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Bad credit mortgages: getting a mortgage with CCJs, defaults or a low credit score
Yes, you can often get a mortgage with bad credit. Many people with missed payments, defaults, CCJs or even a past IVA or bankruptcy go on to buy or remortgage. Lenders don't just look at a number: they look at what went wrong, how much it was for, how long ago it happened and whether it's been settled.
How lenders view each credit problem, what it means for your deposit and rate, and how to improve your chances.
How long problems show
6 years
Defaults, CCJs, IVAs and bankruptcies usually drop off your credit file six years after they were recorded
Credit scores
No single score
Lenders use your credit report and their own scoring, not the score you see in an app
What matters most
Recent and unpaid
Older, smaller and settled issues narrow your options far less
Where to start
Check all 3 reports
Experian, Equifax and TransUnion can each hold different information about you
Can I get a mortgage with bad credit?
Often, yes. "Bad credit" or "adverse credit" covers everything from a single late phone bill to a bankruptcy, and lenders treat those very differently.
Some high street lenders accept minor or older issues. Specialist lenders look at more serious or recent problems case by case. Your deposit, rate and borrowing will depend on the detail, alongside your income and outgoings.
What won't help is applying to lender after lender. Each full application usually leaves a hard search, and a string of declines makes the next lender more cautious.
Does your credit score affect getting a mortgage?
Your credit history does. The score itself matters less than most people think.
There's no single, universal credit score in the UK. The three main credit reference agencies, Experian, Equifax and TransUnion, each hold their own version of your file and each uses its own scale. Those scales also change: Experian moved to a new scale in November 2025, and TransUnion is rolling out a new one between September 2026 and June 2027.
Lenders don't simply read off that number. They pull your report from one or more agencies and apply their own scoring. So there's no fixed "score you need for a mortgage", and a fair score with a clean recent history can do better than a high score with a recent default.
How lenders typically view different credit problems
Every lender sets its own criteria, so treat this as a general picture rather than a rulebook.
| Credit issue | How lenders often view it |
|---|---|
| Late or missed payments | One-offs from a while ago are often acceptable to mainstream lenders. Several recent missed payments, especially on a mortgage, rent or secured loan, narrow the choice more. |
| Defaults | Many lenders look at the number, the amounts, when they were registered and whether they've been settled. Small, older, satisfied defaults are viewed much more kindly than large recent ones. |
| CCJs | Treated in a similar way to defaults, but usually more seriously. A CCJ paid in full within one month of the judgment is removed from the register; otherwise it stays on record for six years, even once paid. |
| Debt management plan (DMP) | Some lenders will consider you while a DMP is still running if payments have been kept up; others want it completed. Accounts in a DMP often show defaults. |
| IVA | Some specialist lenders consider applicants with a current IVA, but many want it completed, and often for a period of time to have passed since. It stays on your file for six years from the start date. |
| Bankruptcy | Usually the hardest to place. Most lenders want you to be discharged (normally after 12 months), and many want several years since. It shows on your file for six years from the bankruptcy order. |
| Previous repossession | A smaller group of lenders will consider it, typically once some years have passed. The circumstances and what happened to any shortfall matter. |
| Payday loans | Some lenders are wary of any recent payday loan, even if it was repaid on time, because it can suggest money was tight. Others ignore it if it's older. |
| Buy now, pay later | Lenders usually count BNPL repayments as monthly commitments, and frequent use can raise questions. BNPL has been regulated by the FCA since 15 July 2026, so providers now run affordability checks. |
Paying off an old default or CCJ won't remove it from your file early, but it will show as settled or satisfied, which many lenders take into account. Our guide to what mortgage underwriters look for explains how your whole application is checked.
Why how recent it is, and whether it's settled, matter most
A default registered three months ago and still unpaid suggests the problem may be ongoing. The same default, settled years ago with a clean record since, tells a very different story. As issues age and are settled, more lenders come back into play and rates usually improve.
How lender choice tends to widen over time
Illustrative only: every lender sets its own rules
Will I need a bigger deposit or pay a higher rate?
Not always. With minor or older issues you may qualify for mainstream deals. With more serious or recent problems:
- Deposit: specialist lenders often want a larger deposit, and the more serious the issue, the lower the maximum loan to value tends to be.
- Rate: usually higher than high street deals.
- Fees: can be higher, so compare the total cost, not just the rate.
It needn't be permanent. Many people take a specialist deal, keep their payments up, then remortgage onto a mainstream rate once their credit has recovered. See our current UK mortgage rates update for today's averages.
How to improve your credit score for a mortgage
Start three to six months before you apply if you can. Some fixes take weeks to show.
Credit file checklist before you apply
- Check all three reports. Your statutory report from Experian, Equifax and TransUnion is free, and each may show different accounts.
- Correct errors with the agency or the lender that reported them.
- Register to vote at your current address, so lenders can confirm who and where you are.
