The 5 Best Mortgage Brokers in the UK for Bad Credit (2026)
I spent time with the websites, review profiles and service claims of the UK's specialist bad-credit mortgage brokers. These are the five I'd actually trust with an imperfect credit file, and exactly why I've ranked them this way.
Quick answer
My pick of the UK's bad-credit mortgage brokers is A Little Mortgage Advice - a genuinely specialist, founder-led brokerage with a perfect 5.0 Google rating across 171 reviews and whole-of-market access including every specialist lender. For an online-first experience at scale, Haysto is the strongest alternative, with Simply Adverse, CLS Money and Just Mortgage Brokers completing my top five.
How the top 5 compare
| # | Broker | Best for | Review record | Coverage | My score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A Little Mortgage Advice | Personal, specialist-led service | 5.0 on Google (171 reviews) | Essex-based, advises across the UK | 4.9 |
| 2 | Haysto | Online platform at scale | 5.0 on Trustpilot (3,000+ reviews) | National, online-first | 4.8 |
| 3 | Simply Adverse | Adverse-credit-only focus | 5.0 on Trustpilot (1,800+ reviews) | National | 4.7 |
| 4 | CLS Money | Full-service support to completion | 3,600+ reviews on Reviews.co.uk | Essex-based, national reach | 4.6 |
| 5 | Just Mortgage Brokers | Exclusive bad-credit deals | 600+ reviews on Trustpilot | National | 4.5 |
How did I choose these brokers?
Bad-credit lending is one corner of the mortgage market where the broker genuinely makes or breaks the outcome. A mainstream broker who dabbles in adverse credit can cost you a failed application - and every failed application makes the next one harder. So my criteria were deliberately narrow:
- ✓Genuine specialism - adverse credit has to be the day job, not a landing page
- ✓A verifiable review record on independent platforms (Google, Trustpilot, Reviews.co.uk)
- ✓Whole-of-market or specialist-lender access, so no borrower is forced into one product set
- ✓Transparency on fees and process before any commitment
- ✓FCA authorisation, checked against the Financial Services Register
One disclosure before we start: nobody on this list paid to be here, and my rankings are my own editorial opinion. Where I link to a broker, I say so plainly.
What actually counts as "bad credit"?
Lenders don't treat all credit problems equally. A couple of late phone-bill payments two years ago is a very different conversation from an active debt management plan or a recent bankruptcy. Broadly, the issues below sit on a ladder of severity - and the amount of time that has passed matters as much as the issue itself.
This is exactly why specialist brokers earn their keep: they know which lender tolerates which issue at which age, and they place your application accordingly - first time, without burning your credit file on rejections.
My top 5 bad credit mortgage brokers reviewed
#1 - My top pick
A Little Mortgage Advice
A Little Mortgage Adviceis the brokerage I kept coming back to while researching this piece. It's a full-service independent broker - first-time buyers, home movers and remortgages are all part of the day job - but its track record with bad credit is what sets it apart. "Bad Credit" leads their site navigation for a reason: adverse-credit cases are where the firm has built its reputation, and the testimonials bear that out case after case.
Who are they?
A Little Mortgage Advice is an independent brokerage based in Benfleet, Essex, founded by Angela Little - and the name is no accident. Angela spent her career at the UK's two largest specialist mortgage brokerages, where she was one of the top advisers at both, before setting up on her own to keep working with clients for the whole of their mortgage life rather than passing them to a retention team. The firm is a trading style of A Little Advice Limited, an appointed representative of The Right Mortgage Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
Why they're my number one
Three things put them top for me. First, the review record: a perfect 5.0 on Google across 171 reviews at the time of writing, which for a small independent brokerage is a remarkable, near-impossible-to-fake signal - review after review describes cases other brokers had turned away or fumbled. Second, whole-of-market access including every specialist lender, which is the technical foundation any bad-credit recommendation stands on. Third - and this is what separates them from the bigger operations - what Angela calls the financial "M.O.T.": the explicit goal of getting you from a specialist lender back to a high-street lender over time. That's the healthiest possible framing of bad-credit lending, and you feel it through everything they publish.
What's the service like?
