If you haven’t got a credit history, it can be difficult to get accepted for a mortgage. We don’t think that’s fair. So we developed a solution.
Our platform uses a clever algorithm to match you to the perfect mortgage broker for your unique situation. Someone who’s up for the challenge, and has made mortgages possible for people who don’t have a credit history.
Yes, you can. But it’s unlikely you’ll be considered by any kind of automated online mortgage firm. They generally reject anyone who hasn’t got a credit file. To get a mortgage when you haven’t got a credit history you’ll need to get together anything you can that proves your ability to pay a mortgage and work with a specialist broker.
Having no credit score means you don’t have enough recent credit activity under your name to make up a credit score – something lenders want to see before considering giving you a mortgage.
Typically, lenders want to see proof that you have a proven history of being able to make repayments on time. They do this through a credit check. But just because you’ve never taken on debt or taken out a credit card doesn’t mean you’re not going to be able to keep up with your monthly mortgage repayments.
Sometimes, you might have a history of credit but not realise. For example, mobile phone contracts and utilities are still considered forms of borrowing and will give you a credit history. Things like this can be really helpful if you’re applying for a mortgage without a credit history, because it’s better than having absolutely nothing.
It’s a good idea to get together any evidence you have that can prove you’re good with money and can keep up with mortgage repayments before you apply.
Here are a few things you can do:
Get together your employment records – this can be pay slips, invoices or bank records.
Get any evidence of paying your rent on time.
Get any utility bills for the property you live in that shows the bills are paid on time.
Anything like this will help your specialist broker to build a case for you to take to a specialist lender. Then, you’ll have the best chance of getting approved for a mortgage.
See how bad credit issues affect how much you can borrow on a mortgage by using our bad credit calculator.
There’s loads of reasons someone might not have a credit history. And it’s unfair to be refused for a mortgage just because you don’t have a credit history, or a very light one. One of the main reasons is applicants have been living with parents or family and haven’t had to borrow money, or take out utilities in their own name. So it’s common for first-time buyers to have no credit history.
You might not have a credit history if you’ve just recently moved to the UK, or haven’t had a UK bank account account yet.
Because your credit file only covers a period of six years, you could end up with no credit history if you haven’t borrowed money in the last six years (the length of time that borrowing stays visible on your credit report). So it’s possible to have no credit history if you’re retired, paid off all your debts a long time ago or just haven't used a credit card or other kind of credit for a long time. If that’s the case, you’ll definitely be able to prove you do indeed have a credit history, it’ll just take a bit of manual organising on your part to get together some historical proof of your credit history.
Here’s a list of common reasons you might have no credit history:
You’re not on the UK electoral roll
You don’t have a permanent address
You don’t have a utility bill in your name
You’ve just moved to the UK
You were living abroad but have now returned to the UK
You’ve been living with your parents
Your credit history is outdated (nothing on there for six years or more)
Your credit score is the evidence that a lender needs to assess the risk of lending money to you. A higher score means you’re ‘low risk’, which means you have a proven history of repaying debts on time. And a lower score suggests that you’re ‘high risk’ – having previously missed payments.
Having no credit history means that a lender can’t assess your ability to make payments on time. Lenders want to minimise their own risk when approving a mortgage, and having no credit history doesn’t give them the certainty they want.
Before offering you a mortgage, lenders do a credit search to decide if they want to lend you money. They’ll do a credit search to get a clear understanding of your financial history.
Lenders will usually have a reason for doing a credit check on you. For example, you’ve applied for a mortgage with them. But you can get credit checked for other things too, like if you apply for a credit card or a store credit card.
Lenders differ in the way they conduct credit checks, but most will look for any past behaviour that could suggest you won’t pay your mortgage repayments on time.
There’s two types of credit check. A soft check, and a hard check.
A hard check is where a lender looks at the details of your credit history, and the check shows up on your credit file so it’s visible to anyone who checks your credit file. Too many hard checks in a short space of time can look concerning to lenders because they think you’ve got a lot of other financial commitments.
A soft check is a lighter version of a hard check – just a brief look at your credit file. A soft check doesn’t show up on your file. When you check your own, that’s not visible to anyone else.