- Add a notice of correction (up to 200 words) to explain a one-off such as illness or redundancy. It won't change your score, but lenders can read it.
- Bring balances down so you're using a smaller share of your card limits.
- Keep every payment on time, including phone contracts, utilities and BNPL.
- Close unused accounts carefully. An old, well-run account shows a long history, so don't close everything at once.
- Break old financial links. If you had a joint account with an ex, ask the agencies for a notice of disassociation.
- Avoid multiple hard searches. Lots of applications in a short period can suggest you're struggling for credit.
Soft searches, hard searches and agreements in principle
Soft search
Visible only to you
Used for eligibility checks and many agreements in principle. Other lenders can't see it.
Hard search
Visible to other lenders
Made on a full application, and by some agreements in principle. Several in quick succession can count against you.
With a credit history to explain, check which search a lender uses and whether its criteria fit before you go ahead.
Don't take on new credit just before you apply
In the months before applying, avoid new loans, cards, car finance or BNPL. They add hard searches and commitments, and can cut what lenders offer. Don't rush to consolidate debts either: it can be the right move, but the total cost and timing need thought. Our guide to debt consolidation mortgages sets out the risks and the alternatives.
Struggling with debt right now?
If you're behind on payments or finding it hard to keep up, get free, confidential debt advice before thinking about a mortgage. MoneyHelper, StepChange, Citizens Advice and National Debtline all help at no cost, and won't pressure you into a product.
Watch out for "guaranteed" bad credit mortgages
No genuine broker or lender can guarantee a mortgage before checking your circumstances. Promises of approval "whatever your credit", upfront fees to unlock a deal and pressure to act fast are common scam signs. Our guide on how to spot mortgage scams shows how to check a firm is genuine on the FCA Register.
How Quick Mortgages can help
We're whole-of-market, not tied to any lender, and our panel of 110+ lenders includes specialist lenders who look at adverse credit case by case. Where possible, we check lender criteria against your credit history before any hard search, so you're not applying blind.
We'll go through your credit reports with you and tell you honestly whether to apply now or wait. If you're buying for the first time, see our first-time buyer mortgages page, or read more about our specialist lending service. We don't charge broker fees, and we help people across the UK from our Birmingham office.
Bad credit mortgage FAQs
What credit score do I need for a mortgage?
There isn't one. Each agency uses a different scale and lenders apply their own scoring. The detail on your file matters more than the number.
Can I get a mortgage with a CCJ or default?
Often, yes. Lenders look at how many, how much, how recent and whether they're satisfied. Older, smaller, settled ones leave far more options open.
Can I get a mortgage while on a debt management plan or IVA?
It's possible but harder. Some specialist lenders will consider a running DMP or IVA if payments have been kept up, while many prefer it to be completed. An adviser can check which lenders' criteria fit before you apply.
How long after bankruptcy can I get a mortgage?
You'll normally need to be discharged first, usually 12 months after the order, and many lenders want longer. It stays on your file for six years from the order, after which choice usually widens considerably.
Do payday loans affect getting a mortgage?
They can. Some lenders are cautious about any recent payday loan, even one repaid on time. The older it is, the less weight it usually carries.
Does checking my own credit report hurt my score?
No. Checking your own report is a soft search that lenders can't see.
Sources
- GOV.UK, County court judgments for debt: judgments kept on record for six years unless paid in full within one month
- GOV.UK, Bankruptcy and Individual Voluntary Arrangements guidance (discharge usually after 12 months; Individual Insolvency Register)
- Information Commissioner's Office, Credit: three credit reference agencies, statutory reports, errors, financial links and disassociation, multiple searches, six years from the date of default
- StepChange, Debt management plans and your credit score; IVAs and your credit file (six years on file)
- Financial Conduct Authority, Buy Now Pay Later: deferred payment credit regulated from 15 July 2026, with affordability checks
- MoneySavingExpert, TransUnion credit score change, August 2026 (new 0–999 scale from September 2026 to June 2027; Experian scale change November 2025; lenders rely on report data)
- TransUnion UK, What is a notice of correction (up to 200 words)
Correct on 17 September 2026 and may change. Lender criteria vary and change often.
Disclaimer:
This article is for general guidance purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or professional advice. Mortgage products and their terms can vary, and it is important to seek advice from a qualified, regulated professional who can assess your individual circumstances. Please ensure you consider your unique needs before making any financial decisions.
While every effort is made to ensure that the information provided on this blog is accurate and up-to-date, we do not guarantee its completeness or accuracy. The mortgage market can change rapidly, and the information on this blog may become outdated. We recommend verifying any information before acting on it and seeking tailored advice.
THINK CAREFULLY BEFORE SECURING OTHER DEBTS AGAINST YOUR HOME. YOUR HOME OR PROPERTY MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON A MORTGAGE OR ANY OTHER DEBT SECURED ON IT.
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