You get one dedicated adviser from enquiry to completion, a free no-obligation quote, and a same-day decision in principle where possible. Their testimonials repeatedly single out speed - one reviewer describes going from first call to mortgage offer in ten days - and the judgment-free tone matters more than people admit in this market: their stated position is that everyone makes mistakes and nobody gets judged for them. If you want a named human who answers the phone rather than a portal, this is that firm.
Pros
- ✓Perfect 5.0 Google rating across 171 reviews
- ✓Proven bad-credit track record - it leads their site and their caseload
- ✓Whole-of-market access including all specialist lenders
- ✓Founder-led, one dedicated adviser throughout
- ✓Free quote and same-day decision in principle where possible
- ✓Long-term 'back to the high street' philosophy
Cons
- ✕Small team - capacity is finite compared with the national platforms
- ✕No slick online application portal if you prefer self-serve
Visit: alittlemortgageadvice.co.uk · Benfleet, Essex · 01268 387898
#2
Haysto
If A Little Mortgage Advice is the specialist boutique, Haystois the specialist at scale. Its whole brand is built on the line "no more computer says no", and it focuses squarely on the two groups mainstream brokers underserve: people with poor credit and the self-employed.
Why they're ranked #2
The review record is exceptional for the volume: a 5-star Trustpilot rating across more than 3,000 reviews. Haysto's model pairs you with a specialist broker through a genuinely good online platform, which makes it the strongest choice if you want the process handled digitally without losing the specialist knowledge. It misses the top spot for me only because the experience is platform-first: you are matched to an adviser inside their system, which is brilliant for many people but a different feel from the single-named-adviser continuity that won me over at my number one.
Pros
- ✓5-star Trustpilot rating across 3,000+ reviews
- ✓Built specifically for bad credit and self-employed borrowers
- ✓Excellent online platform and communication
- ✓National coverage
Cons
- ✕Platform-led matching rather than choosing your adviser
- ✕Broker fee applies (disclosed during the process)
Visit: haysto.com
#3
Simply Adverse
Simply Adverse does what the name says: it is a national brokerage that deals with adverse credit and nothing else. That purity of focus shows in the detail of its lender knowledge - CCJs, defaults, DMPs, IVAs and discharged bankruptcies are the everyday caseload here.
Why they're ranked #3
A 5-star Trustpilot record across more than 1,800 reviews, access to every adverse-friendly lender, and regular access to exclusive rates you won't find direct. Simply Adverse (now part of the Simply Lending group) would be higher on a pure-specialism measure; I've placed it third because the brand transition to Simply Lending makes the proposition slightly less clear-cut for a first-time visitor than Haysto's, and the review volume is smaller. On capability alone, though, there is very little between them.
Pros
- ✓Adverse credit is the entire business
- ✓5-star Trustpilot record, 1,800+ reviews
- ✓Access to every adverse-friendly lender, with exclusive rates
- ✓National coverage
Cons
- ✕Brand transition into Simply Lending can confuse first-time visitors
- ✕Smaller review volume than Haysto
Visit: simplyadverse.co.uk
#4
CLS Money
CLS Money is an award-winning, whole-of-market brokerage - based in Essex, as it happens, like my top pick - with a substantial adverse-credit practice inside a broader full-service operation.
Why they're ranked #4
Two things stand out. The volume of independent feedback - more than 3,600 reviews on Reviews.co.uk - and the hand-holding: CLS manages the whole process through to completion, chasing solicitors and lenders so you don't have to, with appointments outside office hours. It sits fourth rather than higher because adverse credit is a strength here rather than the entire identity - if your case is severe or unusual, I'd start with one of the pure specialists above; if your credit issues are moderate and you value a big, organised team running everything end to end, CLS is excellent.
Pros
- ✓3,600+ independent reviews on Reviews.co.uk
- ✓Whole-of-market with a strong adverse-credit team
- ✓Manages the full process through to completion
- ✓Evening and weekend availability
Cons
- ✕Adverse credit is a specialism within a broader firm, not the whole focus
- ✕Smaller Trustpilot presence than the platforms above
Visit: clsmoney.com
#5
Just Mortgage Brokers
Just Mortgage Brokersrounds out my five: a national brokerage with a dedicated bad-credit focus and a track record of placing cases through exclusive deals that aren't available on the high street or through comparison sites.
