Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal proceeding involving a person or business that is unable to repay their outstanding debts. The bankruptcy process begins with a petition filed by the debtor, which is most common, or on behalf of creditors, which is less common. All of the debtor's assets are measured and evaluated, and the assets may be used to repay a portion of the outstanding debt.
Can I get a mortgage with a Bankruptcy?
It is possible, but it is significantly more difficult, a lender will be interested in how many years have passed since the Bankruptcy was discharged. If you've been made bankrupt in the past and you're concerned about how it will impact upon your borrowing in the future, we have a wealth of experience advising people in similar situations. It may seem like it's impossible to get a mortgage, however, lenders we're in regular contact with will make an assessment using various factors, such as your personal circumstances, your credit history and any other historic debt problems.
How will having a Bankruptcy impact getting a mortgage?
A person who has had a Bankruptcy registered will be in a difficult position when finding a mortgage, it's not impossible though, if you were discharged from a bankruptcy 5 years ago for example you may be able to get a mortgage with a 10% deposit, someone who was discharged from a Bankruptcy 2 years ago will likely need a 30% deposit before a lender would be willing to look at a mortgage for you. If you have a Bankruptcy we would recommend getting in touch to discuss your situation to see if we can help.
CCJ
A County Court Judgement (CCJ) is a court order that creditors can apply for against you if you don't repay money owed. If the courts issue the CCJ, this means they agree with your creditor and will order you to pay the money back. You'll usually have fair warning of this happening through a court summons and a CCJ will usually follow late payment notices and a default letter.
If you pay the full amount owed within one month of the CCJ being issued, it shouldn't be recorded however if you fail to do this and your CCJ is recorded, it'll stay on the register for 6 years.
Is it possible to get a mortgage with CCJ?
YES, it may be possible. The Specialist Mortgage Broker has a wealth of experience when dealing with adverse credit, yes, a CCJ will make it more difficult to find a mortgage but it's not impossible.
How will having a CCJ impact getting a mortgage?
Lenders will take a keen look at your credit profile when making a decision regarding lending, the factors that are important when considering a CCJ is when it registered and how much the CCJ was registered for, for example if your CCJ was registered more than 6 years it will have dropped of your credit report meaning your credit profile will look a lot healthier. If the CCJ was registered within 6 years it will be visible by the lender and this is where an experienced mortgage broker can help. The more time that has passed since the CCJ was registered the more options there will be available for you to get a mortgage, however you could still get a mortgage even if a CCJ was registered in the last year.
Lenders will also look at the size of the CCJ, for example if the CCJ is below £300 it will be a lot easier for you to get a mortgage than if the CCJ is for £3000, the type of the CCJ can also play an important role, a telecommunications CCJ won't as detrimental as a CCJ for a credit card.
Debt Management Plan
A debt management plan will allow you to repay your debts in a way that is more manageable. It will essentially allow you to make more affordable payments toy your creditors.
Can I get a mortgage with a Debt Management Plan?
Yes, it is possible to get a mortgage with a debt management plan, if it has been active within the last 6 years a lot of lenders will automatically decline, however there are several lenders who are more interested in how the DMP has been maintained, and so long as you are making the payments on time to your debt management plan lenders maybe will be willing to consider your case. We always advise getting in touch if you are looking to get a mortgage with a debt management plan.
How will having a Debt Management Plan impact getting a mortgage?
Having a debt management plan will likely mean that you will need a bigger deposit in order to be considered for a mortgage, we would typically recommend that you have at least a 15% deposit before considering getting a mortgage with a debt management plan. Although it may still be possible to get a mortgage with a smaller deposit, if you are unsure please get in touch and we can review your situation to see if would be possible.
Default
What is a Default?
A default notice is a formal letter sent by your creditor after a number of missed repayments and will typically include:
- The terms you have broken in your agreement
- How much you need to pay
- The date you will need to make this payment by
- The consequences that will occur if you fail to comply
- The length of time you have to respond to the notice (typically within 14 days)
A default can remain on your credit file for up to 6 years and will be visible to anyone you make a credit application with during this time.
