CCJs · Defaults · IVAs · Discharged Bankruptcy
Bridging Loans for Adverse & Bad Credit
Your credit history doesn't define your deal. Past CCJs, defaults, missed payments — even bankruptcy — don't have to prevent you from securing bridging finance. Bridging loans for bad credit (sometimes called adverse-credit bridging) are a well-established niche product, and we work with specialist lenders who focus on the property and the exit strategy, not just a credit score.
£250k – £25m+
Loan Size
1 – 18 months
Typical Term
Up to 70% LTV
Typical LTV
Key Features
What We Offer
CCJs, defaults, and missed payments considered
Past credit issues don't have to stop your project. We have lenders who look beyond your credit file.
Asset-focused underwriting
Our specialist lenders focus on the property value, the deal, and the exit strategy — not just your credit score.
Previous bankruptcy or IVA considered
Even significant adverse credit history can be accommodated by the right lender with the right deal.
No minimum credit score requirement
Unlike banks, our specialist lenders don't use automated credit scoring. Every deal is assessed on its own merits.
Available for all bridging purposes
Purchases, refinances, capital raising, refurbishment — adverse credit options across all our services.
We present your deal in the best light
How the deal is structured and presented matters. We know which lenders are most flexible and how to position your application.
Ideal For
Common Scenarios
CCJs or Defaults on File
You have county court judgements or defaults showing on your credit file. We find lenders who look past these to the deal itself.
Previous Business Failure
A previous company went into administration or liquidation. Your current deal is strong — we find lenders who agree.
Mortgage Arrears History
Past arrears on a mortgage don't have to prevent you from securing bridging for your next project.
Complex Credit History
Multiple issues across your credit file — missed payments, high utilisation, thin credit history. We have options.
Typical Costs
What You'll Pay
Every deal is different, but here's what to budget for on a typical adverse credit bridging facility. Use our calculator to estimate total costs for your specific deal.
Interest Rate
0.65–1.10% per month, rolled up (premium reflects credit risk).
Arrangement Fee
1.5–2.5% of the gross loan.
Valuation Fee
£500–£3,000+ depending on property value. Paid directly to the surveyor.
Legal Fees
Your solicitor + lender's solicitor. Budget £2,000–£5,000+ for both sides.
Exit Fee
0–1% of the loan.
Broker Fee
Our fee is typically 1% of the net loan, payable on completion. No upfront fees.
How It Works
Getting Funded Despite Credit Issues
Tell Us the Full Picture
Be upfront about your credit history — CCJs, defaults, missed payments, previous insolvency. We need to know what's on file so we can match you with the right lender. We also need the deal details: property, loan amount, and exit strategy.
We Position Your Application
How the deal is presented matters enormously with adverse credit. We know which lenders are flexible on specific types of adverse, how to frame the narrative, and what supporting information makes the difference between a yes and a no.
Complete and Exit
Once approved, the process is the same as any bridging facility — valuation, legal work, and drawdown. Exit via sale, refinance, or other planned route. During the bridge term, you may also have the opportunity to improve your credit position for better long-term refinance terms.
Common Questions
Adverse Credit FAQ
Will adverse credit affect the rate I pay?
How recent does the adverse credit need to be?
Can I get bridging finance if I've been bankrupt?
Do I need to declare all adverse credit upfront?
Can I get bridging with an active CCJ?
Does adverse credit affect the maximum LTV?
What’s the difference between adverse credit bridging and a regular bridging loan?
Can adverse credit prevent me from refinancing at the end of the bridge?
Types of Adverse We Handle
Not All Adverse Credit Is Treated The Same
Lenders distinguish carefully between different types of credit history. A historic, satisfied default on a small consumer debt is treated very differently from a recent business insolvency. Understanding where your case sits — and which lenders are genuinely flexible on your specific issues — is the foundation of a workable application.
CCJs — Active or Satisfied
County Court Judgements are common. Satisfied CCJs (paid in full) are viewed materially more favourably than unsatisfied ones, especially after 12 months. We have lenders who will consider both, with the amount, age, and supporting context all bearing on terms.
