How to get a joint mortgage if one of you has bad credit

Can you get a joint mortgage if one of you has bad credit?

Yes, although how easy it is depends on the lender and on the type of credit problem.

Each of you has your own credit file, and there is no ‘joint report’. The lender reads both files and then looks at the application as a whole. A strong file can help your income and deposit stack up, but it will not hide a recent default on the other file.

Most joint mortgages have two applicants, and some lenders allow up to four people. Every extra person adds another credit file for the lender to read.

Why people apply jointly

The main reason is affordability.

Lenders add your incomes together when they decide how much to lend, so two earners can usually borrow more than one. For example, say one of you earns £90,000 and the other £50,000. A lender using 4.5 times income might offer up to £630,000 on the joint income, against £405,000 on the higher earner alone. These are example figures only, because each lender sets its own income multiple.

A joint application also means you are each responsible for the debt. If one person stops paying, the lender can ask the other for the missed payments, so talk through the risks before you sign.

How your credit files become linked

When you apply for credit together, the credit reference agencies record a financial association between you.

The link comes from sharing credit, such as a joint account, loan or mortgage, and marriage on its own does not create it. You can each see the other’s name on your report, and a lender may check your associate’s history later, even if you apply alone.

If you split up and no longer share finances, you can ask the agencies to remove the link. You will need to show that the connection has ended.

What’s your credit status?

Start by getting a credit report for each person, because everyone has an individual file. You can get these from the credit reference agencies that offer online credit reports.

Each agency can show slightly different details, so look at all three if you can. Online provider CheckMyFile can access three credit reference agencies at once, while one agency also offers a free account and a statutory credit report.

Look for errors, accounts you do not recognise and old financial associations before a lender sees them. The reports also come with some guidance on improving your credit score, but mortgage lenders see more than you do.

Credit checks by mortgage lenders

Lenders combine agency data with their own questions on income, outgoings and existing debts. They then apply internal scoring to decide whether to lend and on what terms.

Two lenders can reach different decisions from the same file because each applies its own criteria to the age and size of a problem. A specialist broker knows which lenders look more kindly on yours.

Soft and hard credit checks

Soft credit checks do not affect your credit score and only you can see them. Many lenders use one at the decision in principle stage, which gives an early indication of what they might lend.

Hard checks leave a footprint that other lenders can see for 1 year, and several in a short period can lower your score. That is a good reason to avoid applying to lender after lender. Checking your own credit report does not affect your credit score, so it is worth doing once a year.

How bad credit affects a joint mortgage application

Bad credit can reduce your choice of lenders, raise the deposit you need and push up the cost of borrowing. The size of each effect depends on the type and age of the problem, and specialist lenders are often more flexible than high street ones.

Lending criteria

Lenders can set extra criteria for joint applications with adverse credit. They may ask for longer financial records or an explanation of what caused the problem. They may also limit how much they will lend compared with applicants who have clean files.

Deposit

A lender may ask for a bigger deposit when either applicant has poor credit, so plan for more than a borrower with a clean file would need. Lenders set their own limits, and working with a specialist lender may give you a loan-to-value (LTV) percentage closer to a standard mortgage.

The wider market gives context. The FCA’s mortgage lending statistics show that 8.4% of gross mortgage advances went above 90% LTV in the second quarter of 2026. That was the highest share since the second quarter of 2008. In the same quarter, 47.5% went above 75% LTV. A deposit of less than 10% is still the exception, and with adverse credit you should expect to need more.

Here is how the numbers work, as an example only. On a £600,000 home, a 10% deposit is £60,000 and the mortgage is £540,000, while a 25% deposit is £150,000 and the mortgage is £450,000. The £90,000 gap is the extra stake you put in, and lenders weigh that heavily when your credit is imperfect.

Interest rate

Lenders usually give higher-risk borrowers higher interest rates, so poor credit can raise the overall cost of your mortgage. A bigger deposit and a lower LTV tend to bring a lower rate. Rates change often, and a broker can check what is on offer today.

Specialist mortgages

Fewer lenders offer subprime mortgages, which are aimed at borrowers with poor credit, and the choice shrinks further for higher-risk property. That includes homes that could fall in value, such as non-standard construction or new build properties, as well as shared ownership.

Types of bad credit and how lenders see them

Lenders weigh each type of credit problem differently. They look at the size, the timing and whether you have settled it.

No credit history

A non-existent credit history shows nothing negative, but it also gives a lender no evidence that you pay on time each month. A track record is what gives them confidence that you can repay the loan.

County court judgments (CCJs)

A CCJ stays on the Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines for 6 years, according to GOV.UK. If you pay in full within one month, you can have it removed, and if you pay later it stays but is marked as satisfied.

A court certificate to prove either costs £19 at the time of writing. Registry Trust recorded 996,261 new consumer judgments in England and Wales in 2025, so lenders see them often. A lender will usually prefer a CCJ that is settled with no later problems, while some specialist lenders will consider recent or unsettled ones.

