Remortgage With Defaults UK | The Mortgage Geezer

Written by Darryl Dhoffer, CeMAP and CeRER qualified bad credit mortgage broker, FCA No. 301173. Newspage profile.

Remortgaging With Defaults — What You Actually Need to Know

Remortgaging with a default is possible. Your current lender is under no obligation to offer you a product transfer, and its decision has no bearing on whether specialist lenders will consider you: they assess your current circumstances, equity and credit profile. What they weigh is how old the default is, the amount, whether it is settled, and how you have managed your mortgage and other credit since.

As a guide, these are the tiers Darryl uses on default cases, with equity playing the part a deposit does on a purchase:

Default registered	Settled	Unsettled
Under 12 months	15%–25%	25%–30%
12–24 months	10%–15%	15%–20%
24–36 months	5%–10%	10%–15%
3–6 years / dropped off	5%	5%–10%

Mobile phone or utility defaults under £500 are often ignored entirely by specialist lenders, regardless of age.

Guide only. On a remortgage your equity plays the part a deposit does on a purchase. Lender policy changes, so criteria are confirmed live before any application.

The first step is a free, no-obligation assessment where Darryl reviews your full situation and gives you an honest picture of what is possible, before any application is made and before anything touches your credit file. For the full picture see the bad credit remortgage guide.

✅ Bad Credit We Specialise In

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CCJs

County Court Judgments — satisfied or unsatisfied, recent or historic. We know which lenders look past them.

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Defaults

Single or multiple defaults across telecoms, utilities, credit cards or loans. Age and amount matter — we know how.

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IVA / DMP

Currently in or recently completed an IVA or Debt Management Plan. Options exist — we'll find them.

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Missed Payments

Late or missed payments on mortgage, loans or credit cards. Context matters more than the mark itself.

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Repossession

Previous property repossession. Specialist lenders will consider this — timeline and deposit are key.

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Bankruptcy

Discharged bankruptcy. Many clients are surprised what's possible even shortly after discharge.

Darryl Dhoffer — The Mortgage Geezer

20+ years in mortgages. Award-winning specialist. I've helped hundreds of people across the UK who were told "no" by their bank — first-time buyers, remortgagers, landlords and homeowners with every type of adverse credit history.

I work with 65+ lenders including specialist adverse credit lenders that don't appear on comparison sites. I don't just find you a mortgage — I find you the best mortgage your situation allows, and I create a plan to improve your options at every future remortgage.

CeMAP QUALIFIED CeRER QUALIFIED FCA NO. 301173 AWARD WINNING FEATURED: DAILY EXPRESS FEATURED: FT ADVISER

💬 What Clients Say

★★★★★

"Excellent service from start to finish. Darryl was extremely responsive throughout, always replying quickly to questions and keeping me updated at every stage. His communication was clear and easy to understand, even with the more technical parts of the mortgage process. Darryl worked hard to find the right options for my situation and made the whole process feel straightforward and stress-free. Would definitely recommend him to anyone looking for a mortgage broker."

Fizz Solmon — Google Review

★★★★★

"Darryl was absolutely amazing from the first phone-call to the very quick mortgage offer! As first-time buyers who weren't even sure we could get a mortgage, this actually feels like nothing short of a miracle!"

Kate Dalton — First-Time Buyer

★★★★★

"Just when I had lost all hope, I found Darryl and within weeks my mortgage was approved. Given my bad credit history, I honestly didn't think any of this would be possible."

Tim Ellis — Bad Credit Mortgage

★★★★★

"After approaching Darryl with what I thought was going to be a tricky case, he immediately put my nerves at ease. Within a few weeks he had secured us a deal."

Hayley Beale — Complex Case

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Can I remortgage with a default? ›

Yes. A default does not automatically prevent you from remortgaging. The key factors are how old it is, the amount, and whether it is settled. Specialist lenders assess the full picture rather than declining automatically.

How old does a default need to be to remortgage? ›

Some specialist lenders will consider defaults from as recent as 12 months ago. After 2-3 years more options open up, and after 6 years a default drops off your credit file entirely.

How much equity do I need to remortgage with a default? ›

As a guide, a settled default under 12 months old needs around 15%–25%, falling to around 5% once it is 3–6 years old or has dropped off. Unsettled defaults need more at each stage (25%–30% under 12 months). Equity plays the part a deposit does on a purchase, and exact requirements depend on the default and the rest of your profile.

Do I need to settle a default before remortgaging? ›

Not necessarily, but settling it significantly improves your options. Some lenders require it to be settled; others will consider an unsettled default depending on its age and amount.

My current lender won't give me a product transfer because of a default. What can I do? ›

Your current lender is under no obligation to offer you a product transfer, and its decision has no bearing on whether specialist lenders will consider you: they assess your current circumstances, equity and credit profile. Darryl can approach specialist lenders on your behalf.

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REAL CASE STUDY

See a real multiple defaults case study

Anonymised · Real outcome · Real lender

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Remortgage With Defaults — Yes, It's Possible

Remortgaging With Defaults — What You Actually Need to Know

✅ Bad Credit We Specialise In

Darryl Dhoffer — The Mortgage Geezer

💬 What Clients Say

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Ready to Find Out What's Possible?

Not sure if you qualify?

Remortgage With Defaults — Yes, It's Possible

Remortgaging With Defaults — What You Actually Need to Know

✅ Bad Credit We Specialise In

Darryl Dhoffer — The Mortgage Geezer

💬 What Clients Say

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Ready to Find Out What's Possible?

Remortgage on your file? Find out what's possible