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Getting a mortgage with a bad credit score could soon get easier

Joanna Faith
Written By:
Joanna Faith
Posted:
Updated:
02/04/2019

Virgin Money’s decision to loosen its lending criteria to allow people with poor credit histories to apply for a mortgage could be a sign that mainstream lenders are becoming more flexible when it comes to such borrowers.

Virgin Money previously did not accept applications from people with County Court Judgements (CCJs) against them, but last month said they would accept people who have “satisfied” CCJs up to £500.

A CCJ is a type of court order issued against you if you owe someone money and fail to repay it.

‘Complexities of modern life’

Last year, Registry Trust reported that in 2017 the number of CCJs passed in England and Wales was 1,138,058 – more than in any other year since the trust started recording CCJs on behalf of the Ministry of Justice in 2005.

By the end of the third quarter of 2018, 850,000 CCJs had been issued for the year.

The rise in CCJs, and the relative ease with which they are issued today, is one reason why Virgin Money’s announcement was welcomed by Nicholas Morrey of mortgage adviser John Charcol:

“Given the complexities of modern life, and the fact minor adverse entries on credit files are on the up, we believe that Virgin are simply recognising modern life,” he said.

“If someone has a dispute with a mobile phone provider, for example, that they cannot resolve through a customer services department that is remarkably quick to lodge a default or a CCJ then that does not necessarily mean they are a bad prospect for mortgage purposes.

“Virgin’s approach is a positive one that we welcome for minor adverse cases that could otherwise cause borrowers to be forced out of mainstream lending towards ‘sub-prime’ products for years just for a misunderstanding that has led to an unfortunate conclusion with expensive ramifications.”

‘The market will grow’

Paul Adams, sales director at Pepper Money, which also lends to borrowers with CCJs, expects to see an increase in such applications.

He said: “In recent years we have seen a trend for growing numbers of CCJs to be issued to more people, for smaller amounts. So, it is natural to assume that demand for mortgages from borrowers who have received CCJs is also likely to increase and lenders have developed criteria and processes to cater for these clients in a way that is accessible and responsible. I think this part of the market will grow.

“Life does not always run smoothly and sometimes people encounter difficulties such as redundancy, illness or divorce, which can leave a lasting impact on their credit file. As long as customers are able to demonstrate that a mortgage is affordable and sustainable, they should not be denied access to the market.”

Flexibility at a cost

In August 2007, on the eve of the financial crisis, there were 5,106 credit-impaired mortgage deals available. Today, Moneyfacts puts the figure at 590.

Of these, the average rate for a two-year fixed is 4.36% – a far cry from the 2.48% available to full status borrowers. For a five-year fixed, the rate has increased from 4.76% to 4.92% in the past six months.

As Kulvir Singh, a broker at City Mortgage Solutions, said: “The problem is that as soon as you get a CCJ your interest rate is going to be significantly higher than it will be for a vanilla client. I’m sure more lenders will open up in future (to borrowers with bad credit). But it will be at a cost.”

However, Darren Cook, of Moneyfacts, believes such deals are an “essential option” for some borrowers:

“Customers who are minor credit impaired may be those who have experienced an ‘exceptional circumstance’ to place them in that situation, so as long as the mainstream lender does not see ‘’bad debts’ as a customer’s habitual problem, some providers will most probably continue to entertain minor debt lending.

“If there is sufficient demand and other mainstream lenders see themselves able to manage this type of riskier lending, other mainstream lenders may considering this option.”