A credit history that contains problems does not automatically prevent a bridging loan. It changes who will lend, at what loan-to-value, and at what rate — but for most types of adverse credit, the specialist bridging market has lenders who will consider the case on its merits.

The reason bridging finance is more accessible than mortgage finance to adverse credit borrowers is structural. A mortgage lender assesses a borrower primarily on their creditworthiness — income, expenditure, credit history — because the loan term is long and the lender needs confidence that repayments will be made over years. A bridging lender assesses a transaction primarily on two things: the quality of the security and the credibility of the exit. If the property is strong security and the repayment route is clear, adverse credit becomes one factor in a wider picture rather than an automatic disqualifier.

Platinum Global Bridging Finance arranges bridging finance for borrowers with adverse credit from £250,000, across both regulated and unregulated transactions, with access to the full specialist lender panel including lenders who operate on an asset-based underwriting model.

At a Glance

Loan sizes£250,000 – £25m+
LTV (light adverse)Up to 70%
LTV (significant adverse)50–65% typical
Credit types consideredCCJs (satisfied and unsatisfied), defaults, mortgage arrears, IVA, discharged bankruptcy
Regulated / unregulatedBoth — unregulated investment lending has wider adverse credit panel
Completion speed2–4 weeks for clean security; longer where additional diligence required
No broker feeOn qualifying loans above £500,000

Types of Adverse Credit and How Lenders Assess Them

Not all adverse credit is treated the same way, and understanding how lenders distinguish between types helps set realistic expectations before any application is made.

County Court Judgments (CCJs)

CCJs are among the most common forms of adverse credit seen on bridging applications. Lenders look at four variables: whether the CCJ is satisfied or outstanding; how old it is; the amount; and whether it relates to a secured or unsecured debt.

A satisfied CCJ from three or more years ago is viewed very differently from an unsatisfied CCJ registered six months ago. Some specialist lenders will ignore satisfied CCJs above a certain age entirely. Most will apply a lower LTV or rate premium for unsatisfied or recent CCJs rather than declining outright.

Mortgage Arrears

Mortgage arrears are taken more seriously than unsecured debt problems, because a lender advancing a new secured facility has a direct interest in whether the borrower has previously struggled to service secured debt. The key variables are: whether the arrears are on the property being bridged or on a separate asset; how many months of arrears; how recent; and whether they are now resolved.

Arrears on the specific property being bridged are treated most cautiously. Arrears on a separate property that are now fully resolved carry less weight, particularly where the circumstances that caused them are clearly identifiable and non-recurring.

Defaults on Unsecured Credit

Defaults on credit cards, personal loans and utilities are common and generally assessed in aggregate rather than individually. The number of defaults, the total amounts, the dates, and whether they are satisfied all contribute to a lender’s view. A single small default from several years ago on a satisfied basis will not prevent most specialist lenders from proceeding. A pattern of recent defaults across multiple accounts is a different picture.

Bankruptcy and IVA

Discharged bankruptcy narrows the lender pool significantly but does not eliminate it. Most specialist lenders who will consider discharged bankruptcy require a minimum period to have elapsed since discharge — typically one to three years, though this varies. An undischarged bankruptcy makes a bridging application very difficult. An IVA that is ongoing or recently completed is treated similarly to discharged bankruptcy for most purposes.

No UK Credit History

Foreign nationals, returning long-term expats and recent arrivals to the UK may have no UK credit footprint rather than adverse credit. This is treated differently from negative credit by lenders with an international focus — it is absence of data rather than evidence of poor management. Our foreign national mortgages page covers specialist lending for international borrowers in more detail.

The LTV Relationship

The single most practical lever available to an adverse credit borrower is the loan-to-value ratio. Lenders who will consider adverse credit cases nearly always do so at lower LTVs than they would offer a clean-credit borrower. The rationale is straightforward: greater equity in the security means a greater cushion between the lender’s exposure and the property value, which compensates for the additional borrower risk.

