Bad credit mortgage broker for when you've been told no.
As a bad credit mortgage broker, we help clients every week who have been turned down elsewhere or thought getting a mortgage was impossible. We'll take the time to understand your CCJs, defaults, missed payments, debt management plan or IVA, then look for a lender whose criteria fit.
Not sure where you stand? Book your free call and Harry, our complex lending specialist, will take you through all of the options available to you, so you know what's possible before you apply anywhere.
On your call, we'll go through your credit profile together and work out which lenders' criteria match your situation. You'll come away knowing where you stand and what your options are.
Tell us your story
We listen to what happened, where you are now and what you'd like to achieve. No judgement, just honest advice.
Review your credit profile
We go through your credit reports together, so we know what lenders will see when you apply.
Match you with a lender
We search the whole market for lenders whose criteria fit your credit history, before any application is made.
Handle it all for you
From agreement in principle to mortgage offer, we deal with the lender and keep everything moving to completion.
Yes, in many cases you can. Lots of lenders will consider people with defaults, CCJs, missed payments or a past debt solution. What matters is the type of issue, how recent it is, whether it's been settled and how you manage your money now.
Every lender has its own rules. One might decline a default from two years ago, while another accepts it without a second thought. That's why applying directly to your bank and being turned down doesn't mean the answer is no everywhere.
We've helped hundreds of people with bad credit get a mortgage, many of them after being declined elsewhere. Whatever's on your credit file, we'll explain your options and the best way forward.
02 · Know what you're dealing with
CCJs, defaults, missed payments, DMPs and IVAs: how lenders see them
Most credit problems stay on your credit file for six years. Here's what the most common ones mean and how lenders tend to look at them.
Late or missed payments
A payment made late or not at all, shown month by month on your credit file.
Lender viewA one-off missed payment years ago matters far less than several recent ones.
Mortgage arrears
Falling behind on payments to a mortgage or secured loan, shown on your credit file month by month.
Lender viewEach lender has its own criteria for mortgage arrears, including how recent they are and whether the account is now up to date.
Defaults
Recorded when an account falls behind and the lender closes it, usually after several missed payments.
Lender viewThe number, amounts, dates and whether they're settled all count. Recent defaults are accepted by some lenders.
County court judgements (CCJs)
A court order to repay a debt, registered when a creditor takes you to court.
Lender viewA satisfied CCJ is viewed more kindly than an unsatisfied one, and smaller, older CCJs are easier to place.
Arrangements to pay
An agreement with a lender to pay less than the normal amount for a period of time.
Lender viewOften viewed less seriously than defaults, especially once the arrangement has ended.
Debt management plans (DMPs)
An informal agreement to repay your debts through one monthly payment, often via a debt charity or company.
Lender viewA DMP that's still running may be considered if your payment record is good, with more lenders open to you once it's complete.
IVAs and bankruptcy
Formal insolvency solutions that write off some or all of your debts.
Lender viewOptions open up once the IVA is complete or you've been discharged, and improve with time.
Repossessions
When a lender takes back a property after the mortgage payments haven't been kept up.
Lender viewA smaller number of lenders consider a past repossession, depending on how long ago it was and how your finances have been managed since.
Payday loans
Short-term, high-cost loans, even if they were repaid on time.
Lender viewAttitudes vary: recent payday loan use rules out some lenders, while others accept it once repaid.
Low credit scores
The score you see on an app is a guide made by the credit agency, not a lender's decision.
Lender viewEach lender checks your full credit file and uses its own scoring, so a low app score isn't the end of the road.
03 · The account type matters too
Why the type of account matters
The type of account a credit issue is on can have a big effect on the lenders available to you. A missed mortgage payment and a missed phone bill can be treated very differently, because each lender has its own criteria for each specific issue. Depending on the lender, that could mean fewer lenders to choose from, needing a bigger deposit, or needing more time to have passed since the issue.
