We know that clients with a history of adverse credit can be among the hardest to place. Every application is individually reviewed by an experienced underwriter, with no automated credit scoring at the Decision in Principle stage¹. This means you can confidently present complex cases where your client has struggled to secure a mortgage elsewhere due to their credit history, whether that’s following loss of employment, illness, relationship breakdown or other unforeseen circumstances.
We offer two dedicated product ranges for borrowers with credit issues or impaired credit history. Credit Assist is designed for clients with previous credit blips or minor credit issues. Credit Renew goes further, supporting borrowers with a complex history of impaired credit who have since stabilised their financial position and are ready to rebuild.
This page sets out our criteria for both ranges, covering how we assess CCJs, DMPs, IVAs, missed payments, unsecured lending and more. If your client’s situation falls outside our policy or you’d like to discuss a case, get in touch with our team.
¹We carry out a credit search once the case reaches the application stage.
Key criteria at a glance
Lending Loan-to-Values (LTV)
Credit Assist is available up to 80% LTV and Credit Renew is available up to 75% LTV.
Maximum Loan-to-Income (LTI)
The maximum LTI for both Credit Assist and Credit Renew is x4.49.
Maximum Loan Size
The maximum loan size for both Credit Assist and Credit Renew is £500,000.
County Court Judgements (CCJs)
Credit Assist: Maximum total value £500. Credit Renew: No maximum value; CCJs over £2,500 must be referred to the BDM team. Must be satisfied before completion. None within the last 3 months.
Missed payments on Mortgages / Secured Loans / HP / Unsecured Loans
Credit Assist: Up to 2 months’ arrears in the last 24 months, plus up to 4 consecutive months’ arrears in the last 24-60 months. None in the last 3 months. Credit Renew: Up to 4 months’ late payments in the last 24 months. None in the last 6 months.
Debt Management Plans (DMPs)
Must be satisfied on Credit Assist. Unsatisfied accepted on Credit Renew subject to satisfactory conduct for a minimum of 12 months. None registered within the last 12 months.
Credit Assist vs Credit Renew
Use the table below to compare the criteria for both our Credit Assist and Credit Renew product ranges to see where your client will be best placed. If you need further assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact our team.
| Credit Area | Credit Assist | Credit Renew |
|---|---|---|
| Arrangement to Pay | Contact our BDM team. | Contact our BDM team. |
| County Court Judgements (CCJs)² | Maximum total value £500 – satisfied. None within the last 3 months. | No maximum total value. For CCJs totalling more than £2,500, please refer to the BDM team. Must be satisfied before completion. None within the last 3 months. |
| Communication (Mobile Phones) | Any number of late payments. | Any number of late payments. |
| Debt Consolidation | Accepted up to maximum product LTV of 80%. | Accepted up to maximum product LTV of 75%. |
| Debt Management Plans (DMPs) | None registered within the last 12 months. Must be satisfied and discharged before completion. | None registered within the last 12 months. Unsatisfied accepted subject to satisfactory conduct for a minimum of 12 months. |
| Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVAs), Debt Relief Orders, Bankruptcy | Discharged > 3 years. | Discharged > 3 years. |
| Maximum Loan Size | £500,000 | £500,000 |
| Maximum LTI | x4.49 | x4.49 |
| Maximum Loan-to-Value | 80% | 75% |
| Mortgages, Secured Loans, Hire Purchase or Unsecured loans⁴ | Up to 2 months’ arrears within the last 24 months. Up to a maximum of 4 consecutive months’ arrears within 24-60 months. No arrears within the last 3 months. | Up to 4 months late payments within the last 24 months. None within the last 6 months. |
| Payday Loans | The maximum total value of £500 last 36 months. None within the last 6 months. | The maximum total value of £1,000. None within the last 3 months. |
| Repossessions | Not acceptable. | Not acceptable. |
| Unsecured Credit (Credit Cards, Utilities, Bank Account, Mail Orders) | Maximum of 5 consecutive missed payments. Over 24 months – Ignored. | Maximum of 5 consecutive missed payments. Over 24 months – Ignored. |
| Unsecured Defaults (Communication Suppliers, parking fines, Credit Cards, Mail Order, Bank Account, Utilities)³ | Maximum total value £2,500 – satisfied. None within the last 3 months. | No maximum value if satisfied. None within the last 3 months. |
| All lending criteria is subject to full underwriting assessment. ² ³CCJs and Defaults must be satisfied by completion. |
⁴Defaults on secured borrowing and unsecured loans
- Borrowing secured against property: This includes mortgages and second-charge loans. At least five years must have elapsed since the default was satisfied.
- Borrowing secured against an asset other than property or unsecured loans: This includes car finance secured against a vehicle, other secured loans and unsecured personal loans. At least five years must have elapsed since the default was registered.
Get in touch
To speak to a member of our team, call 01455 894 084, or click contact us to send us an email. You can also personally connect with one of our dedicated Business Development Managers or chat to us via LiveChat.
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