Find a mortgage broker for bad credit

Why Use a Specialist Bad Credit Mortgage Broker?

Whether you have been rejected for a mortgage, or suspect that an application might be turned down due to previous credit issues, the best mortgage broker for bad credit applicants can assess your requirements. We ensure you apply to the right lenders they know will be able to accept your application.

That isn't just about having a network of specialist bad credit lenders, but about knowing the eligibility criteria of each, and identifying which you meet.

The right lenders to apply to depend on:

• How severe your credit issues are.
• When they occurred.
• Other eligibility criteria.

If your credit issues are relatively moderate, say you have some credit card debt that will be repaid through a payment plan in the next three months, you have a wider pool of lenders to choose from.

More serious credit history with current or unsatisfied debt management plans will be more difficult to secure lending against.

It is common for a bad credit lender to ask for confirmation from your debt management provider that your account has been kept up to date for at least the last 12 months - depending on when the plan started.

How Can I Choose the Best Bad Credit Mortgage Broker?

Your broker is an essential part of the bad credit mortgage process and can help with every stage of your application, calculations and documentation.

Revolution Brokers are proud to offer a varied, diverse and personal service to every client:

• Completely independent recommendations.
• Access to the whole of the mortgage market.
• Reasonable, transparent, and fair fee structures.
• Access to exclusive offers and deals.
• Commercial finance options.
• Highly experienced in bad credit mortgages.

What not to look out for; if you come across a mortgage broker where any of the below apply, we would advise not to proceed:

• Has a restricted number of lenders available.
• Only offers their specific broker products.
• Charges non-refundable fees, or large fees.
• Does not have exclusive deals.
• Is only interested in simple mortgage applications.
• Doesn't have experience in the bad credit sector.
• Only offers one or two insurance products.

Choosing a great broker can make an enormous difference to the rates you pay, how well you are looking after, and the long term viability and competitiveness of your mortgage terms.

If you are working with a broker and concerned about the service, contact Revolution on 0330 304 3040.

Who Can I Apply to For a Bad Credit Mortgage?

Many lenders will offer mortgages against a low credit score or to applicants with adverse credit history - but this all depends on their specific eligibility criteria, which will vary between every lender.

All mortgage lenders will need to run a credit check and tend to use one of the bigger UK credit reference agencies, or sometimes run reports with all three. Typically, these come from Experian, Equifax or TransUnion.

Each credit referencing agency uses a different scoring system and different definitions of good and bad credit. It is possible to get an excellent rate from one lender based on one credit report, and a low rate from another, who has used a different credit referencing agency.

As an example of the different credit assessment processes:

• Nationwide use reports from all three leading credit reference agencies.
• Coventry Building Society relies solely on Equifax reports.
• Kensington does not use application scoring, but instead, leaves the risk assessment to their underwriters to decide each application on a case-by-case basis.

Can A Bad Credit Mortgage Lender Accept Any Types of Bad Credit?

The acceptable bad credit issues will depend on how serious they are, when they happened, and what the reason was.

Mild credit issues such as missing a phone bill payment won't have much impact, whereas something much more serious such as bankruptcy will very much limit the providers you can apply to.

If you have lots of credit issues, you might be asked for a higher deposit value, to pay higher interest rates, or to cover higher fees. Again, this all depends on the criteria of the lender in question.

An indication of what sort of bad credit issues mortgage lenders can accept, and how long needs to have passed since these issues for a lender to be able to consider your application, please see below:

Likelihood of achieving secured finance:

Likelihood of achieving unsecured finance:

How Can a Mortgage Broker Bad Credit UK Expert Help If I Have No Deposit and Bad Credit?

If you have bad credit and no deposit - i.e. want to borrow 100% of the value of your property, it is possible to secure a no deposit mortgage. This is a specialist product and therefore very unlikely to be something you will be able to find without using a broker.

There are other options to help reduce the rates, for example, using a guarantor mortgage to lower the risk factor or use Help to Buy or Shared Ownership schemes.

Revolution works on a people-first basis, so the first step in recommending a suitable solution would be to invite you for a chat so we can better understand the circumstances at play and assess what sort of strategy would feel like the right solution for you.

It isn't impossible to secure a 100% LTV mortgage, but having bad credit does make that a lot tougher, so we'll always be realistic about what you can achieve - and suggest ways to strengthen your application and improve the offered rates.

Several UK mortgage support initiatives, such as government guarantees and equity loans, may be a viable solution to help improve your deposit situation and make the mortgage a lower-risk proposal from the lender's perspective.

What Fees Should I Expect to Pay a Bad Credit Mortgage Broker UK?

Fees vary depending on your requirements, what sort of mortgage you need, how complicated the application process is, and how much you wish to borrow.