Illustrative example: one issue, four lenders
Your credit issue
The type of account
How long ago
The amount
Lender AWon't consider itThat issue falls outside their criteria.
Lender BA bigger depositThey'll consider it with a larger deposit.
Lender CMore time passedThey'll consider it once it's older.
Lender DCriteria fitTheir criteria suit your situation.
For illustration only. Every lender sets its own criteria for each specific issue, and those criteria change over time. Our job is to find the lenders whose criteria fit you.
Credit issues can show up on any type of account, including:
Mortgages and secured loans
Rent
Loans and car finance
Credit cards and overdrafts
Mobile phone contracts
Utilities, broadband and TV
04 · Deposits
How much deposit do you need with bad credit?
All of these deposit levels are available for people with bad credit. Which one applies to you depends on your individual credit profile and each lender's criteria. Clients with bad credit have bought with every one of them through us.
5% deposit
Available with lenders whose criteria fit your credit profile.
10% deposit
Can open up a wider choice of lenders for your situation.
15% deposit
Can give you access to even more lenders and potentially better rates.
Exact deposit requirements depend on your individual circumstances and overall credit profile. On your free call, we'll tell you which deposit levels are realistic for you.
05 · Already own a home?
Can you remortgage with bad credit?
Yes. If your credit has taken a knock since you took out your mortgage, you still have options when your deal comes to an end, and you shouldn't just drift onto your lender's standard variable rate.
Stay with your lender
There can be options to stay with your current lender and move onto a new deal when your current one ends. We'll compare it against the wider market, so you know it's the right choice.
Switch to a new lender
Moving to a new lender means a full credit check, but it can be worth it for a better rate or to raise money. We'll find lenders who accept your credit history.
Thinking of consolidating debts into your mortgage? Think carefully before securing other debts against your home. It may cost more overall, and your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments.
06 · The bigger picture
Your first mortgage is just the start
We see your first mortgage deal as a starting point, not the end. As your credit issues get further into the past, you have the potential to access more lenders and possibly better rates, depending on your credit profile at the time.
Today
We look for a lender that fits your situation now, so you can get the keys.
During your deal
You keep up your payments and your credit issues get older.
Your next deal
We review your options again, with the potential for more lenders and better rates.
We'll be in touch around six months before your deal ends, so we can look at your options together and make sure you're on the best deal available to you.
07 · Landlords
Buy-to-let mortgages with bad credit
You can still get a buy-to-let mortgage with bad credit, but lenders look at it a little differently. Here's how it compares with a residential mortgage.
Residential mortgage
Buy-to-let mortgage
Main affordability check
Your income and outgoings
Mainly the expected rent, plus your own situation
Typical deposit
From 5%, depending on your credit
Usually at least 20% to 25%, often more with bad credit
Attitude to bad credit
Wide choice of lenders for most credit issues
Fewer lenders, and many are stricter about recent issues
Limited companies
Not applicable
The credit of each director and shareholder is checked
Real client example: a landlord needed to remortgage their buy-to-let, but a recent CCJ ruled out most lenders. We found a lender comfortable with the CCJ and handled the application from start to finish.
08 · Before you apply
Check your credit file first
There are several credit reference agencies in the UK, and lenders don't all use the same one. Something could show on one report and not another, so it's worth checking them all before you apply.
A service like Checkmyfile shows your credit information from multiple agencies in one report, which makes it much easier to see the full picture.
Check all your reports, not just one, so there are no surprises when a lender searches your file.
Look for mistakes, such as accounts you don't recognise, wrong addresses or debts shown as unpaid when they've been settled.
Check financial links, as being linked to someone else's credit, such as an ex-partner, can affect you.
Make sure you're on the electoral roll at your current address.
Share your reports with us, so we can see what lenders will see and match you with a lender whose criteria fit.
Why we need to know everything
Every conversation with us is completely confidential. No matter the issue, we're here to help and will do our very best to support you through the process.
