Adverse Credit Mortgages in 2027
How lenders view defaults, CCJs, DMPs, IVAs and bankruptcy, how long they stay on file and how to rebuild your position.
- What adverse credit means and who this guide suits
- How lenders view each type of problem
- How long each problem stays on your file
- Checking all three credit reports
- Deposits, specialist lenders and pricing
- Why not to apply repeatedly
- Regulation, Consumer Duty and what may change in 2027
- Rebuilding your credit
- Costs and timeline
- Tips and tricks, common mistakes and a checklist
- How OMB can support you
The short version
Many people with past credit problems do get a mortgage. Lenders look at what happened, how much it was for, how long ago it was and whether it has been settled. This guide explains how each type of problem is viewed and what you can do to improve your position.
- The severity, size, age and status of a problem matter more than the label, and recent or repeated problems narrow choice most.
- Most negative entries stay on your credit file for six years, though the start date differs by type.
- Check your reports with all three main agencies, because each can hold different information.
- Deposits of 10% to 25% are often expected, depending on severity, and specialist lenders usually charge more.
- Applying to several lenders can leave multiple hard searches, so matching your case to the right lender first matters.
Check all three reports
Experian, Equifax and TransUnion can hold different details, so look at each before you speak to a lender.
What the full guide covers
- What adverse credit means and who this guide suits
- How lenders view each type of problem
- How long each problem stays on your file
- Checking all three credit reports
- Deposits, specialist lenders and pricing
- Why not to apply repeatedly
- Regulation, Consumer Duty and what may change in 2027
- Rebuilding your credit
- Costs and timeline
- Tips and tricks (8), common mistakes (6) and a 10 point checklist
- How OMB can support you, with a fictional worked example
Illustrative example: a satisfied CCJ
Illustrative example only, not a real client. Aisha and Dan wanted to buy their first home. Dan had a small CCJ from a few years earlier, which he had paid, but a high street lender declined their enquiry. Their adviser reviewed all three credit reports with them, found one agency still showing the CCJ as unsatisfied, and helped Dan obtain the certificate of satisfaction. With the files corrected and a slightly larger deposit, the adviser matched their case to a lender whose criteria fitted, without further declines or searches. Outcomes depend on lender criteria at the time, and every case is different.
Names, figures and circumstances are fictional and illustrative only. They do not represent an actual client of Our Mortgage Broker Limited.
Adverse Credit Mortgages in 2027
How lenders view defaults, CCJs, DMPs, IVAs and bankruptcy, how long they stay on file and how to rebuild your position.
Want to talk it through?
Applying to the wrong lender can mean a decline and another search on your file. We are a whole of market broker with CeMAP-qualified advisers who look at your full reports, not only a score.
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Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage. Most buy-to-let and commercial mortgages are not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Our Mortgage Broker Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 944663). Registered in England and Wales, company no. 11358646. Registered office: 23 Berkeley Square, Mayfair, London W1J 6HE. There may be a fee for mortgage advice: we may charge up to 1% of the loan amount, and our typical fee is £500. Your fee agreement sets out the exact fee and when it is payable (at decision in principle, application or mortgage offer); fees are not refundable once due. We usually also receive commission from the lender. Protection and insurance products are subject to underwriting and the policy terms and conditions. This guide is general information only and is not personal advice. Case studies are fictional, illustrative examples and do not represent real clients. Rates, tax and regulatory information are correct as at October 2026 and may change, including at the Autumn Budget on 28 October 2026.