Usually, the higher your credit score, the easier it is to get approved for a mortgage. So it’s always a good idea to do what you can to improve your score before applying if you can. If you’re really pushed for time, and have a low credit score but need to get a mortgage soon; speak to a specialist mortgage broker who will be able to advise you on your options.
If you don’t have any credit history yet, it’s a really good idea to start building up your file. You can do that by thinking about what makes sense for you. It could be starting to pay a utility bill in your name, taking out a loan, or getting a credit card or some other kind of credit. Whatever you choose, make sure it’s realistic for you and will be manageable for you to repay.
Here are some ways you can build your credit history:
Make sure you’re registered on the electoral roll – this is important because without being on the electoral roll (or electoral register), you won’t be able to apply for a mortgage.
Open a UK bank account – if you’re new to the UK, or just haven’t ever had a bank account in your name, it’s a great place to start to get a bank account in your name as a way to build your credit history.
Take out a utility bill in your name – this could be a mobile phone contract, an energy bill, internet or water.
Get a credit card – this is one of the quickest ways to build or improve your credit history, just make sure you always pay it off every month or you could negatively impact your score if you miss a payment.
It’s usually quicker to build up a credit history from scratch, than it is to improve a bad credit score. But there isn’t a solid timeline for building up a history.
Lenders just want to see a proven track record of you managing your credit sensibly and making repayments on time, and this can sometimes take years. Speak to one of our specialist mortgage brokers who can help you understand the options that are available to you, based on your current situation.
Your credit score is a number between 300-850. It’s an indication of where you are on a scale of excellent to poor when it comes to borrowing money. Your score is based on the information in your credit report.
Your credit report is a detailed record of all the credit you’ve had in the past. This can be things like credit cards, mortgages and bills.
Your credit report contains this information:
Your personal details like your full name, address history and electoral roll registration.
Your credit account history
Your payment history
We get how it feels when you’re refused a mortgage. We’ve been there. Haysto exists because the mortgage world is broken. If you don’t have a shiny credit rating, you’re self-employed with a complex income, or just don’t fit the mould, the odds are completely stacked against you. We just don’t think that’s fair.
Unlike others, we only work on bad credit, self-employed and complex mortgages. That’s all we do. And we’re up for a challenge.
No robots, no automated answers. We use technology to connect you to a real person. Not replace them.
Our platform connects you to the perfect specialist broker for free. We only get paid when your mortgage is approved.
Using our platform guarantees you’ll be matched with an expert who has a proven track record of making mortgages possible for people like you. Less processing, more understanding.
Ben’s a CeMAP (Certificate in Mortgage Advice and Practice) qualified mortgage broker with over 20 years experience in financial services. He takes huge pride in getting his clients the best possible outcome. He has access to many specialist lenders that require an introduction from a financial professional so he can help even very complex adverse credit cases.
Ben’s specialist area is adverse bad credit, situations like late payments, CCJs, defaults, bankruptcies, IVAs and debt management plans. He also specialises in getting self-employed clients on the property ladder and can help limited company directors, contractors, bridging, second charges, as well as being able to organise insurance like life insurance, critical illness protection, income protection, and family income benefit.
“I have over 20 years experience in financial services, specialising in adverse credit. Within this time I have developed a great knowledge about the challenges that people face and what impact this can have on their lives as well as their finances. My role is not to judge, as people sometimes do, I support and empathise with my clients and enjoy finding the most suitable and best solutions for their needs.”
“Would like to thank Ben Patten for his fantastic service. We knew finding us a mortgage was going to be tricky, but he managed to find us the perfect one for our current circumstance which has meant we have been able to reserve our dream “forever home” A special thanks to Ben as he was there for us night and day with any queries we had and helped put our minds at rest!”
“What a Fantastic Service from start to finish. Great customer support from Ben Patten, superb product knowledge and exceptionally responsive to emails/calls, we can 100% recommend, they got us a great deal on a mortgage with suited life insurance, especially during this very difficult Covid 19 time.”
Luke’s a CeMAP (Certificate in Mortgage Advice and Practice) qualified mortgage broker who specialises in adverse credit and complex situations. He’s passionate about helping clients who have struggled elsewhere to get a mortgage – he’s not afraid of a challenge.
Luke specialises in getting mortgages for clients who have a history of late payments, defaults, CCJs, IVAs, debt management plans and mortgage arrears, as well as being a specialist broker for self-employed clients and mortgage protection.