Telling us about every credit issue from the start is important, because lenders will see your full credit file when you apply. If something comes up that we didn't know about, it can lead to a decline late in the process, after valuation fees and searches.
We target lenders whose criteria fit from the start
You avoid unnecessary declines and hard searches on your file
There are no nasty surprises halfway through your purchase
One client came to me part-way through an IVA, which they’d kept up well. Their bank wasn’t an option, but a specialist lender would consider a remortgage because their loan to value fitted within its bands. With an IVA, how long it has been running since it started is one of the biggest factors in finding a lender that will consider you. That’s typical of bad credit cases: the detail on the credit file and the lender’s criteria decide it, not a single number.
The most common mistake I see before people come to us is around the credit report itself. Either they haven’t got a copy, or they’re focused on their score. Lenders use their own scoring, so what really counts is what’s on the report, and that’s where we start.
Harry Mansell, CeMAPMortgage Specialist, Keyholder Mortgages
Based on real client cases, with personal details withheld. What’s possible depends on your circumstances and each lender’s criteria.
Real people, real resultsHundreds helped.
Many of our bad credit clients came to us after being turned down elsewhere.
No two cases are the same, and there's often a way forward. We take the time to understand your full story, then search for a lender whose criteria fit.
CCJs, defaults, missed payments, debt management plans and IVAs: these are the questions that come up most. Not covered here? Call us for a confidential chat.
Yes, in many cases. Lots of lenders will consider people with CCJs, defaults, missed payments, a debt management plan or an IVA. It depends on the type of issue, how recent it is, whether it's been settled and how you manage your money now, and we'll match you with lenders whose criteria fit.
Can I get a mortgage with a CCJ?
Yes, it comes down to the details. The amount, when the CCJ was registered and whether it has been satisfied all matter. A CCJ stays on your credit file for six years, and some lenders will consider recent or unsatisfied CCJs depending on your overall profile.
Can I get a mortgage with defaults?
Yes, defaults don't automatically mean no. Lenders look at how many defaults you have, the amounts, when they were registered, what type of account they were on and whether they've been settled. Some lenders will consider recent defaults.
Can I get a mortgage with missed payments?
Yes, although it depends on how many payments were missed, how recently and what type of account they were on. Missed mortgage or secured loan payments can have a bigger effect on your options than a missed phone or utility bill.
Can I get a mortgage with a debt management plan?
Yes. Some lenders will consider you while your debt management plan is still running, especially if you've kept up your payments, and more lenders will consider you once it has been completed.
Can I get a mortgage with an IVA?
Yes, it can be possible. More lenders will consider you once your IVA has been completed, and a small number may consider you while it's still running. Your options usually improve the longer it's been since the IVA ended.
Can I get a 5% deposit mortgage with bad credit?
Yes, depending on your credit profile and the lender's criteria. Our clients with bad credit have bought with 5%, 10% and 15% deposits, and on a free call we'll tell you which deposit levels are realistic for you.
Can I remortgage with bad credit?
Yes. There can be options to stay with your current lender on a new deal, or to switch to a new lender that accepts your credit history. We'll compare both so you can compare before deciding.
Can I get a buy-to-let mortgage with bad credit?
Yes, but there are fewer lenders and many are stricter about recent credit issues. Buy-to-let lenders mainly look at the expected rent and usually ask for a deposit of at least 20% to 25%, often more with bad credit.
Do I need to tell you about all my credit issues?
Yes, and every conversation with us is confidential. Lenders will see your full credit file when you apply, so knowing everything from the start means we can choose a suitable lender from the start and reduce the risk of a decline later in the process.
Book a free call
Let's talk about your plans.
Choose who you'd like to speak to, then pick a time that suits you. We'll call at the time you book, listen to what you need and talk you through your options.
Completely free, with no obligation
Speak to Lois or Harry directly, not a call centre
Advising clients in Suffolk, Essex and across the UK
