Many aspiring homeowners can still access a mortgage with bad credit. Some lenders will give you a mortgage despite your bad credit by considering your overall circumstances beyond your credit rating.

How to apply for a bad credit mortgage?

Applying for a mortgage with bad credit is the same process as applying for any mortgage. The applicant(s) must make the application without concealing information, and the lender will then make a decision based on your credit rating and other factors.

However, to improve your chances of being accepted with bad credit history, there are steps you can take:

1. Make time between events that reduced your credit rating and making an application. The more time that passes, the less impact they usually have on lender decisions.
2. Apply with a stable income and a bigger deposit.
3. Take steps to improve your credit score and clear existing debts.

You may also want to apply to lenders with a history of approving mortgages to people with bad credit history. We can assist with locating these lenders.

A Holiday Let Mortgage is taken out on a property that is then let on a seasonal basis and used for holiday rental. It is similar to a Buy to Let mortgage except the maximum amount that a lender will permit is not based on a regular income but uses an average of the rates charged during high, mid and low season.

Holiday Let Mortgages can usually be set up on either an interest only basis or a capital and interest basis however some lenders may require the borrower to have a minimum additional personal income.

Within this sector the seasonal nature of the income, along with other factors such as possible higher levels of unoccupancy during low season, can make lending much more complex. For this reason, many lenders impose stricter criteria for those looking for a Holiday Let Mortgage. These do vary by lender but could include requiring applicants to own their own home, be over the age of 21 and have a minimum deposit.

Limited Company Mortgages require specialist lenders as the structure of these loans can be complicated.

Who Is a Limited Company Mortgage for?

Landlords who own more than one property may find tax benefits by operating their buy-to-let property portfolio through a limited company. These property investment companies are known as Special Purpose Vehicles (SPV) and lenders have developed specific products for this specialist lending. Anyone choosing to buy property through a limited company will require this type of mortgage.

SPV Mortgage Services

These services will be required for those considering a SPV Mortgage for:

• Selling your current property to your limited company
• Remortgaging a property within an SPV
• Buying high-risk property through your company (e.g. above a shop)
• Expats looking to purchase and remortgage through their limited company

A let-to-buy mortgage can be complicated as it involves refinancing your existing property based on the potential rental yield, whilst simultaneously finding a new residential mortgage to fund the onward purchase of a new property.

Add to this the fact that buy-to-let mortgages are generally interest only, with rates usually being higher than on residential deals, together with the challenges of becoming a landlord and you will realise the importance of getting the correct advice and assistance.

We are on hand to help self-employed business owners to get on the property ladder. Although it may be harder for self-employed people to prove their suitability for a mortgage – it is by no means impossible. We will walk you through the process and explain how a compelling case can be put forward for people who are self-employed and looking for a new home.

The Challenges of a Self-Employed Mortgage

Some self-employed workers may find it more difficult to get a mortgage compared with employees of a company. Common challenges our clients face are a limited trading history; variable profits as the business grows or reinvests in itself.

How We Overcome These Challenges

Our knowledge of the market and established relationships means we understand which lenders can take a flexible approach. Our experience and expertise allow us to compose a compelling case for why you are suitable for a mortgage.

Retirement Interest Only mortgages are a relatively new product to the mortgage industry. They were introduced by the Financial Conduct Authority to help people who have an Interest Only mortgage that has come to an end but don’t have the capital to repay the original loan. If you want to live in the property and it’s affordable, you can refinance under this product structure and continue paying interest for the lifetime of the mortgage.

The loan has no end date and is repaid when the mortgage holder moves into care or dies.

Retirement Interest Only mortgages are of particular interest to those who do not want an Equity Release mortgage where the interest costs roll up.

What Is Wealth Management?

Wealth, just like your health, must be carefully preserved. Your assets need to be protected against the potential threats of erosion by taxation, the effects of inflation and investment risks.

Whatever your level of wealth, there is nothing wrong in deciding to prepare a risk aversion strategy. Risk aversion is a reasonable and prudent strategy for anyone sure that they already have ample assets to provide for themselves and their family in the future.

There are plenty of ways of preserving wealth in real terms, protecting against most of the uncertainties that may threaten it and allowing you to sleep at night, but the unidentified risks are a far greater threat to your wealth than tax. While tax may threaten a proportion of your wealth, poorly identified risks can destroy it all.

Mortgages are loans which are intended to help buyers purchase residential property. When you take out a loan, the lender charges interest: the same is true of a mortgage.

A mortgage is a ‘secured’ loan, which means that the loan is secured against the property being purchased until the mortgage is paid off. Sources of residential mortgages include high street banks, building societies, and other types of less well-known financial institutions.

Basic conditions

Mortgage providers follow a set of rules and procedures when deciding whether or not they will agree to provide a mortgage to purchase a residential property. Although different lenders apply different lending criteria, the amount a potential buyer can expect to borrow from a property’s purchase price is determined solely by the mortgage provider’s requirements.
Here are some of the factors lenders take into account when making their decision:

Long-term care planning is about taking measures to ensure you are equipped for any support or services you may need in later life. It’s about ensuring any compensation award and any right to means-tested benefits are protected. It is also about maximising your financial security.

Types of care

There are various forms of care or support you might need which are likely to change with time.

Initially, independence may be your focus, so sheltered accommodation or assisted living may be appropriate. With these, help is on hand in an emergency and a warden can provide limited assistance.

Domiciliary care is an option whereby a carer can help with daily activities such as personal care, at home.

A newer form of care is emerging which is called live-in care. This is where you have a carer around the clock to assist you with day to day living.

It may be that you will only need short term care. This is known as reablement care which is centred around keeping you living independently.

A care home may be the next best step, either residential or nursing care - or both.

Inheritance Tax (IHT)

The government levies tax on the value of a person’s estate, if their estate is worth more than the Nil Rate Band. The IHT ‘Nil Rate Band’ (NRB) is currently £325,000 (2026/2027) and many people are still getting caught in the trap of property inheritance tax as the threshold has not kept pace with the inflation of property prices, and so is affecting more and more people. 

There is also an additional ‘main residence’ allowance (‘Property Nil Rate Band’ (PNRB)) which applies if a person’s home is given to their children (including adopted, foster or stepchildren), surviving husband or wife, or grandchildren. This is set at £175,000 (2026/2027) and is added to the IHT threshold providing a total allowance of £500,000 (2026/2027). 

When a relative dies and leaves an estate worth more than £325,000 (2026/2027) or £500,000 (2026/2027) if the ‘main residence’ allowance applies, families are required to pay tax on the amount in excess of the NRB (and PNRB if applicable) within six months. After that, they are charged interest at a rate of 7.5% (2026/2027). 

However, there are ways to lessen the burden of property IHT.