Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, though the options are narrower. Some specialist lenders will consider applications where a CCJ remains outstanding, particularly if the amount is small or the judgment is several years old. A lender may ask you to satisfy the CCJ before or at completion.

A CCJ is automatically removed from your credit file six years after the judgment date, regardless of whether it has been paid.

Often, yes — specialist lending tends to carry a slightly higher rate than prime, high-street products. The gap is usually smaller than people expect, and it's often possible to remortgage onto a better deal once the CCJ is older.

Most lenders ask for a 15-20% minimum deposit where the CCJ is recent. Older, satisfied judgments may open up options from 10-15%.

Six years from the date the default was registered, regardless of whether you've since paid off the debt.

Minor, historical, satisfied defaults may need as little as 10-15% deposit. More significant or recent defaults typically require 20-25%, and multiple unsatisfied defaults may need 25% or more.

No — the entry remains for the full six years — but it does change the default's status from unsatisfied to satisfied, which many specialist lenders weigh favourably.

No. Defaults on secured lending, like a previous mortgage, are treated most seriously. Utility and telecoms defaults are usually treated most leniently.

Very rarely. Most lenders wait until the IVA is fully completed, though a small number of specialist lenders will consider an application in its final stages.

Six years from the date of the bankruptcy order, even though discharge (the point restrictions lift) usually happens after around one year.

Likely, at least initially — specialist lenders price for the perceived risk. Many borrowers remortgage onto a more competitive deal once more time has passed.

At the insolvency event itself, not discharge. If your bankruptcy was registered five years ago and you were discharged after one year, you may be only a year away from the entry dropping off your file entirely.

No. Specialist lenders look at the complete financial picture — a single missed payment won't automatically disqualify you, particularly if it's not recent.

You can apply immediately, though lenders generally prefer to see six to twelve months of clean payment history since.

Potentially, yes — it depends on how recent the missed payment is and your overall credit profile.

Most lenders will require 10-15% minimum. A larger deposit strengthens your application further.

Mainstream lenders typically require 620+. Specialist lenders may approve below 600, but it varies — the lower your score, the larger your deposit will likely need to be.

Yes. Paying bills on time, reducing credit card balances, and not applying for new credit can boost your score gradually. Even small improvements help.

Likely, yes. Lower credit scores typically result in higher rates to compensate for perceived risk. The exact rate depends on multiple factors.

Most lenders require 15-20% minimum. A larger deposit can offset the lower credit score and improve your approval chances.

Most lenders require at least two years of self-employment history. Some may consider one year if you have a strong track record in your industry.

Two to three years of accounts, tax returns, accountant references, bank statements, and proof of business registration — organised and thorough.

No, but it makes approval harder. With a larger deposit and stable business income, specialist lenders may still approve you.

Yes, typically. Self-employment and bad credit both increase perceived risk, so rates will likely sit above standard mortgage products.

Yes — specialist lenders prioritise your current circumstances over historical changes, weighing your equity and income significantly.

No. We explore the broader market, including adverse-credit specialists, whenever your current lender's rates aren't competitive.

Yes, though it's worth understanding the risks of converting unsecured debt into a debt secured against your home before proceeding.

Low equity combined with adverse credit creates more challenges, but it isn't automatically disqualifying — it narrows the field rather than closing it.

Most specialist lenders want to see at least one to three years since the repossession, with options generally improving the further away from it you get.

Most lenders in this space ask for a deposit of at least 20-25%.

Likely, at least initially. Specialist lenders price for risk, so rates are typically higher than mainstream deals.

It can be — some lenders treat Buy-to-Let repossessions differently to residential ones, so it's worth discussing your specific case.

Typically six years, the same as most other forms of credit.

Many lenders are much less concerned about a single, older payday loan, particularly if it was repaid on time.

It's risky — a hard credit search followed by a decline can leave a mark on your file. Working through a broker who knows which lenders accept payday loan history avoids unnecessary declines.

Yes, in some cases. A number of specialist lenders will consider an application while a DMP is still active, provided you've maintained consistent payments.

Generally, yes. Once a DMP has been completed, more lenders become available and rates are often more competitive.

It can. If you're still making DMP payments, lenders will factor those into their affordability assessment.

Typically 15% or more, though this varies by lender and depends on whether the DMP is active or completed.

