If your current mortgage deal is ending and you have adverse credit on your file, you may be concerned about your ability to secure a better rate. Remortgaging with adverse credit can feel complicated, particularly if you are unsure how missed payments, defaults or County Court Judgments might affect your eligibility.
However, a bad credit remortgage may be possible with the right approach. A Just Mortgages adviser can review your credit history, assess your affordability, and search across a wide range of lenders, including specialist mortgage lenders, to help you find the right remortgage deal available for your individual circumstances.
What Is Considered Adverse Credit?
Adverse credit refers to negative information recorded on your credit report. This may include late payments, defaults, CCJs, Individual Voluntary Arrangements, debt management plans or bankruptcy. Mortgage lenders use your credit history to assess risk when reviewing a remortgage application.
Importantly, lenders do not simply look at the presence of bad credit. They assess when the issue occurred, the size of the debt, whether it has been satisfied, and how you have managed your finances since. A historic missed payment from several years ago is typically viewed differently from a recent unsatisfied default.
Understanding how mortgage lenders interpret adverse credit is essential when searching for competitive remortgage rates.
Can You Get a Remortgage with Bad Credit?
Yes, although your options may differ from someone with a clean credit profile. Some high street lenders have strict criteria, but there are specialist mortgage lenders who focus specifically on helping borrowers remortgage with bad credit.
When assessing a bad credit remortgage, lenders will look at your current income, employment stability, monthly outgoings, loan to value ratio and overall affordability. If you have maintained your existing mortgage repayments on time, this can strengthen your application significantly.
A Just Mortgages adviser can identify which lenders are most likely to consider your application, helping you avoid unnecessary declines and protecting your credit score.
Why Remortgaging with Adverse Credit Can Still Be Beneficial
If your fixed rate mortgage is coming to an end, you may move onto your lender’s standard variable rate. This is often higher and can increase your monthly mortgage payments. Even with adverse credit, securing a more suitable remortgage deal could reduce your repayments compared to remaining on a higher variable rate.
If your property has increased in value, your loan to value ratio may have improved. A lower loan to value can open access to more competitive remortgage rates, even if you have experienced financial difficulties in the past.
Some homeowners also consider releasing equity through a remortgage. This involves increasing your borrowing against your property and must be assessed carefully to ensure it remains affordable in the long term. Professional mortgage advice is particularly important when adverse credit is involved.
How Lenders Assess a Bad Credit Remortgage Application
When reviewing a remortgage application with adverse credit, lenders will assess affordability, credit history and risk. They will examine the severity and timing of any credit issues, whether debts have been satisfied, your current income and employment status, and your existing mortgage conduct.
Each lender has different criteria, which is why comparing a wide range of mortgage deals is crucial. Applying to the wrong lender can lead to unnecessary rejections, which may further impact your credit file.
An experienced Just Mortgages adviser understands lender criteria in detail and can guide you towards the most suitable remortgage options from the outset.
Finding the Right Remortgage Deal with Adverse Credit
Finding the right remortgage deal is about more than just securing the lowest interest rate. Arrangement fees, early repayment charges, affordability requirements and overall borrowing costs all play a role in determining the most cost-effective option.
A Just Mortgages adviser can carry out a detailed review of your current mortgage, analyse your credit profile, and compare competitive remortgage deals across a wide panel of lenders, including those specialising in adverse credit mortgages. This tailored approach helps ensure you are matched with the right remortgage solution based on your full financial position.
Final Thoughts
Remortgaging with adverse credit may feel challenging, but it does not mean you are out of options. With access to specialist mortgage lenders and expert mortgage advice, many homeowners are still able to secure competitive remortgage rates and avoid paying more than necessary.
By working with a Just Mortgages adviser, you benefit from tailored guidance, comparisons across a wide range of lenders and support throughout the entire remortgage application process. With the right advice and a clear understanding of your credit position, you can find the right remortgage deal for your circumstances and move forward with greater financial confidence.
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Approved by The Openwork Partnership on 05/03/2026.