“I have 6 years in financial services in differing roles so I understand the impact finances have on everyday life. I specialise in helping people with adverse credit. I always want to fully be there to help my clients. There is no greater feeling than calling a client who never thought they would be able to get a mortgage, to tell them that their mortgage has just been offered. In my spare time, I am a huge American Football fan so I love relaxing after a hard week to watch a game.”
“I started my mortgage journey thinking I could never get a mortgage, well if I did it would be a long time due to a few mistakes I made back when I was a student. I finally came across Luke Grosse. After months of searching things couldn’t have gone smoother on his end, he got me a mortgage offer. Easy to talk to, straight forward, explained everything in detail while being patient. Couldn’t recommend Luke any higher as my experience with him was fantastic. Finally completed my purchase today and now I am a homeowner with my fiancé.”
“Fantastic experience, from Luke Grosse for my mortgage application. With me thinking I wasn’t ever going to get one, 8 months later I am now in my house and a proud homeowner! If you are on the fence about using this company, then really look no further. Give them a call and start your journey!”
“We cannot fault the service we have been given by Luke Grosse, excellent communication and very fast process. We highly recommend. Thank you.”
Sarah is a CeRER and CeMAP (Certificate in Mortgage Advice and Practice) qualified mortgage broker. She’s worked in the mortgage world for over 20 years. Starting as a cashier in a bank and worked her way up to leading a team of 20 mortgage advisors to give the best quality advice.
Sarah specialises in self-employed mortgages, as well as bad credit cases and new builds.
“I especially enjoy helping self-employed clients, because it can be complicated for clients to work out what income they can use. And I like helping them with that. Recently, a highlight for me has been helping clients who have been affected by COVID-19 to get a mortgage. I just helped a self-employed client who had been point-blank refused a mortgage elsewhere, but I got them an offer by using their latest highest years accounts. This led to a family moving from a small boat, where they were overcrowded with 2 children, into their first ever home on land!”
“Thank you for all your help you have given me since getting my first mortgage, everything is always very smooth sailing when dealing with you, your communication and customer service is second to none, I would recommend you every single time. Absolute top service from start to finish.”
“Sarah has been my Rock. I'd be lost without her quick thinking and responses. She found me a mortgage when I thought in lockdown nobody could have one. 100% she comes highly recommended”
“Sarah has been the most amazing support I could have asked for during an extremely hard time. She has kept me updated all the way through my mortgage process, offered me great advice and found me a fantastic mortgage for my daughter and I. Sarah is not only professional but personable too. I would recommend Sarah to anyone who needed financial advice. During COVID this was an added stress but nothing was too much trouble and she was there every step of the way to support me.”
Yogesh is a CeMap (Certificate in Mortgage Advice and Practice) qualified mortgage broker who has over 20 years’ experience working in the finance industry. Yogesh is committed to getting the best result possible for his clients, and always goes the extra mile to help.
Yogesh specialises in all forms of complex mortgages like Help-to-Buy, Right-to-Buy, concessionary purchases, debt consolidation, late payments, CCJs, defaults, bankruptcy, IVAs and Debt Management Plans (DMPs). He also specialises all forms of self-employed, such as helping limited company directors, contractors, and freelancers get their dream home.
He’s also an insurance broker who knows the market thoroughly. Yogesh can help with bridging, second charges, life insurance, critical illness, family income benefit and income protection.
“Every customer is unique and has their own specific requirements. Every customer is special and whenever I get a result for a customer I feel a sense of great personal satisfaction that I have helped the customer come one step close to their dream.”
“An absolutely fantastic and professional service received from Yogesh he handled our case in the manner you would want. Even though it was a complex case, he went the extra mile in finding us the right product for us. And most of all he did what was right for us, kept us updated throughout the whole time, not just sell and make money for himself he found the best product for us and I give him 5 star service, thank you so much Yogesh will definitely come back to you.”
“Yogesh is my go to guy! I don't think there is anything he can't do! service was excellent from start to finish, and the whole process was a breeze. highly recommended!”
“Without a doubt, one of the most professional & efficient brokers I have come across in my years in business, I was dealing directly with Yogesh, throughout the whole phase of the mortgage, he kept me updated & managed to source us the best package that was on the market. Thank you.”
