A mortgage, even with a tough credit past.
Kensington, Pepper, Bluestone and Vida lend on missed payments, defaults, CCJs, IVAs and discharged bankruptcy — up to 85% LTV, from 4.89%.
Bad-credit mortgages are UK residential mortgages provided by adverse-credit specialist lenders — Kensington, Pepper Money, Bluestone, Vida and Precise — for applicants with impaired credit histories. Missed payments, defaults, CCJs, IVAs and discharged bankruptcy are all lendable, with rates from 4.89% in 2026 at 75% LTV. Most lenders tier by adverse age (0–12 months, 12–36 months, 36+ months) and default amount (£250, £500, £1,000+).
The numbers, at a glance.
What lenders want to see.
Who typically qualifies
- Missed payments on credit cards, loans or utilities
- Satisfied or unsatisfied defaults (all £ tiers)
- Satisfied or unsatisfied CCJs (typically last 3 years)
- IVA or Debt Management Plan — discharged 12+ months (Vida, Bluestone)
- Discharged bankruptcy — 12–36 months depending on lender
Documents to prepare
- Full credit report (Experian, Equifax and TransUnion)
- Payslips or SA302s covering last 3–12 months
- Latest 3 months' bank statements
- Written explanation for each adverse event (Elena drafts this for you)
- Passport / driving licence and 3-year address history
How Elena helps, specifically.
All adverse considered
Missed payments, defaults, CCJs, IVAs and bankruptcy — all lendable somewhere.
Up to 85% LTV
15% deposit unlocks Kensington, Pepper and Vida — no need for 25%+.
Rates from 4.89%
Clean 12 months post-adverse plus 25% deposit accesses the cheapest tier.
12 months post-BR
Bluestone and Vida lend just 12 months after bankruptcy discharge.
Explanation letters
Elena drafts your adverse explanation for the underwriter — no awkward phone calls.
AI-matched
Elena tiers your credit file to the exact lender criteria — no wasted applications.
Top lender matches for this profile
"Best pricing for satisfied defaults 12+ months old and CCJs 3+ years old."
"Accepts unsatisfied defaults up to £2,000 in the last 12 months."
"Lends 12 months post-bankruptcy discharge with 25% deposit."
Questions, answered.
Elena, our AI mortgage expert, can answer it in seconds — or book you a free callback with a human broker.
Can I get a mortgage with bad credit in the UK?
How long after a default or CCJ can I get a mortgage?
Are CCJs and defaults treated the same?
Can I get a mortgage the day after being discharged from an IVA?
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