Had credit problems in the past? You’re not alone—and it doesn’t mean you can’t get a mortgage. At Mortgage Knight, we help people with bad credit secure mortgages with lenders who look at the full picture, not just your credit report.
Whether you’ve had missed payments, defaults, County Court Judgements (CCJs), or even bankruptcy, there are lenders out there who will consider your application—and we know who they are.
A bad credit mortgage (also called an adverse credit or subprime mortgage) is a mortgage designed for people with:
These mortgages are available from specialist lenders, many of whom are not on the high street. That’s where Mortgage Knight comes in—we access the lenders that understand life happens.
We’ve successfully helped:
We understand that your credit score doesn’t define you—and we help lenders see what you’ve overcome, not just where you’ve been.
Not necessarily. Lenders look at a variety of factors beyond just your credit score. These include:
If your issues are minor or historic, you might even qualify for a near-mainstream product.
Most lenders will ask for:
If your issues are minor or historic, you might even qualify for a near-mainstream product.
Status: Emma had a £2,000 CCJ from a previous mobile phone bill and a defaulted catalogue account. She had stable full-time employment and a 15% deposit.
Challenge: Her bank declined her outright due to the CCJ, even though it was nearly 2 years old and had been settled.
Solution: We worked with a specialist lender who accepted settled CCJs over 12 months old. Emma was approved for a £195,000 mortgage with a fixed 2-year rate.
Status: This couple had been in a Debt Management Plan three years ago due to job loss and had missed several payments during that time. They were now debt-free and earning well.
Challenge: High street lenders wouldn’t consider them due to the historic DMP.
Solution: We presented their improved financial picture to a lender who focuses on affordability and cleared debt. They secured a £220,000 mortgage with a 10% deposit.
Status:Jay had been bankrupt just over 12 months ago but had since built up a small deposit and secured permanent employment.
Challenge: Many lenders require 3–6 years post-bankruptcy.
Solution: We found a lender happy to consider applicants 12 months after discharge, especially those with consistent income. Jay was approved for a £160,000 mortgage with a 25% deposit.
The team made everything easy, even with my complicated income. I'd been turned away before, but not here.
A: Yes. The older and smaller the issue, the more options you’ll have. Settled CCJs/defaults are viewed more favourably.
A: Typically 10–30%. The more you can put down, the better the interest rate and lender flexibility.
A: Not necessarily. Some rates are only slightly above mainstream deals. And once your credit improves, we can help you remortgage to a better rate later.
A: Yes. Some lenders will consider you while you’re still in a DMP—others prefer it to be completed. We’ll advise you on your best route.
A: You’ll usually need to wait 12–36 months after discharge, but we work with lenders who accept post-bankruptcy applicants once certain conditions are met.
