A third of adults struggle to get a mortgage, according to research from Shawbrook.

The lender’s Home A-loan report found that 30% of UK adults have tried more than once to get a mortgage, with 13% trying multiple times.

Just one in five (20%) of people are totally confident in getting approved for a mortgage, which drops to 10% for those with adverse credit histories.

While the eventual mortgage approval rate was 71%, Shawbrook found, this drops sharply for those with more complex financial profiles.

Just over half (54%) of those with impaired credit managed to find a mortgage, and only 46% of first-time buyers were successful.

Among those who were turned down for a mortgage, the most common reason was a poor credit score, cited in 35% of cases.

Consumers also cited volatile income (26%), missed payments (21%) and unaffordability (21%) as key reasons for mortgage declines.

Shawbrook’s research found that just one in five (22%) of people surveyed used a broker, a finding the lender says is “significantly out of kilter with the general population”. Similarly, 12% said lack of access to mortgage advice was a major barrier to homeownership.

However, among those who did use an intermediary satisfaction was overwhelmingly high. Almost all (97%) said brokers helped them identify the right lenders, another 97% valued their specialist knowledge and 95% credited them with simplifying paperwork and admin.

Shawbrook retail mortgages commercial director Steve Griffiths said: “As financial pressures continue to take their toll, customers’ situations will become ever more complex.

“Brokers have a crucial role to play in this environment, educating customers on the options available to them and empowering them to seek support as needed. By doing so, they can help close the gap between financial challenge and financial possibility.”

Last month Shawbrook confirmed plans to float on the London Stock Exchange, with a possible valuation of £2billion.