Award-Winning Bad Credit Specialist · FCA No. 301173

Bad Credit Mortgage Explained Your Complete 2026 Guide

The short answer

What counts as bad credit for a mortgage? CCJs, defaults, an IVA, a DMP, bankruptcy, missed or late payments, and payday loan use all count as adverse credit. None of them make a mortgage impossible — they determine which lender you need, not whether one exists. Specialist lenders assess each case on the age, amount and type of the issue rather than applying an automatic decline.

✅ Difficulty varies by situation — Not all bad credit is equal. Missed payments and CCJs are placed daily. IVAs and bankruptcy need more specialist help.

📊 Bad Credit Difficulty Scale — Easiest to Hardest

Missed payments & arrearsMost commonly placed — wide lender panel

CCJsStraightforward with specialist lenders — placed daily

DefaultsVery manageable — age and satisfaction status are key

DMPManageable — completion significantly improves options

IVANeeds careful lender matching — discharged IVA has good options

BankruptcyMost complex — solutions exist with time and specialist help

Every situation is individual. Darryl will tell you exactly where your case sits and what is achievable.

Darryl Dhoffer

CeMAP · CeRER · FCA 301173 · ⭐ 48 Reviews

"I specialise in exactly this. Free assessment — no credit search, no obligation. I respond within 2 hours."

Everything you need to know about bad credit mortgages in the UK explained in plain English by specialist broker Darryl Dhoffer with 20 years experience.

✍️ Author: Darryl Dhoffer, CeMAP · CeRER · FCA 301173 · 🕐 13 min read · 📅 Updated 15 August 2026

On This Page

What Is a Bad Credit Mortgage? Credit Score Bands FAQs

What Is a Bad Credit Mortgage?

A bad credit mortgage also called an adverse credit mortgage or non-standard mortgage is a mortgage product designed for people whose credit history contains issues that prevent them from qualifying with mainstream high street lenders.

The key thing to understand is that bad credit does not mean no mortgage. The UK mortgage market has a large and active specialist sector specifically for people with CCJs defaults IVAs missed payments bankruptcy and other credit issues.

Darryl Dhoffer — The Mortgage Geezer

20+ years in mortgages. Award-winning specialist. Featured in the Daily Express, FT Adviser, The Intermediary and Daily Mirror. I have helped hundreds of people across the UK who were told no by their bank — and I work with 65+ lenders including specialist adverse credit lenders you will not find on comparison sites.

When you contact me, you speak to me directly. No call centres. No being passed around. I personally review every case and respond within 2 hours.

CeMAPCeRERFCA 301173AWARD WINNINGINDEPENDENTWHOLE OF MARKET

📊 What Credit Score Do You Actually Need?

There's no single "magic number" — lenders weigh your score alongside income, deposit and employment. But knowing where you sit helps set realistic expectations.

Band	Experian	Equifax	TransUnion
Excellent	961–999	466–700	628–710
Good	881–960	420–465	604–627
Fair	721–880	380–419	566–603
Poor	561–720	280–379	551–565
Very Poor	0–561	0–279	0–550

Not sure where you actually stand? Get your free Geezer Score for a personalised readiness check in 60 seconds — no report upload, no waiting.

⭐ Industry First · Free · 60 Seconds

What's Your Geezer Score?

Answer 9 quick questions and get an instant, personalised readiness score out of 100 — built from the same lender criteria Darryl uses on real cases. No credit check. No upload. No obligation.

🎯 Get My Free Geezer Score →

No other UK broker offers this · Your score in 60 seconds

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a bad credit mortgage? ›

A bad credit mortgage is a mortgage product offered by specialist lenders to people whose credit history contains adverse events including missed payments defaults CCJs IVAs DMPs bankruptcy or repossession. These lenders assess applications individually rather than using automated scoring systems making mortgage approval possible for people declined by high street banks.

Who qualifies for a bad credit mortgage? ›

Anyone with adverse credit history may qualify for a bad credit mortgage depending on the type of credit issue its age the amount involved whether it is resolved your income and affordability and the deposit available. Even very recent and severe adverse credit can be considered by some specialist lenders. Darryl Dhoffer will give you an honest assessment of your options.

How do bad credit mortgages work? ›

Bad credit mortgages work exactly like standard mortgages. You borrow money to buy or remortgage a property make monthly repayments of capital and interest and the mortgage is secured against the property. The key differences are that they are offered by specialist lenders who take a more flexible underwriting approach and the interest rates are typically slightly higher.

How do I apply for a bad credit mortgage? ›

The right process: 1 Check your credit files from all three agencies. 2 Contact Darryl Dhoffer for a free assessment. He will review your credit history and give you an honest picture of your options before any formal application. 3 Darryl identifies the right lender for your specific situation. 4 A soft search is conducted to confirm eligibility without affecting your credit file. 5 Formal application is submitted to the right lender. 6 Mortgage offer received.

Is a bad credit mortgage right for me? ›

For most people with adverse credit who want to buy or remortgage a property a specialist bad credit mortgage is the only viable route. The alternative of waiting until credit is completely clean can mean waiting 6 years or more. Bad credit mortgages allow you to get onto the property ladder now and remortgage onto better rates as your credit improves.

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