As a general guide:

  • Light adverse (one or two satisfied CCJs, minor unsecured defaults, no mortgage arrears): up to 70% LTV available from specialist lenders
  • Moderate adverse (unsatisfied CCJs, mortgage arrears now resolved, multiple defaults): 60–65% LTV typical
  • Significant adverse (recent mortgage arrears, ongoing CCJs, discharged bankruptcy): 50–60% LTV; smaller specialist panel

Where the LTV on the primary security is insufficient, cross-charging additional property can reduce the effective LTV and open lenders who would not otherwise be available. Our second charge bridging page explains how additional security structures work.

Regulated vs Unregulated Bridging

Whether a bridging loan is regulated by the FCA depends on the property use rather than the borrower’s credit profile. A bridge on a property the borrower (or a close family member) will occupy as their main residence is regulated. A bridge on an investment property, commercial asset or development project is not.

This distinction matters significantly for adverse credit borrowers, because the regulated lender panel is generally more conservative on credit history than the unregulated specialist market. An adverse credit borrower bridging an investment property has access to a wider lender pool, faster processing, and often lower rates than the same borrower bridging an owner-occupied home. Our unregulated bridging loans page explains the distinction in practice.

The Exit Determines as Much as the Credit

Lenders assess an adverse credit case holistically, and the exit strategy — the specific plan for repaying the bridge — carries enormous weight. A clear, near-certain exit reduces the lender’s exposure to the risk introduced by the adverse credit.

A property already under offer with a signed memorandum of sale is a strong exit regardless of the borrower’s credit history. A refinance exit, by contrast, may itself be complicated by the adverse credit — if the borrower cannot get a term mortgage because of a CCJ, that is not a credible exit. Lenders probe the exit carefully on adverse credit cases, and vague or uncertain exits are where applications fail.

The exit also affects the rate. A sale exit with strong security typically produces better pricing than a refinance exit from an adverse credit borrower, because the lender’s exposure is demonstrably finite.

London Adverse Credit Bridging

London and Prime Central London adverse credit bridging cases have their own dynamics. The security values are often very high, which works in the borrower’s favour — a large equity cushion compensates for significant adverse credit on the borrower’s file in ways that are not always possible on lower-value provincial security. A borrower with a discharged bankruptcy and a £2m London property with modest debt can be fundable on an asset basis where the same credit profile against a £200,000 property in a weaker market is much more difficult. Our London bridging finance page covers lender appetite in the capital.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a bridging loan with a CCJ?

Yes in most cases, particularly where the CCJ is satisfied and more than a year old. The LTV will typically be lower than for a clean-credit borrower, and the rate will carry a premium. Unsatisfied or very recent CCJs narrow the field but do not eliminate it where the security and exit are strong.

Can I bridge with current mortgage arrears?

It depends on the severity and whether they are on the property being bridged. Arrears on the bridged property are treated more cautiously. Some specialist lenders will proceed on investment property where arrears are less than three months and the borrower can demonstrate the position is being resolved. Regulated bridging (owner-occupied) is harder with active arrears.

Do bridging lenders credit-check you?

Yes. Most run a credit search as part of their initial assessment. The difference from a mortgage lender is that adverse credit findings inform the terms rather than automatically triggering a decline. Being transparent about your credit position at the outset — rather than having a lender discover it during diligence — is strongly in your interest.

Is adverse credit bridging more expensive?

Yes, both on rate and on LTV. The rate premium reflects the additional risk the lender is accepting. The relevant comparison is not against a clean-credit bridging rate but against the cost of the transaction not completing at all, or against the carrying cost of waiting until the credit issue resolves.

Can I bridge if I have been bankrupt?

If the bankruptcy has been discharged, yes — through a specific subset of specialist lenders and typically at 55–60% LTV. Undischarged bankruptcy makes it very difficult. The further removed from the discharge date, the broader the lender pool becomes.

What is the fastest way to improve my adverse credit bridging terms?

More equity in the security is the most effective single lever. A lower LTV reduces the lender’s downside and compensates for the credit risk. A stronger exit — a property already under offer, a confirmed cash event — helps significantly. Satisfying any outstanding CCJs before application, where possible, also improves lender appetite materially.

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