Bad Credit Mortgages
Bad credit mortgages for borrowers with CCJs, defaults, missed payments, IVAs, and discharged bankruptcy - from specialist adverse credit lenders who assess the full picture rather than applying a blanket credit score decline.
A full picture, not a credit score
Mainstream mortgage lenders use automated credit scoring to decline applicants below a threshold. Specialist adverse credit lenders use manual underwriting - assessing the severity of the credit event, how long ago it occurred, whether it has been satisfied, and what has happened to the applicant's finances since. The right specialist lender can often place cases that mainstream lenders decline automatically.
Every adverse credit situation assessed individually
CCJs and Defaults
County Court Judgements and registered defaults are assessed on age, amount, and whether satisfied. A CCJ satisfied more than 3 years ago is treated very differently from a recent unsatisfied default. Specialist lenders have defined criteria for each scenario.
Missed Payments
Missed mortgage payments, loan payments, or credit card payments are graded by how many were missed and how recently. Specialist adverse credit lenders set criteria by number and age of missed payments rather than applying a blanket decline.
IVA - During and After
Borrowers in an active IVA require lender approval from the IVA supervisor before a mortgage can proceed. Discharged IVA borrowers access a specialist panel who consider the time since discharge, deposit available, and subsequent credit conduct.
Bankruptcy - Discharged
Discharged bankrupts can access mortgages from specialist lenders. The key factors are: time since discharge, deposit available (typically 15-25% required), income, and credit conduct since discharge. Options improve materially after 3 years from discharge.
Debt Management Plans
Borrowers in or recently exiting a DMP access specialist adverse credit lenders who assess the plan history, the outstanding balances, and the income position rather than applying a blanket DMP exclusion.
Rebuilding Credit
The best mortgage available today may not be the best in 12-24 months. We assess the realistic timeline for credit improvement and advise whether to proceed now with a specialist lender or wait for better terms after credit score recovery.
How it works
Full credit position review
Share the full picture - all adverse events, dates, amounts, and whether satisfied. We assess which specialist lender's criteria match your specific credit history.
Lender matching by credit profile
Different specialist lenders have different thresholds for CCJ age, default amount, IVA discharge period, and bankruptcy discharge period. We identify the lenders whose criteria your profile meets.
Application preparation
We assemble the credit explanation letter and supporting evidence alongside the standard mortgage application - presenting your case in the format that specialist underwriters are most likely to approve.
Offer and completion
Typical timeline: 4 to 6 weeks for straightforward adverse credit cases. More complex histories may take slightly longer due to the manual underwriting process.
Bad credit and need a mortgage?
Tell us your full credit history. We identify which specialist lenders can place your case and at what rate - same working day response.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a mortgage with a CCJ?
Yes - from specialist adverse credit lenders. The key factors are the age of the CCJ, the amount, and whether it has been satisfied. A satisfied CCJ more than 3 years old is treated very differently from a recent unsatisfied CCJ.
Can I get a mortgage after a default?
Yes. Specialist lenders assess defaults on age and amount. Defaults registered more than 2-3 years ago that have been satisfied are accepted by several specialist lenders at competitive rates.
Can I get a mortgage after bankruptcy?
Yes - once discharged. Most specialist lenders require at least 1-3 years from the date of discharge, a deposit of 15-25%, and a clean credit record since discharge. Options improve significantly 3 years after discharge.
Will I pay a higher interest rate with bad credit?
The rate reflects the credit profile - adverse credit mortgages do carry a premium over mainstream rates. As credit history improves, remortgaging to a better rate becomes possible. We assess the realistic timeline for each case.
How long does adverse credit stay on my record?
Most adverse credit entries - CCJs, defaults, missed payments - remain on the credit file for 6 years from the date of registration. After 6 years they are automatically removed. Specialist lenders weight recent adverse history most heavily.