As a very rough indication, a typical cost is around 3% of the loan value; although this cost is often quickly recovered by securing preferable interest rates and advantageous terms negotiated for you by your broker.

In some cases, the costs may be as low as 1%.

We would point out that the cost savings of using a professional broker are substantially higher than any fees associated.

Bad credit applicants are often more exposed than most to increased fees and often feel obligated to accept mortgage deals that don't represent good value - with the pressure to complete and feeling like it's the best offer they will get.

As your advocate, the Revolution team identifies what an acceptable rate would be on your bad credit mortgage. We leverage our industry experience to make sure you aren't persuaded to go ahead with a deal that's over the odds.

Therefore, while brokerage fees are one of the primary concerns for many people looking for a market-beating mortgage with a broker, the end solution often represents a saving of many thousands of pounds.

Will Using a Credit Repair Company make it Easier to Get a Mortgage?

It can, but it's always wise to seek expert support from an independent mortgage broker with experience in the bad credit market before deciding whether to work with a credit repair company.

Sometimes, these end up being very costly and are designed to earn the maximum in fees and interest charges, instead of being a cost-effective way to improve your credit score.

Independent brokers can help not only with finding a mortgage, but also in improving your credit score, understanding what it means, and identifying what the impact is in terms of finding the right lenders to apply to.

Some of the ways Revolution Brokers advise you help to rebuild your credit rating are:

• Take out an adverse specific credit card to build up history if you have no previous borrowing.
• Check copies of your credit files and report any errors or inaccuracies.
• Register to vote on the Electoral Roll.
• Keep up to date with all your regular payments and bills.
• Do not be tempted to apply to multiple lenders online - this racks up hard searches on your credit file and can make it worse.
• Try to settle any outstanding debts you can, and limit your outgoings.
• Avoid payday loans at all costs - other, less expensive lending is far better as this has less of any adverse impact when going through a mortgage credit check.
• Use one bank account and manage all your spending and income through it.

If you need more help with repairing your credit rating or understanding the best ways to recover your credit score before applying for a mortgage, give our team a call on 0330 304 3040.

Can I Find a Mortgage Broker for Bad Credit Remortgages?

You can indeed - Revolution Brokers works with all sorts of clients, from first-time buyers to those looking to remortgage to release equity from their home.

If you're looking to find a mortgage broker for bad credit refinancing, we'll walk you through a range of options depending on your credit circumstances and the purposes of your remortgage.

For example, if you're looking to release equity in your property to consolidate debts and prevent a bad credit scenario from arising, we might recommend a different lender or alternative refinancing strategy than if you're looking to remortgage on the lowest interest rates,

The same eligibility criteria will usually apply, and a lot depends on how much equity you own, and how much you wish to borrow.

Our consultants always offer a no-obligation chat, so you can assess whether you feel you're in the right hands and are comfortable to proceed.

What Is the Credit Checking Process When Working with a Mortgage Broker?

Brokers will usually run a credit report from one of the major credit reference agencies, or sometimes from all of them.

Credit reports run by Revolution Brokers are always a soft search - i.e. we never run a full search that will leave a mark on your credit file without seeking your permission. Usually, a hard search is only required at the final stages of the application process when you decide to proceed with an agreement in principle.

You can also check your credit scores, and it is wise to look at Experian, Equifax and TransUnion as each will have a slightly different interpretation of your creditworthiness.

If you already have your credit file and can share this with your broker, it will speed up the process, and you can walk through any adverse credit and the circumstances to give us a head-start on identifying the right lenders to apply to.

Remember that some bad credit lenders aren't interested in your credit score at all, and will instead look through your credit history, possibly ask for context about any difficulties, and then assess your application on its merit rather than relying on a score assigned by one of the credit reference agencies.

Credit checks are the primary reason it's crucial to consult a broker before applying for a mortgage.

Choose the wrong lender, or panic and start making multiple speculative applications, and you could create further problems on your credit file that will compound the situation.

What Information Will I Need to Give My Mortgage Broker?

Your broker will need to ask for a few pieces of information to understand your circumstances, requirements, and then assess which way to proceed with your mortgage application.

They will need to know information such as:

• Your employment status and income - if you are in a stable, permanent role, this is the ideal. Specialist brokers work with self-employed applicants and can help with meeting affordability assessments.
• How much deposit you have - usually, the UK mortgage market requires a deposit of 5-15%, with the higher the deposit, the better the rates you will be offered.
• Your age - some lenders restrict lending over age 75 or 85, and others have no age cap at all.
• What property you wish to buy - standard bricks and mortar properties are the easiest to mortgage, whereas non-standard properties such as those with a thatched roof require a niche lender.
• Your expenses and other obligations - these include other loans, outgoings, and how many dependents you have.