Jemma is a CeMAP (Certificate in Mortgage Advice and Practice) qualified mortgage broker who’s been a whole-of-market mortgage broker for 17 years.
Jemma’s extremely experienced with getting mortgages for her self-employed clients, first-time buyers, homemovers, Help to Buy, Right to Buy, concessionary purchases, remortgages and all kinds of bad adverse credit issues too. She can also help you with insurance like life insurance, critical illness protection and income protection.
“I started my career specialising in Right To Buy mortgages and helping people to purchase properties and remortgage when their credit was impaired. I have years of experience in an ever-changing market. I like to keep my knowledge up to date, enabling me to continue to help and assist people in any area of their mortgage or protection needs. Looking for a mortgage can sometimes be a daunting prospect, especially if your circumstances are not straight forward, however I strive to make the process simple and less stressful where possible, and always give honest advice.”
“Jemma worked tirelessly to find us the best mortgage deal. Our case was not straightforward and she worked so hard to find the right mortgage for us and we are now living in our dream home all thanks to Jemma. She also sourced us the best life insurance policies and explained in depth the details, what we needed and why. Would highly recommend.”
“Well, where to start... I cannot rate Jemma highly enough!! She was the incredible advisor who successfully secured my mortgage. My particular case was less than straight forward (with it being a second home) and a few other issues, but Jemma, like me, was relentless in her pursuit of finding me a lender. We hit one stumbling block and one fell through (which was a sad/ stressful day) but as a woman taking it out on my own Jemma 100% understood how stressed I was and had found me another lender/ another AIP within 15 minutes. It was a battle, as my situation was. However, Jemma Talliss is proof that anything is achievable with the right experts. I cannot thank Jemma enough.”
Paul’s worked on pretty much every specialist scenario there is. He’s a passionate CeMAP qualified (Certificate in Mortgage Advice and Practice) mortgage broker and has helped many people with difficult situations get on the property ladder.
He loves to simplify the mortgage process for his clients as much as he can, so it’s stress-free and easy to understand.
Paul specialises in bad credit situations, with a proven record of helping people with low credit scores, bankruptcies, CCJs, defaults, IVAs and DMPs.
He’s also helped many self-employed clients like contractors, those in a brand new job, or with only one year’s worth of trading history, first-time buyers and shared ownership clients.
“The reason I wanted to become a mortgage advisor is because I realised how complex it can be when I went through it myself. It’s so tough without any help. For me as a mortgage advisor, it’s important to be understanding, welcoming and above all, happy to help and answer questions, no matter how small they may be. My aim as an advisor is to build long-lasting relationships with my clients to continue to be their go to advisor for the rest of their mortgage future.
A career highlight for me was I once had a client who was in his 80s. His interest-only mortgage was ending and he was going to lose his house. Normally he would be too old for a standard remortgage but by researching the market and speaking directly with mortgage lenders, I managed to find him a lender so he could keep the family home for generations to come. That was a tough one but so rewarding. ”
“The level of service that we received from Paul Clark and the team was absolutely first class. We tried three other brokers before we came across Paul and none of them could help us, however, from our first phone call discussion with Paul, we could tell he knows his stuff. He took the time to present information to us in a relaxed, friendly and professional manner and he has been absolutely amazing. We recommend him to all our friends and family.”
“Fantastic! Our situation was a little more complex than most people but Paul Clark and Emily Grace where brilliant from the outset, always there to answer my questions and keeping us informed every step of the way. Fabulous and wouldn't hesitate in recommending them. Thank you so much!”
“Excellent service from Paul and his team, looked after us very well and have been very patient with our unusual case!”
Lynn is a CeMAP (Certificate in Mortgage Advice and Practice) qualified mortgage broker who’s previous experience in the banking industry has proved invaluable for her clients. Her experience means she knows the process inside out and can always get the best deal for her clients.
Lynn is now a mortgage and protection Adviser who specialises in getting mortgages for clients with bad credit issues like bankruptcy, IVAs, Debt Management Plans (DMPs), mortgage arrears, CCJs, defaults and missed payments
She’s also a specialist in getting her self-employed clients mortgages too – anyone who has a complex income like limited company directors, clients who have changed their trading style recently and don’t have accounts for their new business and clients who need to use their net profit.