Defaults & Missed Payments
Defaults remain on file for 6 years. Most specialist bridging lenders are far more concerned about the recency than the existence — defaults older than 24 months and now satisfied rarely block a deal at all on a strong asset.
Mortgage Arrears History
Past mortgage arrears are taken seriously because they speak directly to repayment behaviour on secured debt. We work with lenders comfortable with historic arrears provided there is a clear narrative on what changed and current evidence of conduct. Recent arrears are harder.
IVA & Debt Management Plans
Active IVAs typically require lender consent and documentation from the supervisor. Completed IVAs (discharged) are viewed similarly to discharged bankruptcy — possible to lend against, with the right narrative and asset. We have lenders comfortable with both active and historic IVAs.
Bankruptcy — Discharged
Discharged bankruptcy is routinely considered. Lenders want to understand the circumstances (business failure vs. personal mismanagement), elapsed time since discharge, and current financial conduct. Strong asset and clear exit go a long way to neutralising historic bankruptcy.
Previous Business Insolvency
A failed previous company — administration, liquidation, CVA — sits separately from personal bankruptcy. Lenders care whether you were a director, what the cause of failure was, and whether you have rebuilt successfully. We frame this carefully on your behalf.
What Lenders Need
Adverse Credit — Documentation Checklist
With adverse credit, presentation matters more than on a clean case. The same set of facts can be approved by one lender and declined by another based purely on how the information is presented and supported. Here is what to have ready.
Full Credit Reports — All Three Bureaux
Recent reports from Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. Different lenders pull from different bureaux, and the records can vary — what shows on Experian may not show on Equifax. Comprehensive coverage avoids surprises mid-process.
Adverse Explanation Letter
A clear, written narrative addressing each adverse entry — what happened, when, what changed, and how the situation has been resolved or ring-fenced. This single document is the most important presentation tool for an adverse-credit deal.
Recent Bank Statements (6 months)
Personal and business statements covering the last 6 months. Lenders want to see current account conduct, regular income, and absence of bounced payments. Clean recent conduct mitigates historic adverse heavily.
Asset Statement
Schedule of properties owned, any other significant assets, current mortgages and balances. A strong asset position offsets credit concerns — lenders want to see that you have something to lose.
Discharge / Satisfaction Evidence
For discharged bankruptcy: the discharge certificate. For satisfied CCJs: the certificate of satisfaction. For completed IVAs: the certificate of completion. Documentary evidence converts "I think it's resolved" into "here is the proof".
Exit Strategy Evidence
If exit is refinance, an indicative AIP from the target long-term lender accounting for your credit position. If sale, marketing strategy. Adverse credit makes exit credibility even more important — lenders need to see the bridge can be repaid.
Avoid These Mistakes
Common Pitfalls With Adverse Credit Bridging
Adverse-credit applications fail for predictable reasons. Most failures are presentation issues, not underlying credit issues. Here are the patterns we see most often and how to avoid them.
Failure to disclose
The single most common reason adverse-credit deals collapse late in the process. Lenders run searches and anything previously undeclared destroys trust. Full disclosure at the front end is non-negotiable — we can present anything; we can't recover from a credibility breach.
No narrative around the adverse
Just listing the adverse entries on the application form is the worst possible approach. Lenders need context — what happened, what changed, what is different now. A clean narrative letter often makes the difference between an approval and a decline on identical raw facts.
Exit lender mismatch
Bridging onto an adverse-friendly term lender works. Bridging onto a high-street mortgage that won't lend to anyone with a 4-year-old default does not. The exit must be tested against the actual lender, not a generic assumption.
Applying to the wrong lender first
Each declined application leaves a search footprint and may surface as additional adverse data later. Approaching mainstream-credit-criteria lenders with significant adverse just generates declines. Match the case to the right specialist first time.
Expecting clean-credit pricing
Adverse-credit bridging carries a rate premium. The premium is usually modest — often 0.1–0.4% per month above clean-credit pricing — but it is real. Pricing expectations need to be calibrated to the asset, the adverse profile, and the LTV before going to lenders.
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Real Results
Deals We've Structured
Ready to Discuss Your Project?
Get an indicative quote or arrange a call with a specialist. If we can respond immediately we will, otherwise within 2 hours during business hours.