Mortgage Brokers ListMortgages with bad credit
A county court judgment, default or missed payments doesn't automatically rule out a mortgage, but it narrows the lenders that will consider you.
Last checked 13 September 2026.
Nine sections. Each anchored to a first-party source, checked 13 September 2026.
1. If you've just been declined, start here
A UK lender doesn't have to explain why it turned you down. But for a regulated residential mortgage it must tell you whether the decision was made by automated processing, and if it was based on a database check, name the database and give you the result (MCOB 11A.3.3R). That points you at the credit reference agency or the fraud database that actually said no. See our declined guide for the full sequence.
2. What lenders actually weigh
How recent the event was, whether it's been settled, whether it's a one-off or a pattern, and how large the amount was relative to your income. The label matters less than those four. A single settled default from three years ago is a very different case from a run of missed payments six months ago, even if both put you into "adverse credit" territory.
3. How long each event stays on file
| Event | How long, from what point | Source |
|---|---|---|
| County court judgment (CCJ) | 6 years from the judgment, unless paid in full within one month (then removed) | GOV.UK |
| Default on a credit account | 6 years from the default date, whether or not you later pay | ICO |
| Missed payment on a credit account | 6 years from the missed payment | ICO |
| Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) | 6 years from the start, or when the IVA ends, whichever is later | GOV.UK |
| Bankruptcy | 6 years from the bankruptcy order (Insolvency Register: usually removed 3 months after discharge) | GOV.UK |
| Debt Management Plan (DMP) | Individual account records for 6 years from any related default or arrangement flag | ICO |
| Cifas fraud marker | Up to 6 years; victim markers 13 months | Our Cifas guide |
4. Settled versus unsettled
Most lenders treat a settled default as materially less serious than an unsettled one, but a lot of specialist lenders will still consider unsettled adverse if the story is clear and the deposit is reasonable. Get proof of settlement from the original creditor before you apply: credit files can lag by months, and a lender looking at "unsettled" today may see a different picture next week if you push the paperwork.
5. One blemish is not "bad credit"
The most over-worried case is a single missed payment on an otherwise clean file. Mainstream lenders regularly accept these, especially if the missed payment is over 12 months old and not on a mortgage or secured loan. Before assuming you need a specialist, download your file from all three credit reference agencies and see how one lender's automated system might see it.
6. Deposit and adverse interact
The larger your deposit, the wider the pool of lenders that will consider a case with adverse credit. Rough shape of the market: mainstream lenders often accept mild adverse at 85% loan-to-value or below, specialist adverse lenders operate up to about 75%, and heavier adverse cases usually need 60–70%. That's a description, not a promise: use the LTV calculator to see where you'd sit.
7. When one applicant has the adverse
Joint applications: some lenders take the worst of both files, others take an average, a few can price on the stronger file. A sole application in the cleaner name is possible but the lender assesses affordability on that one income only, which usually cuts what you can borrow.
If a Cifas marker is against your partner and you apply solely, address it before you apply. See our Cifas guide.
8. Waiting versus borrowing now
Two forces pull in opposite directions. The credit file gets cleaner as events age. But the rate premium on an adverse mortgage runs for the whole product period (typically 2 or 5 years), and remortgaging costs about £1,000–£1,500 in fees. If you're within a year of a major event dropping off, waiting usually pays; if you're more than two years out, borrowing now and remortgaging on to a mainstream product usually costs less in total. Use the repayment calculator to model both.
9. Finding a broker who actually places adverse cases
Not every broker does. Ask three things: how many adverse cases they placed in the last 12 months, whether they have direct access to specialist lenders (Bluestone, Precise, Vida, Kensington, Pepper are intermediary-only), and what they charge if the case doesn't complete. Any broker must tell you their range of lenders and how they're paid at the start (MCOB 4.4A.1R and 4.4A.8R).
Brokers whose website mentions bad or adverse credit
280 firms in our directory mention bad or adverse credit on their own website. That's what they say about themselves, not an assessment by us, so check that a firm handles your situation and look it up on the FCA Register before taking advice.
More guides
- How to choose a mortgage broker
- Mortgage declined
- Cifas markers and mortgages
- Mortgages for the self-employed
- First-time buyer mortgages
- Buy-to-let mortgages
- Remortgage guide
- Contractor mortgages
- Agreement in Principle
- Credit score and mortgages
- Mortgage broker fees
- Divorce and mortgages
- Gifted deposit
- Should you use the estate agent's recommended broker?
- Documents for a mortgage application
- What happens at a mortgage fact-find
- New build mortgages
General information, not advice. Mortgage Brokers List is a directory and a set of free tools. Only an FCA-authorised adviser can recommend a mortgage for your circumstances. See our editorial standards.