Getting a mortgage after defaults or missed payments. What lenders look at, how timing changes your options, and what to do before you apply. General information, not a personal recommendation.

01 · Usually still possible

A past credit problem rarely closes the door.

Many lenders will consider an application with defaults or missed payments on file. What changes is which lenders, how much deposit you need and the rate you are offered.

Every lender asks the same questions: what happened, when, how much it was for, whether it has been settled, and how you have managed credit since. A small default from four years ago that has been paid off is a very different picture from a recent one that is still outstanding, and lenders treat them very differently.

02 · Types of credit problem

Types of credit problem.

Our credit file guide covers these in more detail, including how to dispute an entry that is wrong.

03 · What changes your options

What changes your options.

How recent it is

The last twelve months carry the most weight, then the last two to three years. Older problems with clean conduct since often matter much less.

How large it was

A small default on a phone contract is treated differently from a large one on a loan or credit card. Some lenders ignore very small settled defaults altogether.

Whether it is settled

Settling a default changes its status to “satisfied”. It still shows for six years, but lenders consistently prefer settled debts to outstanding ones.

What kind of account it was

Missed mortgage or secured loan payments are viewed more seriously than a missed utility bill.

How much deposit you have

A larger deposit widens the choice of lenders and improves the terms. As a rough guide, one or two older missed payments may need nothing beyond a normal deposit, while recent defaults or CCJs often mean a deposit of 15 to 25% with a specialist lender.

04 · Mainstream and specialist lenders

Mainstream and specialist lenders.

Some people start with a specialist lender and move to a mainstream lender when their first deal ends, once their history has had time to improve. That is a sensible route when it fits, and something we would plan for from the start rather than leave to chance.

05 · Timing

Timing can matter more than anything else.

If a default is due to drop off your file in a few months, waiting may open up mainstream lenders and better rates. If a suitable lender would accept it now, waiting may cost you more than it saves. The answer depends on your dates, your deposit and how quickly you need to move.

That is exactly the kind of decision we can only make with your credit file in front of us, which is why we ask for it first.

06 · Before you apply

Before you apply.

1. See all three credit files. Lenders may check Experian, Equifax or TransUnion, and they do not always hold the same information. How to get your file.
2. Correct anything wrong. Disputes can take up to 28 days, so start early.
3. Settle what you can. A satisfied default reads better than an outstanding one.
4. Keep everything up to date from now on. Recent clean months are the strongest evidence you can give.
5. Avoid new credit and multiple applications. Each full application leaves a hard search other lenders can see.
6. Keep your bank statements clean. Lenders read them too: returned payments and regular unplanned overdraft use stand out.

07 · Being upfront

Tell us everything at the start.

Lenders will see your credit file whatever you tell them, and an application that does not mention something the lender later finds is far more likely to be declined than one that explains it up front.

When we know the full picture, we approach a lender whose criteria already fit it, and we set out the context in writing: what happened, why, and what has changed since.

08 · If you are struggling now

If you are struggling with payments now.

If you are currently behind on a mortgage or other debts, the first step is to speak to your lender, which must consider options such as a temporary change to your payments. Free, confidential debt advice is available from MoneyHelper, StepChange and Citizens Advice.

A new mortgage is rarely the right answer while payments are being missed. Getting back on track first usually leads to better options later.

09 · Quick answers

Can I get a mortgage with a default?

Often, yes. Many lenders consider applicants with defaults, especially if they are settled, small or more than a year or two old. Recent or larger defaults usually mean a specialist lender, a higher rate and a larger deposit.

Does paying off a default remove it?

No. Settling a default marks it as satisfied, but it stays on your credit file for six years from the default date. Lenders still prefer it settled.

How long do missed payments affect a mortgage application?

They stay on your file for six years, but their weight fades. Missed payments in the last twelve months matter most; older ones with clean conduct since often matter much less.

10 · Sources

Sources and further reading.

Correct as at October 2026. Lender criteria, rates and rules change; this is general information, not a personal recommendation.

• TransUnion — how long CCJs stay on your credit file
• MoneyHelper — free, government-backed money guidance
• StepChange — free debt advice
• Citizens Advice — debt and money