No impact on your credit score
Bad Credit Mortgage Broker Providing Expert Advice
Every bad credit mortgage application is assessed on its own merits. The type of credit issues involved, how recently they occurred, the size of your deposit, and your income profile all influence which lenders may be suitable and what terms are likely to be available.
Our advisers provide bad credit mortgage advice that reflects your individual circumstances, not generic assumptions about credit scores. This includes reviewing how different lenders treat missed payments, defaults, CCJs, or historic arrangements, and how affordability is calculated alongside credit history.
By taking a broader, more considered view, we help you understand which options are realistic now, where compromises may be required, and whether there is value in preparing before applying. This approach reduces the risk of unnecessary declines and allows you to move forward with clarity and confidence.
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Bad Credit Advice
Expert Bad Credit Mortgage Advice Tailored To Your Circumstances
Bad credit mortgage advice is most effective when it is built around decision-making, not assumptions. Rather than treating credit issues in isolation, our advisers focus on how each part of your situation interacts, including your short-term goals, longer-term plans, and tolerance for trade-offs such as deposit size, product choice, or initial rate.
This approach allows us to guide you through the options available, explain why certain routes may be more suitable than others, and help you prioritise what matters most. For some borrowers, that may mean proceeding now with the right lender. For others, it may involve adjusting timing, deposit strategy, or preparation to improve outcomes.
By structuring advice around your circumstances rather than a single outcome, we help you make informed decisions with a clear understanding of next steps, risks, and opportunities, rather than pushing applications prematurely.
Why Use A Bad Credit Mortgage Broker
Bad credit mortgage lending is shaped by detailed criteria that vary significantly between lenders. How missed payments, defaults, CCJs, or historic arrangements are assessed can differ depending on severity, recency, and the wider application context. Relying on automated decisions or a limited lender view can often lead to unnecessary declines.
89% of successful mortgages completed through a mortgage intermediary in 2025 42% of mortgage products were ONLY accessible through a broker in 2025Using a bad credit mortgage broker ensures your circumstances are reviewed properly from the outset. Advice is based on lender requirements and suitability rather than assumptions or a narrow product range. This allows potential issues to be identified early and applications to be positioned more accurately.
Our role is to assess your position, identify appropriate lenders, and take responsibility for managing the application through to completion. This structured approach helps reduce delays, avoids preventable rejections, and ensures decisions are made with a clear understanding of outcomes and trade-offs.
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Access to specialist mortgage lenders for bad credit
We work with a broad panel of UK mortgage lenders, including providers that specialise in adverse credit cases and do not offer products directly to the public. This allows us to match applications to lenders whose criteria are aligned with your credit profile, deposit position, and affordability.
By selecting lenders carefully at the outset, we help ensure applications are directed to the most appropriate options rather than relying on trial-and-error approaches.
Advice based on suitability, not credit scores alone
A credit score on its own rarely tells the full story. Lenders consider context, patterns of behaviour, and how recent issues fit alongside income, deposit, and overall affordability.
Our advisers focus on suitability by explaining how different lenders assess risk and what trade-offs may be involved. This means recommendations are made with a clear understanding of practical outcomes, not just whether an application might be accepted in principle.
Support for straightforward and complex credit cases
Some bad credit mortgage applications are relatively straightforward, while others involve multiple credit issues, non-standard income, or tighter affordability constraints.
We support both ends of this spectrum, ensuring each case is presented clearly and managed carefully. This includes preparing documentation, anticipating lender questions, and guiding the application through to completion with consistent oversight and communication.
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Can I Get a Mortgage if I’m in Debt or Have Bad Credit?
A mortgage broker finds the best possible rate for your exact circumstances.
Bad Credit Mortgage Scenarios We Can Help With
Bad credit mortgages are not assessed in the same way for every borrower. The impact of adverse credit depends on factors such as the type of issue involved, how recently it occurred, the size of your deposit, and how affordability is calculated alongside your wider financial position.
We support a wide range of bad credit mortgage scenarios and guide you to the most relevant advice based on your circumstances. Each option below links to a dedicated page that explores lender criteria, considerations, and potential outcomes in more detail.
First-time buyers with bad credit often face additional uncertainty around eligibility, deposit requirements, and lender appetite. Some lenders apply stricter criteria, while others take a more flexible view depending on the overall profile. We help first-time buyers understand how lenders are likely to assess their application and what preparation may be required before moving forward.Bad credit mortgages for first-time buyers
Mortgages with CCJs and defaults
CCJs and defaults can affect mortgage options differently depending on their age, value, and whether they have been satisfied. Lender approaches vary widely, making early guidance important.
We provide clear direction on how CCJs and defaults may be viewed and which lenders are more likely to consider your circumstances.
Learn about CCJs and defaults
Mortgages with missed payments or arrears
Missed payments and arrears are common forms of adverse credit and can be assessed differently depending on how recent they are and which accounts were affected.