Often, yes. Because Buy-to-Let lending relies heavily on rental income rather than personal income, many lenders in this space are more flexible on credit history than residential lenders, provided the rental cover and deposit requirements are met.

Yes, many specialist lenders offer Limited Company/SPV Buy-to-Let mortgages and consider the personal credit history of the directors as part of the assessment.

Typically at least 25%, sometimes more depending on the severity and recency of the credit issue and the rental income the property will generate.

Yes, though options may be somewhat more limited than for experienced landlords.

Yes, though limited credit history presents its own challenges. Building credit responsibly in the run-up to applying helps considerably.

A deposit of 10% or more generally opens up meaningfully more options than the 5% minimum some standard schemes allow.

Yes, through a Joint Borrower Sole Proprietor (JBSP) mortgage or a guarantor arrangement.

Not necessarily. It's worth getting an honest assessment first — in many cases a mortgage is achievable now.

Most commonly a parent, though criteria vary by lender — some allow other close family members too.

Usually not — the main applicant typically covers the deposit, though this can vary by lender arrangement.

Usually, yes — typically by remortgaging once your own income and circumstances support the mortgage on your own.

Yes — lenders still evaluate the main applicant's credit history. A JBSP arrangement boosts affordability; it doesn't bypass a credit assessment.

Often, yes — many lenders require the guarantor to own their own property, sometimes using it as additional security. Requirements vary significantly by lender.

It can. A guarantor's own borrowing capacity may be reduced by the commitment, and if repayments are ever missed, it can affect both your credit files.

Usually, yes — typically once your own income, deposit or credit position is strong enough to support the mortgage independently, often via a remortgage.

It depends on your circumstances and your family member's preference — a guarantor takes on liability without being named on the mortgage itself, while a JBSP names them as a borrower. We'll talk you through which is the better fit.

It can, depending on the lender. A soft-search MIP leaves no visible mark; a hard-search MIP does, and several hard searches in a short space of time can lower your score further.

Typically 60-90 days, though this varies by lender — worth timing your application around when you're realistically about to make an offer on a property.

Yes. It's based on the information you've provided and a preliminary check — the full mortgage application, with full underwriting and document verification, can still result in different terms or a decline.

It's generally a good idea — many estate agents and sellers expect to see one, and it gives you a realistic budget before you start viewing properties.

Often, yes — because approval leans heavily on the equity in your home rather than credit score alone, criteria tend to be more flexible than for an unsecured loan or, in some cases, a full remortgage.

It depends on your available equity, income, and the lender's specific criteria — typically a proportion of your home's value minus your existing mortgage balance.

Usually, yes — second charge rates tend to be higher than typical first-charge mortgage rates, reflecting the lender's secondary position and the credit profile involved.

It can be, if it meaningfully reduces your overall interest costs and monthly outgoings — but converting unsecured debt into a loan secured against your home is a serious decision that deserves proper advice first.

Typically 5-10% of the share you're buying, though more serious or recent credit issues — such as a previous repossession or bankruptcy — may mean a deposit of 15% or more is asked for.

Likely, yes — as with any bad-credit mortgage, specialist lenders price for the perceived risk, so rates tend to sit above those available to buyers with a clean credit history.

Yes, in principle — staircasing is a separate application assessed at the time, by which point your credit position may well have improved.

It's strongly recommended — the pool of lenders who offer Shared Ownership mortgages is already smaller than the general market, and adding bad credit into the mix makes matching to the right one considerably harder without specialist knowledge.

It can, since lenders assess joint applications as a whole rather than treating each applicant's file in isolation. That said, specialist lenders are used to exactly this scenario and weigh your combined financial picture, not just the worst entry on either file.

Sometimes — if one applicant has a clean file and can afford the mortgage alone, applying solely can be simpler. But you'll lose the benefit of the second income for affordability, which often means a smaller mortgage than applying jointly with the right specialist lender.

Yes, to an extent — some lenders focus more on the primary earner's credit profile, others assess both applicants equally. A broker who knows current lender criteria can steer you toward the ones most likely to say yes for your specific situation.

No — joint mortgages work the same way whether you're married, in a civil partnership, or simply buying together. Both applicants' credit and income are assessed regardless of relationship status.