“I’m able to deal with all types of enquiries, but I particularly enjoy complex cases...I like a challenge! I previously worked in a bank arranging commercial mortgages, so I have first-hand experience of the mortgage underwriting process. This has proved invaluable, as I’m able to position difficult cases with lenders in the right way, to stand the best chance of them getting approved. I’m not afraid to challenge underwriters either if I feel they’re being unreasonable.I will always fight my client’s corner. I strive to get the absolute best deal for my clients, and make the process as easy and stress free as possible. I’ve helped many people who were told they would never get a mortgage. I can’t tell you how rewarding that is, and I look forward to making more clients' dreams a reality.”
“I met Lynn 4 years ago in 2016, at this time despite having excellent credit myself, my partner did not and I was told by other financial advisors I would never get a mortgage with him due to his debt issues. Having originally started buying property on my own in 2007 and with us both having high incomes at this time, I just did not accept this situation and by complete luck I found Lynn online. Lynn made this dream of buying our house in London a reality. Not only does she have specialist knowledge of debt plans but she is transparent, honest, reliable and she "says what she does and does what she says". She manages client expectations in an excellent way. Lynn is whole of the market, and genuinely looks at all mortgage products to find the best deal. Working as a solicitor over the past 12 years, I have met many financial advisors but none do I trust the way we trust Lynn. She is a miracle worker and the best financial advisor you can get! Thank you Lynn we look forward to continuing to work with you.”
“Lynn went above and beyond her duties to ensure we were well informed and gave us very clear advice along every step of the application process. If there were any issues she dealt with them promptly, and her attention to detail made us feel very assured throughout the whole experience. I cannot recommend her enough to anyone seeking mortgage or protection services, and I will be recommending her to my friends & family. She deserves an award for the level of care and dedication she puts into her work.”
“I was having a hard time getting a mortgage due to losing a business, and having to go bankrupt. Lynn has been absolutely brilliant and I don’t think I can thank her enough. She has supported me every step of the way, and finally last week I got the keys to my house, and a cracking rate, which given my circumstances is brilliant. I would highly recommend Lynn!”
Steve is a highly experienced CeMAP qualified (Certificate in Mortgage Advice and Practice) mortgage broker who loves to help his clients when they’ve been turned down for a mortgage elsewhere.
He specialises in bad credit mortgages, which includes getting mortgages for his clients if they have a history of missed payments, CCJ's, defaults, debt management programmes, IVA and bankruptcy.
He also specialises in self-employed mortgages and has had clients in the past who were sole traders, limited companies, contractors, and those with only one year’s worth of trading history.
Steve also has helped clients who are expats, and has lots of experience in remortgaging too.
“I've worked in the mortgage industry for 15 years in various roles before becoming a dedicated broker in 2018. In that time, I've helped people from all different walks of life with varying circumstances and complexities. I’m married with 2 young girls, and I believe the home is the most important part of any family. So I take great pride in being able to help people achieve their dream.”
“100 % fantastic service, Steve Hatton was not only professional, but also super supportive and found the best mortgage for us .... thank you very much again.”
“We had a long journey buying our first home together and recent pandemic events didn't help matters. Every step of the way, our advisor Steve was supportive, positive and we had every confidence in him. He was able to arrange a good deal for us and we were able to move into our dream house this autumn.”
“Steve Hatton - first class service! Achieved what my partner and I had thought was the impossible! Lots of ups and downs along the way but such a personal service and today we completed on our new home! Couldn’t fault any of the process!”
Jeanette is a specialist CeMAP (Certificate in Mortgage Advice and Practice) qualified mortgage broker who loves a challenge. She specialises in all areas of adverse credit and self-employed mortgages and loves to help her clients get their dream home.
Her areas of expertise cover self-employed clients, buy-to-let and portfolio landlords, as well as first time buyers and remortgaging.
Jeanette enjoys helping clients who think they have no hope of owning a home. She especially enjoys helping first time buyers with their first homes.
Recently, Jeanette got a mortgage offer for a client who thought they’d never be able to afford their dream home, but she made it happen using the Help to Buy scheme.
“I have been a mortgage adviser for many years. It's the job I love. Finding a mortgage for people who have given up, or didn't think they would ever own their own home is a great feeling. Customer loyalty means a lot, when I complete a case for a customer, they automatically become a friend. I particularly enjoy being referred by customers to their own family and friends because it means I did a good job and they trust me. No two days are ever the same, and no two customers are ever the same, that’s what makes my job so rewarding.”