We help borrowers understand how lenders interpret missed payments and what impact they may have on affordability and available mortgage options.
Debt management plans, IVA, and bankruptcy mortgages
Formal debt arrangements such as DMPs, IVAs, and bankruptcy are assessed carefully by lenders, with criteria influenced by completion dates and overall financial recovery.
Our advisers explain how these arrangements are treated in mortgage applications and what steps may improve eligibility over time.
View DMP, IVA, and bankruptcy guidance
Self-employed mortgages with bad credit
Self-employed applicants with bad credit may face additional complexity where income assessment and credit history intersect.
We help self-employed borrowers understand how lenders assess income alongside adverse credit and identify options that reflect both elements accurately.
How The Bad Credit Mortgage Process Works
Arranging a mortgage with bad credit involves several stages, from reviewing your credit history to securing lender approval and completing the legal process. Clear oversight at each step helps reduce delays, avoids unnecessary complications, and ensures decisions are made with confidence.
Our advisers manage the process from initial review through to completion, coordinating with lenders and supporting parties to keep applications progressing smoothly and with clarity at every stage.
Step 1: Review your credit history and circumstances
We begin with a structured review of your credit history, income, deposit position, and overall financial circumstances. This allows us to understand the nature of any adverse credit issues and assess how they may be viewed by different lenders before an application is made. We will ask you to obtain a copy of your credit report to do this.
By identifying potential challenges early, we can set clear expectations and avoid unsuitable lender approaches.
Step 2: Assess affordability and deposit requirements
Affordability and deposit size play a significant role in bad credit mortgage decisions. Lenders may apply different stress tests or require higher deposits depending on the level of perceived risk.
We review how affordability is calculated and what deposit levels are likely to be required, ensuring you have a realistic understanding of available options.
Step 3: Identify suitable lenders and mortgage options
Once your position is assessed, we identify lenders whose criteria align with your circumstances. Recommendations are presented clearly, with explanations around why certain options may be more suitable than others.
This approach helps avoid unnecessary applications and ensures decisions are made with full understanding.
Step 4: Manage the application through to completion
From application submission through to mortgage offer and completion, we manage communication with lenders, solicitors, and other parties involved.
This oversight helps resolve queries promptly, keeps the process moving, and provides consistent support until your mortgage completes.
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Get StartedBad Credit Mortgage Criteria
Bad credit mortgage criteria can vary significantly between lenders. Understanding how applications are assessed at an early stage helps avoid delays, reduces the risk of unnecessary declines, and ensures expectations are realistic before moving forward.
Our advisers review the key criteria that influence lender decisions and explain how they apply to your circumstances, helping applications progress more smoothly and with fewer surprises.
Deposit requirement and loan to value
Most bad credit mortgage applications require a larger deposit than standard residential borrowing. Loan to value limits can vary depending on the type and severity of credit issues, how recently they occurred, and lender appetite at the time of application.
We help assess what deposit level is likely to be required and how this affects the range of mortgage options available.
How lenders assess credit history
Lenders do not assess bad credit in a uniform way. Factors such as the age of credit issues, the amounts involved, and whether they have been satisfied can all influence how an application is viewed.
We explain how different lenders interpret credit history and which elements are likely to carry the most weight in decision-making.
Income, employment, and affordability
Income type and employment status play an important role alongside credit history. Lenders may assess employed, self-employed, or variable income differently when adverse credit is involved.
We review how income is treated across lenders and how affordability calculations may affect eligibility.
Property type and lending restrictions
Some property types are assessed more cautiously by lenders, particularly where bad credit is involved. This can include flats, new builds, or properties with non-standard construction.
We help clarify how your chosen property is likely to be viewed and what this means for lender selection and available options.
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Why Review Or Remortgage With Bad Credit
A change in credit profile, lender criteria, or interest rates can all affect whether an existing mortgage remains suitable over time. For borrowers with bad credit, reviewing options at the right point can help avoid unnecessary costs and improve flexibility as circumstances change.
Our advisers help you understand when a review may be appropriate, explain the potential impact of remortgaging with bad credit, and support decisions that balance affordability with longer-term outcomes.
Avoid rolling onto a higher rate
When an introductory or fixed rate ends, many mortgages revert to a higher variable rate. Reviewing options in advance can help reduce monthly payments and ensure the mortgage remains aligned with your current circumstances.
We assess whether alternative lenders or products may be suitable and explain any trade-offs involved where bad credit is present.
Improve options as your credit profile recovers
As time passes, credit issues may carry less weight in lender assessments. Improvements such as reduced balances, settled defaults, or a longer period of stable payments can widen the range of options available.
We help identify when changes in your credit profile may justify a review and what improvements could make a meaningful difference.
Access to a broad panel of UK lenders
Lender appetite for bad credit mortgages can change, and products that were not previously available may become suitable as circumstances evolve.
By reviewing a broader lender panel, borrowers can avoid being limited to their existing provider and ensure their mortgage continues to support both affordability and flexibility.
