How to Get a Mortgage with a Low Credit Score in the UK
Published 25th of November 2012·Updated 6 April 2026
Reviewed by: Reviewed for accuracy April 2026
You can get a mortgage with a low credit score in the UK, but your options are narrower than for someone with good credit. Specialist or "adverse credit" mortgage lenders are more flexible than high-street banks, though they charge higher rates. A deposit of at least 15 per cent is usually the minimum; 25 per cent or more gives you the best chance of approval and a more competitive rate. Using a whole-of-market mortgage broker is strongly recommended, as many adverse credit deals are not available directly to the public.
Short Summary
Most high-street lenders including Barclays, Halifax and NatWest apply strict credit score requirements. If your score is poor or you have missed payments, defaults or a CCJ on your file, a specialist lender is more likely to help.
The size of your deposit has a significant impact. A larger deposit reduces the lender's risk and increases your chance of approval. Borrowers with a poor credit history who can put down 25 per cent or more have access to a wider range of deals.
A mortgage broker with access to adverse credit lenders can save you significant time and money. Applying directly and being declined creates hard searches on your file, which can make your situation worse.
Your credit score is not fixed. Spending six to twelve months paying down debt, correcting errors on your credit file and avoiding new credit applications can improve your score enough to access better mortgage deals.
What credit score do I need for a mortgage?
There is no single minimum credit score for a mortgage in the UK because different lenders use different scoring models and their own internal criteria. Experian scores below 720 are rated "poor"; Equifax scores below 380 are also considered poor. At these levels, most mainstream lenders will decline your application, but specialist adverse credit lenders will still consider you.
What matters more than the number is the underlying credit history. Lenders look closely at:
- Missed or late payments in the last two to three years
- Defaults (how recent, how large, and whether satisfied)
- County Court Judgments (CCJs) on your record
- Individual Voluntary Arrangements (IVAs) or previous bankruptcy
- How much existing debt you carry relative to your income
A single missed payment two years ago has far less impact than a default registered last year. Lenders assess context, not just the score.
Which lenders offer mortgages for poor credit?
Specialist adverse credit mortgage lenders are more likely to consider your application than high-street banks. Lenders in this space include Bluestone Mortgages, Pepper Money and Together Money. Building societies such as Aldermore and Kensington Mortgages also offer products for borrowers with impaired credit.
| Borrower profile | Typical lender type | Typical LTV available | Indicative rate premium over base |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good credit (Experian 881+) | High-street banks | Up to 95% | Standard rate |
| Fair credit (721-880) | Some high-street, most building societies | Up to 90% | 0.5 - 1.5% above standard |
| Poor credit (561-720) | Specialist lenders | Up to 85% | 1.5 - 3% above standard |
| Very poor / recent defaults | Specialist adverse lenders | Up to 75% | 3 - 5% above standard |
LTV means loan-to-value ratio. An 85% LTV mortgage means you are borrowing 85 per cent of the property's value and putting in 15 per cent as a deposit.
How does a larger deposit help with a bad credit mortgage?
The deposit protects the lender if you default and the property has to be sold quickly. If you borrow 90 per cent of the property's value and the lender can only recover 85 per cent of its value in a forced sale, they face a loss. A 25 per cent deposit gives the lender a much larger buffer.
This is why increasing your deposit is one of the most effective levers available to a bad-credit borrower. Not only does it improve your chances of approval, but it also moves you into lower loan-to-value bands that attract lower interest rates, even with adverse credit. Saving for an extra year to increase your deposit from 10 to 20 per cent can make a significant difference to the rate you are offered.
Should I use a mortgage broker for a bad credit application?
Yes. Using a whole-of-market mortgage broker is especially important if you have a poor credit history, for two reasons. First, many adverse credit mortgage deals are only available through brokers and are not advertised to the public directly. Second, applying to lenders without knowing your chances of approval means hard searches on your credit file each time you are declined, which compounds the problem.
A good broker will carry out a soft search eligibility check before recommending any lender, conduct a detailed review of your credit file, and match your profile to the lenders most likely to approve you. Look for a broker who is regulated by the FCA and who charges a transparent fee rather than one who is paid solely by commission from lenders.
What steps can I take to improve my credit score before applying?
Six to twelve months of focused effort can meaningfully improve your credit score. Steps that have the most impact include:
- Registering on the electoral roll at your current address (lenders use this to verify identity)
- Paying all bills and existing credit on time, every month, without exception
- Reducing your credit utilisation ratio; try to use less than 30 per cent of any credit card limit you have
- Checking your credit report with all three agencies (Experian, Equifax and TransUnion) and disputing any errors
- Avoiding any new credit applications in the six months before your mortgage application
- Closing credit accounts you no longer use, if they are not affecting your average account age significantly
StepChange or Citizens Advice can also help if you have outstanding debt that is affecting your file; dealing with that before applying will strengthen your position.
Can I get a guarantor mortgage with bad credit?
Some lenders offer guarantor or family-assisted mortgages, where a family member (usually a parent) guarantees the loan or links their savings or property as security. This can help applicants with a low deposit or poor credit score access a mortgage they would otherwise be unable to get. However, the guarantor is legally responsible for the debt if you cannot pay, which is a significant commitment. Lenders offering this type of product include Barclays (Family Springboard), Lloyds and Nationwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a mortgage after bankruptcy?
Yes, but you will typically need to wait until after your discharge from bankruptcy (usually one year) and most specialist lenders will want to see a further one to three years of clean credit history after discharge before approving a mortgage. The longer the gap since discharge, the more options you will have. A mortgage broker who specialises in adverse credit can advise on realistic timescales based on your specific situation.
Does a CCJ stop me getting a mortgage? Not automatically. A CCJ that has been satisfied (paid off) and is more than a year old is viewed more favourably than a recent unsatisfied CCJ. Specialist lenders such as Pepper Money and Bluestone assess CCJs on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the amount, the date and whether it has been cleared. An unsatisfied CCJ registered within the last 12 months makes mortgage approval very difficult from almost all lenders.
How long does bad credit affect my mortgage application? Most negative information, including missed payments, defaults and CCJs, remains on your credit file for six years from the date of registration. As negative items age, their impact on your score reduces, and lenders give less weight to credit issues that are more than two or three years old. After six years, the information drops off your file entirely.
Will my mortgage rate go down when my credit improves? Not automatically. If you are on a fixed-rate mortgage, your rate stays the same until the fixed period ends. At that point, you can remortgage to a new deal. If your credit score has improved significantly during the fixed period, you may qualify for a much better rate when you remortgage. Reviewing your mortgage deal at the end of each fixed period is important regardless of your credit history.
Do I need a solicitor to get a mortgage? Yes. You will need a conveyancer or solicitor to handle the legal side of purchasing a property in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. In Scotland, a solicitor handles most of the property-buying process. Your mortgage lender will require a solicitor to be involved before releasing funds. Costs vary but typically range from £800 to £2,000 for a standard residential purchase.
What is the difference between a fixed-rate and variable-rate mortgage? A fixed-rate mortgage locks your interest rate for a set period, usually two, three or five years, so your monthly payment stays the same regardless of changes to the Bank of England base rate. A variable-rate mortgage (including tracker and standard variable rate mortgages) can rise or fall with market interest rates. For borrowers with poor credit who are already stretching their budget, a fixed rate provides more predictability and is generally the safer choice.