Can I get a mortgage with a default?
Yes, you could get a mortgage with a default, The Specialist Mortgage Broker has successfully helped many clients to get a mortgage whilst having a default on their credit report. It will be more difficult, and you may be restricted to more specialist lenders but it's certainly not impossible
How will having a default impact getting a mortgage?
Defaults tend to be one of the most common reasons for being refused a mortgage, a lot of high street lenders have a zero-tolerance approach, however depending on the type of default, when it was registered and how much the default was registered there may still be options available.
IVA
What is an IVA?
In England and Wales, an Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) is an agreement whereby you outline how you will repay your debts. It can be a beneficial solution to those who potentially are facing bankruptcy, as it provides your creditors with a schedule of repayments. If it is possible to obtain an IVA, it must be approved by a court, as it is a legally binding agreement between you and your creditors stating when and the quantities in which you will pay back your debts. By the nature of the name, it is your decision as to whether you obtain an IVA, but we have a team of expert brokers to assist you with your decision.
Can I get a mortgage with an IVA?
As each client's circumstances will be different, we cannot guarantee that the answer will be "yes", however is some circumstances it may be possible. Whether you have completed your IVA or are still making payments, you may be able to get the right mortgage product with The Specialist Mortgage Broker. We have access to a range of specialist IVA mortgage lenders, helping you find exclusive deals that fit your needs
How will having an IVA impact getting a mortgage?
There is no "off-the-shelf" solution. Applications, lending criteria and product availability vary; therefore, we must build a strong understanding of your unique financial situation and long-term goals. Whether you're looking to remortgage or secure a first-time buyer mortgage, our experienced IVA mortgage brokers research deals across a comprehensive range of lenders in the mortgage market, communicating directly with lenders whilst coordinate all of the paperwork to save you time and money.
Late payments
What is a payment?
A late payment is an amount of money a borrower sends to a lender or service provider that arrives after the date that the payment was due or after a grace period for the payment has passed.
Can I get a mortgage if I have had a late payment?
Yes, it is still possible to get a mortgage if you have had a late payment, it all depends on when the late payment occurred and how many late payments there were. We deal with these types of mortgages on a daily basis so we know which lenders to approach who will likely consider the case.
How will having a late payment impact getting a mortgage?
Having a late payment on your credit report can impact your chances of getting a mortgage, Late payments aren't considered to be a severe credit issue, especially if it's only happened once or twice. That said, recent problems can be a cause for concern.There are lenders more than willing to consider a mortgage after late payments. Going to the right lender in the first instance can save you time and money and help you secure the home you want.
Low credit score
What is a low credit score?
A low credit score is the number that is given to you on your credit report, your score is typically given out of 1000 although this can vary amongst different credit reference agencies, and a credit score below 650 is typically considered to be a low credit score. When it comes to your credit score there are a lot of different reasons for a having low (or no) credit rating. It can quite simply be because you haven't had any credit commitments in the past or it can be due to adverse credit. Whatever your situation, we can improve your chances of unlocking deals that simply aren't available to customers going direct.
Can I get a mortgage with a low credit score?
Yes, it is still possible to get a mortgage with a low credit score, a lot of the lenders that we use will carry out a credit search rather than a credit check, this means that rather than a computer telling you no for not meeting a certain credit score, the will lender will approve your mortgage based on whether you meet certain criteria with a specific lender. For example, a lenders criteria may be that you haven't had a default in the last 2 years. As long as your credit profile reflects this you may be approved regardless of your credit score.
How will having a low credit score impact getting a mortgage?
Having a low credit score can impact your chance of getting a mortgage with a lot of lenders, a lot of the high street lenders for example will have an internal credit score that you need to meet before you will be accepted for a mortgage. This can be disheartening but it doesn't mean you can't get a mortgage, a lot of the specialist lenders that we work with are of this situation and which is why they credit check in a different way.