can be a factor lenders weigh — comparing rates and getting a broker's shortlist first, then applying once you've chosen, is generally preferable to applying with multiple lenders simultaneously.
Practical checklist
Before you apply for pre-approval
- Request your free credit report well ahead of applying
- Check every listed account and enquiry for accuracy
- Dispute any incorrect listing directly with the credit reporting body
- Compare and shortlist lenders before applying, rather than applying with several at once
Relevant Delora tool
Questions for a professional
- Is there anything on my credit report that could affect this application?
- How many recent enquiries do I have, and could that affect my application?
Official resources
Sources and methodology
- Credit scores and credit reports — ASIC (Moneysmart) (retrieved 29 Jul 2026)
Figures on this page are drawn from Delora's local knowledge graph, refreshed from these primary sources and checked for changes on a regular schedule. If a figure here looks out of date, the official source above is always the authority — please let us know.