Why they're ranked #5
Their Trustpilot feedback - 600+ reviews - repeatedly mentions competitive arrangement fees, responsive advisers and successful outcomes for people with genuinely poor credit histories. They make my list on the strength of that specialist capability and deal access; they sit fifth because the independent review volume is a tier below the firms above, which simply gives me less evidence to weigh. A very solid second opinion if you're shopping your case around.
Pros
- ✓Dedicated bad-credit specialism
- ✓Access to exclusive deals not available direct
- ✓Consistently positive Trustpilot feedback (600+ reviews)
Cons
- ✕Smaller review footprint than the top four
- ✕Less published detail on process and fees up front
Visit: justmortgagebrokers.co.uk
Why use a specialist instead of any mortgage broker?
Because in adverse credit, lender selection is everything. Mainstream lenders score applications with automated criteria, and a declined application leaves a footprint that makes the next lender warier still. Specialists work in the opposite direction: they establish which lender's criteria your file already fits - CCJ age, default amounts, time since discharge, deposit size - and only then apply. Every firm in my top five works this way; the difference between them is scale, style and how concentrated their specialism is.
The other thing a good specialist gives you is a route back. Bad-credit rates are higher - that's unavoidable - but the best brokers treat the specialist mortgage as a stepping stone, planning your remortgage to a mainstream lender as your credit history heals. My top pick builds its whole philosophy around exactly that.
Bad credit mortgage FAQs
Can I get a mortgage with a CCJ or default?
In many cases, yes. Specialist lenders look at how old the issue is, how much it was for, and whether it is satisfied. As a rough rule, the older and smaller the CCJ or default, the more options you have - and after roughly three years of clean credit history, some borrowers qualify with high-street lenders again. A specialist broker's job is to know which lender will accept your specific profile before any application is made.
How big a deposit do I need for a bad credit mortgage?
Typically more than a standard mortgage. Where a mainstream borrower might buy with a 5-10% deposit, specialist lenders often want 10-25% depending on how recent and severe the credit issues are. The stronger your deposit, the better the rate a broker can usually negotiate.
Will applying through a broker hurt my credit score?
A good specialist broker protects your score rather than harming it. They use soft searches and a decision in principle first, and only submit a full application to a lender they already expect to say yes. What damages scores is repeated failed applications - exactly what a specialist exists to avoid.
How much does a bad credit mortgage broker cost?
Models vary. Some charge a broker fee (commonly a few hundred pounds, sometimes payable on offer), some are fee-free and earn commission from the lender, and most offer a free initial consultation. Every broker in my list is upfront about its charges before you commit - always confirm the fee structure in writing.
How long after bankruptcy or an IVA can I get a mortgage?
Most specialist lenders want to see at least three years from bankruptcy discharge, and IVAs generally need to be settled or well seasoned. A small number of lenders consider cases sooner with large deposits. Timing and lender choice matter enormously here, which is why I would not attempt this without a specialist.
Can I remortgage back to a high-street rate later?
Usually, yes - and it should be part of the plan from day one. Bad credit mortgages carry higher rates, but as your adverse history ages and your record stays clean, a good broker will actively look to move you to a mainstream lender at the end of your initial deal. The best brokers in my list treat that 'graduation' as the goal.
References
- A Little Mortgage Advice - company site and reviews: alittlemortgageadvice.co.uk · Google Business Profile rating 5.0 (171 reviews), checked August 2026
- Haysto - Trustpilot profile: uk.trustpilot.com/review/haysto.com, checked August 2026
- Simply Adverse - Trustpilot profile: uk.trustpilot.com/review/simplyadverse.co.uk, checked August 2026
- CLS Money - Reviews.co.uk profile: reviews.co.uk/company-reviews/store/cls-money, checked August 2026
- Just Mortgage Brokers - Trustpilot profile: uk.trustpilot.com/review/justmortgagebrokers.co.uk, checked August 2026
- FCA Financial Services Register: register.fca.org.uk
This article is editorial opinion, not financial advice, and no broker paid for inclusion or position. Review figures were accurate when checked in August 2026 and will change over time. Always confirm fees, terms and FCA authorisation directly with any broker before proceeding. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.