“I thought my life was over, but I'm going to provide my children with a home and start a fresh with your help.”
“We've used Jeannette for our initial mortgage and remortgaging; we've found their fees to be extremely low and I can 100% agree with their web-site statement that they go the extra mile - she genuinely does! We have an unusual working situation and Jeannette was able to find a mortgage for us after we were turned away by many high-street lenders. She's very diligent, friendly and open.”
“The whole process was quite easy and straightforward. I found that the fees were laid out in an easy-to-understand manner for a first time buyer like myself, and that my Mortgage Advisor, Jeannette, helped me to understand the process better. When I had questions, Jeannette responded clearly and quickly. Jeannette was recommended to me in the first place, and I'd certainly also do the same.”
Carrie is a very experienced and highly-qualified mortgage advisor. She has is FPC (Financial Planning Certificate) and MAQ (Mortgage Advice Qualification) qualified. Her qualifications means she can give you the best mortgage advice.
Carrie specialises in debt consolidation, remortgaging, adverse credit, late payments, payday loans, CCJs, defaults, bankruptcy, IVAs, Debt Management Plans (DMPs), self-employed, limited company directors, contractors, life insurance, critical illness protection, and income protection.
“I have over 20 years experience in financial services, and have been a mortgage advisor for over 15 years. I specialise in adverse credit mortgages as I want to help people. I believe that we all make mistakes, but they shouldn’t define us. Mistakes shouldn’t mean we’re not entitled to the same options as everyone else.”
“Me and my wife could not be happier with the assistance we received from Carrie. We applied for a mortgage for our first home. Her clarity, knowledge and precision to detail made the process smooth and completely hassle-free. Carrie always explained the next step in the application process and broke-down structural/financial concepts in a way that made sense. Long story short - we got the dream home we wanted on a great mortgage that we feel confident tackling moving forward.”
“I would absolutely recommend Carrie to anyone looking for a mortgage to buy a home. Carrie was amazing at finding a mortgage and seeing everything through to completion. They were complete miracle workers! Especially during a time such as this in 2020!”
“Carrie was fantastic during our remortgage. I really appreciated all the advice and support they have given over the process. She was always patient with us and answered any questions and queries we had. She made sure we had everything we needed and found a product that was perfect for us. Really can't recommend her enough! Thank you.”
Jonathan’s a HND and CeMAP (Certificate in Mortgage Advice and Practice) qualified mortgage broker with 25 years experience in the finance industry.
He’s a dedicated family man who has a proven track record of getting people with bad credit a mortgage.
He also specialises in people who are self-employed, shared ownership cases, residential, buy-to-let, second charges.
Jonathan is also a protection specialist who can help get the right insurance for you.
“It’s so rewarding to help someone who’s been repeatedly turned down for a mortgage elsewhere. Sometimes clients think they have no hope of a mortgage before they come to me. I love helping them with solid advice and a specialist lender.”
“We had a fantastic experience with Jonathan. He was extremely knowledgeable about the best mortgages for our situation. I went from leaving a high street bank in tears thinking I would have to wait years to be able to obtain a mortgage, to a phone call with Jonathan the following day reassuring me he would help me have the house of my dreams within the year. He 100% delivered on this promise and was there to support us throughout the journey. We moved into our new build home at the start of November and are absolutely elated. We are now customers for life!”
“We had a fantastic experience using Jonathan Hunting, he was extremely knowledgeable about the best mortgages for our situation. I went from leaving a high street bank in tears thinking I would have to wait years to be able to obtain a mortgage, to a phone call with Jonathan the following day reassuring me he would help me have the house of my dreams within the year. He 100% delivered on this promise and was there to support us throughout the journey. We moved into our new build home and are absolutely elated. We are now customers for life!”
“Jonathan Hunting, my mortgage adviser, really helped and guided us all the way from start to finish of the process of our remortgage. Very professional in his work, I would not hesitate to recommend his services.”
Get connected to a specialist bad credit mortgage broker who can make a mortgage possible for you.
Get connected to a specialist bad credit mortgage broker who can make a mortgage possible for you.