Mortgages for people with bad credit
CCJs, defaults, IVAs, missed payments, bankruptcy — whatever's on your file, there's usually a route forward. We're the specialists the high street sends people to when they say no.
Free chat · No obligation · Whole-of-market access
Bad credit isn't the end of the story
A bad credit history feels like a closed door. You apply, you get declined, and it's easy to assume that's that. But a high-street rejection only tells you that one lender, using one set of automated rules, said no. It tells you nothing about what specialist lenders would say.
We specialise in exactly these cases. With whole-of-market access across Greater Manchester, we work with lenders who manually assess applications and look at the whole picture — not just a credit score. Whatever's on your file, our job is to find the route that works, or to tell you honestly what needs to change first.
We're an appointed representative of Oak Mortgages Ltd, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Honest, regulated advice with no judgement — that's the promise.
Whatever's on your credit file
We help people across the full range of adverse credit situations:
CCJs & defaults
The most common adverse markers. Recent, satisfied, or historic — there's usually a lender who'll consider you.
Missed & late payments
On credit cards, loans, or your mortgage. How recent they are matters more than the fact itself.
IVAs & DMPs
Active or discharged. Some specialist lenders consider applicants still within a debt arrangement.
Payday loans
Even satisfied payday loan history closes mainstream doors. Specialist lenders take a more measured view.
Low credit score
Often caused by thin history rather than red flags. Specialist lenders look at the underlying data.
Discharged bankruptcy
A mortgage becomes possible again after discharge — often sooner than people expect with the right lender.
Explore our specialist services
Whatever your situation, we've got dedicated guidance. Find the page that fits where you are:
CCJ or default
Specific guidance for County Court Judgments and defaults. Mortgage with a CCJ or default.
Missed mortgage payments
Getting a mortgage after missed payments. Mortgage with missed payments.
How it works
Free chat
Tell us what's on your file and what you're trying to do. Honest, no-obligation conversation.
Soft credit check
We review your credit position without leaving a hard footprint on your file.
Lender matching
With whole-of-market access, we find the lender most likely to say yes at the best rate available to you.
Application & completion
We package, submit, and chase through to completion, keeping you informed throughout.
Where we help across Greater Manchester
Local bad credit mortgage advice, wherever you are in the region:
Atherton
Helping Atherton residents the high street declined. Bad credit mortgage advice in Atherton.
Bolton
From Horwich to Westhoughton, we help Bolton clients. Bad credit mortgage broker in Bolton.
Understanding bad credit and mortgages
"Bad credit" is a broad term covering anything on your credit file that makes lenders cautious. It ranges from a single missed payment to serious markers like CCJs, defaults, IVAs, and bankruptcy. Understanding what's on your file — and how lenders view it — is the first step to getting a mortgage.
How lenders view different markers
Not all adverse credit is equal. A missed mobile phone payment is treated very differently from a CCJ. Generally, the hierarchy runs from least to most serious: missed payments on minor accounts, then missed payments on credit and loans, then defaults, then CCJs, then IVAs and Debt Management Plans, then bankruptcy. Mortgage missed payments sit high on the seriousness scale because they signal difficulty with your most important commitment.
Why recency matters so much
How long ago an issue happened often matters more than the issue itself. Adverse credit stays on your file for 6 years, but its impact fades over time. A default from five years ago, with clean conduct since, is a very different proposition to one from six months ago. Many specialist lenders set their criteria around recency — which is why timing your application can dramatically change your options.
The value of specialist advice
The bad credit mortgage market is complex and changes constantly. Lenders adjust their criteria regularly, and each has its own quirks about which adverse credit they'll accept and at what deposit. A specialist broker who knows this market can match you to the lender most likely to say yes — protecting your credit file from unnecessary declined applications along the way.
What our clients say
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a mortgage with a bad credit history?
How long does bad credit affect a mortgage application?
What's the difference between a CCJ and a default?
Can I get a mortgage during a Debt Management Plan?
Will I need a bigger deposit with bad credit?
Can I improve my chances of getting a bad credit mortgage?
Do you charge a fee?
Whatever's on your file — let's find a way.
One call. Honest answer. No judgement, no pressure, and no fee for finding out where you stand.
Call Chris on 07359 911 696Monday to Friday, 9am–7pm · Saturday 10am–2pm
Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.
Think carefully before securing other debts against your home. A secured loan or second charge is secured against your property.
Chris Smith Mortgages is an appointed representative of Oak Mortgages Ltd, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. FRN 1026569.