Please help me find a lender!

[Couldhavebeenme2]

(Without paying massive broker fees)

Used to work for a big Building Society now bank but I know things have changed massively in the last 10 years!

Me - owned small house for last 15 years, OK credit score, age 43. Some cc debt but gradually paying off and closing down once clear. Small but consistent overpayments on current mortgage in my own name.

DH - age 50, messy divorce left him with almost zero assets and frankly fucked credit score. He's cleared all debts now but score still not great thanks to now paid ccj.

Looking to move/buy together which will require both incomes. Am OK with up to 15 year term which will take us to 58 and 65 respectively.

Hitting a hard no from a couple of high Street lenders, any ideas for more 'flexible' lenders before I go out and make loads of applications to come up with more no's?

Use a fee free broker like London and Country. I don’t think anyone could accurately recommend you a lender without being a broker and seeing your actual credit score. Your ltv, size of ccj and how old it is will all be factors in which lender might accept you.

Lots of mortgage advisors don't cost anything as they get a fee from the lender.

Try John Charcol, I found them to be really really excellent. I think there was a fee of around £700 but that’s only payable once you have your full mortgage offer.

Look for a broker that specialises in adverse credit. L&C aren't the best if you have a complex application.

Try Holbrook Property Finance

I'm sure our broker (Sth East, within 1.5hrs of London) was

Try a decision in principle with Skipton building society, it's a soft search so won't impact anything, but it'll give you an indication.

I'd go with a broker

Het some recommendations.

I found L and C useless for me.

L&C etc will be no use for complex or adverse credit history.

We have a similar issue (not a CCJ though so not exactly the same) and I did the Yorkshire Building Society Decision in Principle. It was much, much more thorough than a lot of them and specifically asked about missed payments/CCJs etc. We got a DIP for much more than anyone else was willing to lend with the issues that we have. Of course as I’m sure you know it’s absolutely no guarantee but I felt pretty confident when it had specifically asked me the questions about it.

I found recently that most of the lenders you can read the intermediaries section of the website which has info about lending criteria and quite often it will give quite clear guidance on what is or isn’t acceptable in terms of adverse history. Again, not a guarantee but at least you’d know who to avoid.

The building societies certainly appears to be much more lenient than the banks.

Our broker cost us £199 and has been absolutely amazing. Sorted out two different mortgages for us from two different lenders and has kept us informed throughout. You only pay if you get a mortgage offer too

PM me for his deets if you want them