Individual voluntary arrangements (IVAs)

An IVA is a formal agreement to repay debts over time, and it can complicate a mortgage application.

Experian holds insolvency data for lending decisions for 6 years from the start date, or until the stated end date if that is later. Many lenders want the IVA fully paid off, and the further back it was, the easier it becomes. Some mainstream lenders reject any IVA record. A few specialist lenders will accept an ongoing one if it will be cleared before the mortgage term ends.

Defaults and late payments

A default is recorded when an account is closed after payments have been missed for a long period.

Getting a joint mortgage with defaults on your credit history can be harder. Much depends on the size, age and type of default and on whether you have settled it. Small, old, settled defaults often matter less than recent or unsettled ones.

The effect of missed payments fades with time. One missed payment more than a year ago counts for less than several recent ones. Some lenders will want to discuss repeated misses before they go any further.

Bankruptcy and repossession

Bankruptcy is a serious issue, and many lenders will not consider an application until a long period has passed since discharge. Even then you may face higher interest rates, higher fees and a larger minimum deposit.

Lenders view house repossession as a major issue because they want to avoid a repeat. If it happened long enough ago, though, some lenders may still help.

Applying with a single borrower

Why you might apply in one name

One option is to apply for the mortgage in the name of whoever has the better credit file. It can open up mainstream lenders, which tend to cost less than specialist ones. It may also bring a lower deposit requirement and a lower rate.

The trade-off is affordability, because the lender will use only one income. In the earlier example, that means about £405,000 on the higher earner’s income against £630,000 on both, which may rule out your preferred property.

What to check before you decide

Check three things:

• Lender policy. Rules on sole applications differ, especially where a partner will live in the property, so a broker will check each lender’s rules before you apply.
• Consent. In the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook, many lenders say any adult occupier who is not on the mortgage must sign a consent form. Some also require independent legal advice.
• Ownership. Who owns the home depends on the names registered with HM Land Registry, not on who is on the mortgage. If you both want to be owners, you choose between joint tenants and tenants in common when you register. You can also add a partner as an owner later by transferring ownership.

Take legal advice first. The partner left off the mortgage may still have a stake in the home. Your lender’s terms may also limit what you can change later.

Improving your credit status before you apply

Time and steady habits improve a credit file, so preparation usually means fixing what you can before you apply. A better file widens your choice of lenders and may lower the cost.

Settle outstanding debts and defaults

Repay overdue debts and defaults before you apply, starting with the ones that are most recent. Settling them shows lenders that you deal with problems, and a settled default usually reads better than an unsettled one.

Allow time for credit events to pass

If your problems involve CCJs, IVAs or a recent bankruptcy, give enough time to pass before you apply again. Lenders prefer these events to be further in the past, and a CCJ drops off the register after 6 years.

Waiting is not always the right call. If you rent while you wait, that rent is not building your deposit, and a lender’s view of a CCJ or default does not change on a fixed date. A specialist lender may consider you sooner than you expect. The honest answer depends on the size of the problem, your deposit and the rest of your file.

Build steady credit habits

A few habits make the biggest difference:

• Pay on time: Keep every bill, loan and credit card payment up to date, because late or missed payments hurt your rating.
• Keep balances low: Aim to stay well below your overdraft and card limits, since high use can suggest financial strain.
• Limit new applications: Each application leaves a hard footprint that can temporarily lower your credit score.
• Check the electoral register: Lenders can read a missing entry at your current address as a risk.

If debts are behind the problem, free advice from a debt charity can help you plan repayments. A broker can then tell you when a lender might be ready to look at your case.

What causes bad credit?

Bad credit can affect anyone. Illness, divorce or job loss can disrupt your income and lead to missed bills. The damage grows if that ends in defaults, CCJs, IVAs, debt management plans or bankruptcy.

Borrowing patterns count as well. Relying on payday loans or applying for several credit cards at once can make a lender see you as unstable. A mainstream lender may then decline you, while a specialist lender is often ready to look at your case.

Working with a specialist mortgage broker

A specialist mortgage broker knows which lenders look at which credit problems, which saves you from applying blind and collecting hard searches. A broker may charge a fee, so ask for the cost before you agree.

Access to more lenders

Going direct limits you to one lender’s rules, while a whole-of-market broker can compare lenders that specialise in credit issues. They can help you find the products that match your situation and tell you which lenders are worth skipping.

Presenting your case well

A broker can explain the background to a CCJ, IVA or bankruptcy in the way a lender wants to see it, and can talk to lenders for you. With defaults, a discharged bankruptcy or both on your file, they can match your history to lenders who have accepted similar cases.

Keeping the application moving

A broker knows what each lender asks for and can gather the paperwork, chase the lender and flag problems early. That usually saves time and avoids rejected applications that leave a footprint on your file.

Next steps if one of you has bad credit

Check both credit reports, settle what you can and decide whether to apply jointly or in one name. Then speak to an independent mortgage broker before any lender runs a hard search, because each application leaves a mark on your file.

Respect Mortgages can introduce you to an independent mortgage broker who works with lenders that consider bad credit.