Why Choose The Mortgage Broker For Bad Credit Advice?
Choosing the right mortgage adviser is about having clear guidance, understanding the implications of each option, and knowing your case is being managed carefully from start to finish. This is particularly important when bad credit is involved, where lender criteria can be more detailed and outcomes depend on accurate positioning.
At The Mortgage Broker, we provide structured, transparent bad credit mortgage advice that reflects your circumstances and objectives. Our advisers take responsibility for each case, ensuring recommendations are clearly explained and applications are managed with care through to completion.
Comprehensive access to 130+ lenders
We work with a wide range of UK mortgage lenders, allowing us to review options across differing criteria and levels of lender appetite for adverse credit.
This breadth ensures recommendations are based on suitability and practicality, rather than being restricted to a narrow set of products or providers.
Experienced bad credit mortgage advisers
Our advisers regularly support borrowers with a wide range of credit profiles, from historic issues through to more complex adverse credit scenarios.
This experience helps us anticipate potential challenges, interpret lender criteria accurately, and guide applications through the process efficiently.
Dedicated support from enquiry to completion
From your first conversation through to completion, you will deal with an adviser who oversees your case and coordinates communication with lenders and other parties involved.
This continuity helps reduce delays, ensures clear communication, and provides reassurance throughout the mortgage process.
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Clients Break Free from 7.74% Rate and Funds Home Improvements
Initial Enquiry
The customers approached us seeking assistance to refinance their existing mortgage. They were currently with Helidor (previously Northern Rock), didn’t think they could remortgage, and were struggling under a high interest rate and restrictive mortgage terms.
Their primary goal was to obtain a fixed-rate mortgage for payment stability. Whilst also raising money to replace windows and doors, which would improve household bills and add to the value of their property.
| Current Lender | Property Value | Balance | Loan to Value | Term | Interest Rate | Payment Type | Product Type | Payment |
| Helidor | £195,000 | £68,174 | 34.96% | 14yrs 6 months | 7.74% | Repayment | Variable | £647.00 |
| Unsecured Credit | £28,173 | Various | Various | Repayment | Various | £754.00 | ||
| Debt Management Plan | £24,000 | 14yrs+ | £193 | |||||
| Total | £120,347 | £1,594.00 | ||||||
| New Lender | Property Value | Balance | Loan to Value | Term | Interest Rate | Payment Type | Product Type | Payment |
| New Mortgage | £195,000 | £86,013 | 44.11% | 14yrs | 5.99% | Repayment | Fixed | £757.52 |
| Unsecured Credit | £28,173 | Various | Various | Repayment | Various | £754.00 | ||
| Debt Management Plan | £24,000 | 10yrs | £193 | |||||
| Total | £138,186 | £1,704.52 |
The Challenge
- The applicants were classified as “mortgage prisoners,” locked into an unfavourable loan due to their current financial situation.
- One applicant was under a Debt Managment Plan (DMP), which traditionally signals credit distress and limits remortgage options.
- They weren’t seeking to consolidate unsecured debts into their mortgage, as they have short terms to run. However, these continuing would impact affordability.
- They wanted to raise capital for home improvements.
The Solution
Using our specialist mortgage knowledge, we identified a lender with flexible lending criteria, who would offer a benefical solution to the customers, which met their needs.
We worked closely with the lender to structure the remortgage, including a thorough explanation of the DMP’s status, strong payment history, and recent improvements in financial discipline.
The customer was also with a fee charging DMP company with £46 of the £193 payment going to the DMP company. We suggest and sent details of fee free companies to ensure the whole payment went to the creditors.
The Result
The client successfully secured a new mortgage of £86,013 over 14 years on a 5 year fixed rate product. Whilst this doesn’t make an immediately monthly saving, it was the most competitive way to raise capital. Also, as unsecured debts are paid off they will have £654 additional surplus.
The lender was willing to:
- Offer a fixed rate mortgage product at a competitive interest rate.
- Accept applicants under a DMP.
- Consider capital raising for home improvments.
- Offer a more competitive interest rate than their existing lender.
How did this help?
What Documents Will You Need to Provide?
An adverse credit mortgage lender will likely require the following documentation:
- ID such as a driver’s licence or passport
- Payslips or other proof of income
- Proof of address – usually a utility bill or council tax bill
Yes, remortgaging with a bad credit score is possible, though it might be more challenging. A broker can help find suitable remortgage deals tailored to your situation.
Debt consolidation mortgages can help merge various debts into a single payment. While useful, they are secured against your home, which can lead to repossession if payments are missed.
Mortgages for those with bad credit often come with higher interest rates and potentially higher fees since lenders view these as higher risk.
They offer specialised advice, access to niche lenders, and help navigate complex applications, enhancing your chance of mortgage approval despite poor credit.
A JBSP mortgage allows multiple people to borrow while only one is the homeowner. It’s aimed more at helping affordability than fixing bad credit but could help if one borrower has a better credit score.