Bad credit mortgages in Greater Manchester
CCJs, defaults, missed payments, IVAs — if the high street has turned you down, we find specialist lenders who say yes. Honest advice, no judgement, no obligation.
Free chat · No obligation · Whole-of-market access
Turned down by the bank? You're not out of options.
Being declined for a mortgage because of your credit history is disheartening — but it's rarely the end of the road. High-street banks use rigid, automated scoring that says no to anything outside a narrow box. They don't look at your story. They just see a marker on your file and decline.
We work differently. As a specialist bad credit mortgage broker covering Greater Manchester, we have whole-of-market access to specialist lenders who take a human view — looking at when your credit issues happened, whether they're resolved, and how you've managed money since. The same application that a bank rejects can get a yes from the right specialist lender.
We're an appointed representative of Oak Mortgages Ltd, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. That means honest, regulated advice with your interests first — whether you're in Leigh, Bolton, Wigan, or anywhere across Greater Manchester.
Who we help
If any of these sound like you, there's very likely a lender who'll consider your case:
CCJs & defaults
Whether recent, satisfied, or historic — there's usually a specialist lender who'll consider your application.
Missed & late payments
Missed payments on credit cards, loans, or even your mortgage. How recent matters more than the fact itself.
IVAs & DMPs
Whether discharged or still active. Some specialist lenders consider applicants still in a Debt Management Plan.
Payday loan history
Even satisfied payday loans close high-street doors. Specialist lenders take a more nuanced view.
Low credit score
Sometimes the score is low because of thin history, not red flags. Specialist lenders look at the underlying data.
Discharged bankruptcy
Once discharged, a mortgage becomes possible again — sooner than many people expect with the right lender.
How it works
Free chat
Tell us what's on your file and what you're trying to do. Honest, no-obligation conversation about what's possible.
Soft credit check
We review your credit position without leaving a hard footprint, so we know exactly which lenders fit.
Lender matching
With whole-of-market access, we pick the lender most likely to say yes first time at the best rate available to you.
Application & completion
We package, submit, and chase. We talk to your solicitor. You stay updated through to completion.
Where we help across Greater Manchester
We work with clients right across the region. Find dedicated bad credit mortgage advice for your area:
Leigh
Our home town — we live and work here. Local knowledge of WN postcodes and the lenders comfortable with them. Bad credit mortgage broker in Leigh.
Atherton
Helping Atherton residents who've been turned down find a route to a mortgage. Bad credit mortgage advice in Atherton.
Tyldesley
Specialist mortgage help for Tyldesley buyers and homeowners with adverse credit. Bad credit mortgages in Tyldesley.
Bolton
From Horwich to Westhoughton, we help Bolton clients the high street has declined. Bad credit mortgage broker in Bolton.
Wigan
Whole-of-market bad credit mortgage advice for Wigan and the surrounding areas. Bad credit mortgage help in Wigan.
Greater Manchester
Covering the wider region for anyone with adverse credit looking to buy or remortgage. Bad credit mortgages across Greater Manchester.
Understanding bad credit mortgages
A bad credit mortgage — sometimes called an adverse credit or subprime mortgage — is simply a mortgage arranged with a lender who accepts applicants whose credit file shows issues. The mortgage itself works the same way as any other; the difference is the lender's willingness to look past the marks on your credit history.
Why high-street lenders decline
Mainstream banks rely on automated credit scoring. If your file shows a CCJ, default, or missed payment within their lookback period, the system declines you regardless of context. They aren't set up to weigh up a one-off life event against years of responsible borrowing. Specialist lenders are.
How specialist lenders assess you
Specialist lenders use manual underwriting. A real person reviews your case, considering how recent the adverse credit is, whether it's been satisfied, the amounts involved, and your conduct since. This is why two people with identical credit scores can get completely different answers from different lenders — and why having a broker who knows the market matters.
Improving your position over time
A bad credit mortgage isn't necessarily forever. As adverse credit ages and your file improves, you can often remortgage onto better rates. We'll talk you through the realistic timeline so you can plan ahead. You may also want to look at our bad credit remortgage options when the time comes, or explore secured loans for bad credit if you need to raise funds against your home.
What our clients say
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a mortgage with bad credit?
What counts as bad credit for a mortgage?
Will I pay a higher interest rate with bad credit?
How big a deposit do I need with bad credit?
Does applying for a bad credit mortgage hurt my credit score?
Can I get a bad credit mortgage if I've been declined elsewhere?
Do you charge a fee?
Related services
Been turned down? Let's find your yes.
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.