I’m Charles Calvert, a mortgage broker at Easy Mortgages. This is general information, not personal advice. Always check the figures against your own situation before you decide anything.
“Can I get a mortgage with bad credit in Hampshire?” is one of the searches that brings people to Easy Mortgages every week. The short answer is: not always blocked. It depends what sits on your file, how long ago it was, whether it is satisfied, and how strong the rest of your application looks.
Mortgage pricing has started to move after a long spell of very low Bank Rate, so deposit size and product choice matter more than they did a year ago.
What “bad credit” can mean
In everyday language, bad credit covers a lot. On a credit file it might mean late payments, defaults, county court judgements (CCJs), individual voluntary arrangements (IVAs), bankruptcy markers, debt management plans or simply high credit utilisation. Lenders weigh the type of mark, how recent it is, the amount involved and whether your recent behaviour looks stable.
Two people who both say they have “bad credit” can look completely different to an underwriter. A satisfied CCJ from several years ago is not the same as multiple recent missed payments. That is why guessing from a forum post rarely helps — your own file does.
Timelines at a high level
Many marks become less damaging as they age, and UK credit reporting rules mean some information drops off after set periods. Exact lender treatment varies. As a rough guide only: recent missed payments and unsatisfied CCJs are harder; older, satisfied issues may still be workable with the right lender. IVA and bankruptcy histories usually need more time and careful packaging. Always check your own reports rather than relying on a rule of thumb from the internet.
High-street vs specialist lenders
High-street banks often run tight automated scorecards. If you fall outside those rules, specialist lenders can look at the whole story — stable income, a solid deposit, a clear explanation of what went wrong and evidence that things have improved. Those cases take more work to package and present.
Where a specialist or adverse case is needed, my fee is £895, payable once you receive a full mortgage offer. That reflects the extra packaging and underwriting work, not a judgement on you.
Check your file before you apply
Before any hard credit search for a full application, pull your own reports. Services such as Checkmyfile (which offers a 7-day trial) or Experian let you see what lenders will see. Fix errors promptly, settle what you can, and avoid opening new credit while you prepare. Multiple hard searches in a short window can also make the picture look busy.
Why deposit and timing matter more right now
When rates and criteria are shifting, a stronger deposit can open more doors even with imperfect credit, because the loan-to-value is lower. Conversely, stretching to 95% LTV with recent credit issues often narrows the panel sharply. If you are still rebuilding your file, sometimes waiting a few months for a mark to age — while saving a larger deposit — is the kinder strategy. That is a planning conversation, not a promise about any one lender.
Hampshire context
I help clients from Fareham, Gosport, Portsmouth, Southampton and across Hampshire. Local property prices still set how large the loan needs to be. A clear explanation letter, up-to-date bank statements and honest disclosure of every commitment go a long way with underwriters who are willing to look beyond a score alone.
What to bring to a broker chat
- A summary of any CCJs, defaults or late payments and when they happened.
- Rough income figures and existing monthly commitments.
- How much deposit you have (or expect from a gift).
- The type of property you are aiming for and a price range.
- Any IVA, debt management or bankruptcy history with dates.
Next step
If you want a broker review of your credit position before you speak to estate agents, send an enquiry and we can talk through realistic options — information first, no hard sell.
If you would like to talk this through for your own numbers, you can get in touch here or email contact@easy-mortgages.co.uk. I am based in Fareham and help clients across Hampshire.