Published 19 May 2012 · Last reviewed 1 May 2026

Mortgages for ex bankrupts, people with CCJs, Defaults and even past IVAs we can help 

Getting a mortgage if you have a bad credit profile has been very difficult since the ‘credit crunch’. Lenders are more protective of their funds and are selecting customers with a good credit rating to lend to first and foremost. However, whilst the lenders all like to believe they are world-beaters on rate many fall short of their targets and cannot obtain the critical mass or margin they seek, and it is this space that we actively utilise and get very positive results. In fact we are so confident we can help applicants with county court judgements (CCJs), defaults, arrears, individual voluntary arrangements and discharged bankrupts where others fail that we do NOT charge an upfront fee for our service.

The bad credit mortgage offerings are dynamic and opportunities open and close daily so if you have adverse credit you need to move quickly or you will be disappointed. At Niche Advice we wholeheartedly believe the finance should be ready to go before you begin the search for the property. This never more true if you have had credit problems in the past otherwise you may get false hopes up. We can normally obtain a formal decision from the lender that will advise the maximum they will lend you based on your credit profile, giving a clear steer on the price bracket you should be able to buy at. The decision can last for a few months depending on the adverse credit lender we secure leaving breathing space and confidence to negotiate with the vendor.

As things chop and change so radically we are constantly refining our mortgage information on county court judgements (CCJs), defaults, arrears, individual voluntary arrangements and discharged bankrupts on our adverse credit web pages to make sure you have a good insight into what is possible but we are happy to talk through your individual circumstances if you prefer.

In my research for this article on ‘Get a mortgage with bad credit’, I looked on Google and to my dismay most of the information presented on websites on bad credit mortgages was outdated plus most of the leading ranked pages were forums with incorrect information being passed on. Therefore if you are research the web for adverse credit mortgages make sure you check the date of the posting otherwise you are likely to be disappointed.

Check out our quick reference guides that show adverse credit perimeters.

Quick Guide to IVA or Bankruptcy Mortgages – Updated for June 2013

Mortgage solutions for bankrupt applicants

Not discharged	Not possible
Discharged up to 2 years	40% deposit
Discharged up to 4 years	20% to 25% deposit
Discharged up to 6 years	15% to 25% deposit

Quick Guide to CCJ or defaults Mortgages – Updated for June 2013

Mortgage solutions for first time buyers with CCJs and defaults

Registered	Amount	Defaults Satisfied	CCJs Satisfied	Minimum deposit
In last 12 months	£500	Yes for 6 months	Yes for 6 months	25%
12 to 24 months	£500	Yes for 6 months	Yes for 6 months	25%
Over 24 months	Any amount	No	Yes	15% to 20%

 Quick Guide to CCJ or defaults Mortgages – Updated for June 2013

Mortgage solutions for current mortgage holders with CCJs and defaults

Registered	Amount	Defaults Satisfied	CCJs Satisfied	Minimum deposit
In last 12 months	Defaults £1,500 CCJs £1,000	No	No	15%
12 to 24 months	Defaults £5,000 CCJs £2,500	No	No	15%
Over 24 months	Any amount	No	No	15%

Quick Guide to Arrears Mortgages – Updated for June 2013

Mortgage solutions for applicants who have had arrears

Missed Payments	Unsecured personal loans or credit	Mortgage or secured loan
In last 6 months	None	None
In last 12 months	2 missed	1 missed
In last 24 months	3 missed	2 missed

Frequently Asked Questions

Question 1:
Q: My bank has rejected my mortgage application due to CCJs, arrears and defaults can I still get a mortgage?
A: Quite possibly, check our quick reference guides to see if you pass the initial test. If so, then you would need to adhere to the other normal mortgage checks such as secure and stable finances and income.

Question 2
Q: I have been in an IVA in the past few years can you get me a mortgage?
A: Yes, if the IVA is conducted satisfactorily. If the IVA has been settled it’s important that you maintained a good credit record since.

Question 3
Q: I have been made bankrupt. The bankruptcy included a repossesion can I get a new mortgage?
A: Repossessions settled by bankruptcy do restrict lender choice but are not insurmountable. They bankruptcy needs to have been discharged for at least 3 years and there must be no ‘over-hang’ of a repayment or charge to the lender. Further note, repossessions outside of bankruptcy proceedings are not something we can help with.

 Question 4:

Q: Can I obtain a mortgage to purchase my Right-to-Buy if I have had bad credit?

A: Yes, the minimum loan is £50,000, minimum property value £100,000, minimum income is £30,000 and the rates start from 8%.

 Question 5:

Q: I want a bad credit mortgage to assist with a purchase under the Government Help To Buy Scheme

A: This is not possible. The lenders active in this market look for impeccable credit conduct. The same applies to all shared ownership or shared appreciation schemes.

Question 6:
Q: I had some CCJs last year how does that affect my chances of getting a mortgage?
A: The size of the judgment, number of judgments, whether they have been satisfied, or registered correctly or in error all have a bearing on the acceptance. We have placed mortgages with CCJs of the size of nearly £20,000 but it depends on the rest of your circumstances.

Question 7:
Q: I had some late payments on credit cards and catalogues how does that affect my chances of getting a mortgage?
A: If you have missed more than two payments in the last 12 months it is going to difficult. If the level is higher but more historic than your chances of acceptance improve.

Question 9:
Q: What are your charges?
A: My fee is 1%, £1000 min on all complex mortgages. I only charge this once the mortgage has completed. This is uncommon as brokers tend to charge fees upfront or on Offer, personally I don’t think it’s a fair system to operate this way. So just to be clear if you don’t get your place I don’t get paid.

Question 10:
Q: What is the process of getting a bad credit mortgage?
A: i) Make an online enquiry by completing the form on the top right hand side of this page. I will then get in touch to ask for some more information about the case.
ii) Please supply an up-to-date credit file report (link at the bottom of this page for a ‘free’ credit report).
iii) I will email over information about the products, rates and fees. Once you’re confident you would like to go ahead:
· I’ll gather more information about yourself and ask fore supporting documents to help with the mortgage process such as pay-slips, bank statements and IDs to submit to the lender.
· The lender will assess the case and if happy will instruct valuation of the property.
· Upon successful valuation an offer is produced by the lender.
· Applicant will agree with the Offer and will commence the legal work.
· Properties will exchange and then subsequently complete.

(Please make sure you also have an up-to-date Equifax Credit Report ready to email to us.  To get your Free Report please click on the link image)

Payam Azadi is a partner at Niche Advice Ltd who are Independent Financial and Mortgage Advisers in London.