Can I get a mortgage with one missed payment?

Yes. A single missed payment — particularly on an unsecured account like a credit card or personal loan — is unlikely to prevent you from getting a mortgage. Most mainstream lenders allow at least one missed payment provided it is over 12 months old. Specialist lenders like Bluestone and Precise are even more flexible, accepting recent missed payments at higher tiers.

How long do missed payments affect my mortgage application?

Most lenders look back 12 to 36 months when assessing missed payments. After 24 months, the majority of mainstream lenders will disregard a single missed payment on an unsecured account. Missed mortgage payments are assessed over a longer window — typically 24 to 36 months. After 6 years, missed payments drop off your credit file entirely.

Are mortgage missed payments worse than credit card missed payments?

Yes. Lenders treat missed mortgage payments significantly more seriously than missed payments on credit cards, loans, or other unsecured debts. A missed mortgage payment suggests difficulty managing your largest financial commitment, which is exactly what the new lender is being asked to provide. Some lenders that freely accept unsecured missed payments will decline outright for a single missed mortgage payment.

Can I get a mortgage while in arrears?

It is very difficult to get a mortgage while you are currently in arrears on any credit agreement. Almost all lenders — including most specialists — require your accounts to be up to date at the time of application. You should bring all accounts current before applying, then allow at least one or two months for your credit file to update.

Do all lenders check for missed payments?

Yes. Every regulated UK mortgage lender will perform a credit search as part of their application process, and missed payments will be visible on your credit report. However, lenders differ enormously in how they interpret what they see. Some will auto-decline for any missed payment in the last 12 months, while others will assess it in context alongside your overall credit profile.

Will missed payments from 5 years ago still affect me?

They are unlikely to cause a problem with most lenders. The majority of criteria windows look back 12 to 36 months. Missed payments older than 3 years are largely disregarded by mainstream lenders. At 6 years, they are removed from your credit file entirely under the Credit Reference Agency retention rules.

Can I Get a Mortgage with Missed Payments?

In this guide

Missed payments and mortgages — the short answer
Mortgage vs unsecured missed payments
How lenders assess missed payments
Lender criteria comparison table
How missed payments affect your borrowing amount
Steps to improve your position
Frequently asked questions

Missed payments and mortgages — the short answer

A missed payment on your credit file does not mean you cannot get a mortgage. Many UK lenders — from high-street banks to specialist providers — accept applicants with missed payments, provided their criteria are met.

The key factors are how many payments you missed, how recently, whether they were on a mortgage or unsecured account, and whether the arrears were consecutive or scattered. A single late payment on a credit card three years ago is viewed very differently to three consecutive missed mortgage payments six months ago.

Even with recent missed payments, specialist lenders like Bluestone, Precise, and Together operate tier-based systems that price for risk rather than simply declining. You may pay a higher interest rate, but the door is not closed.

Mortgage vs unsecured missed payments

Lenders draw a clear line between missed payments on a mortgage and missed payments on unsecured credit such as credit cards, personal loans, or mobile phone contracts. Mortgage arrears are treated far more seriously because they relate directly to the type of commitment you are asking the lender to provide.

For example, Accord will allow up to two missed payments on a single unsecured account in the last 24 months, but only one missed mortgage payment in the same period. Atom Bank's prime product requires zero missed payments of any kind in the last 12 months, while their near-prime tier is more flexible on unsecured accounts.

If your missed payments are on unsecured credit only, your options are significantly wider. If they include mortgage arrears, you will likely need a specialist lender or to wait until enough time has passed.

How lenders assess missed payments

When a lender reviews your credit file, they look at several factors related to missed payments:

Recency — How long ago was the most recent missed payment? Most mainstream lenders want at least 12 months of clean history. Specialist lenders may accept missed payments as recent as 6 months.
Number — How many missed payments appear on your credit file? A single late payment is viewed very differently to a pattern of repeated missed payments across multiple accounts.
Consecutive vs scattered — Three consecutive missed payments on one account (suggesting sustained financial difficulty) are worse than three separate late payments on different accounts over several years.
Type of account — Mortgage arrears carry the most weight. Secured loan arrears (e.g. car finance) sit in the middle. Unsecured credit missed payments are viewed most leniently.
Status level — Credit files record payment status as 0 (up to date) through 6 (six months in arrears). A status 1 (one month late) is treated very differently to a status 3 or higher.

Lender criteria comparison

The table below shows how major UK lenders assess missed payments. Criteria change regularly — use our calculator to check your specific situation against current lender policies.

Lender	Mortgage Missed Payments	Unsecured Missed Payments	Recency Required	Notes
Accord	Max 1 in 24 months	Max 2 on single account in 24 months	24+ months	Strict on mortgage arrears
Atom Bank (Prime)	None in 12 months	None in 12 months	12+ months	Any missed = decline
Atom Bank (Near Prime)	Limited	More flexible	6+ months	Tier-based
Bath BS (Standard)	Max status 1 in 2 years	Max status 1 in 2 years	24+ months	Conservative
Bluestone	Accepted	Accepted	6+ months	Tier determines rate; recent = higher tier
Hodge	Considered	Considered	Varies	Manual underwriting approach
Kensington	Accepted (Select: 36m+, Core: 24m+)	Accepted	24-36+ months	Tier-based
Precise	Accepted at any level	Accepted	Any	Status and timing determine tier
Together	Accepted	Accepted	Any	Manual underwriting, demerit system

Criteria shown are indicative and subject to change. Always verify current lender criteria before applying.

Check which lenders match your situation

Our calculator checks 60+ UK lenders against your missed payment history. No credit search performed.

Check Your Affordability

How missed payments affect your borrowing amount

Even when a lender accepts your application, missed payments can reduce the amount you are able to borrow in several ways:

Lower income multiples — Some lenders reduce their income multiple for applicants with adverse credit. Where a clean applicant might be offered 4.5x income, an applicant with missed payments may be limited to 4x or 4.25x.
Higher interest rates — Specialist lenders that accept missed payments typically charge higher rates. Higher rates mean higher monthly payments, which reduces the maximum loan amount that passes the lender's affordability stress test.
Lower maximum LTV — Some lenders restrict the loan-to-value ratio for applicants with missed payments. Instead of lending at 90% or 95% LTV, they may cap at 80% or 85%, meaning you need a larger deposit.

The impact varies significantly between lenders. Running your details through multiple lender calculators — which our tool does automatically — is the most reliable way to see what you could actually borrow.

Steps to improve your position

If you have missed payments on your credit file and are planning to apply for a mortgage, there are practical steps you can take to strengthen your application:

Bring all accounts up to date — Before anything else, make sure every credit account is current. Lenders will check your accounts are not in arrears at the time of application.
Wait if you can — Time is your biggest ally. If your missed payments are recent, even waiting 6 to 12 months can significantly expand your lender options. After 24 months, most mainstream lenders will consider you.
Check your credit file — Review your reports with Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. Make sure missed payments are recorded accurately and dispute any errors.
Build a clean payment record — Demonstrating 12 months or more of on-time payments after a missed payment shows lenders the issue was temporary and is now resolved.
Save a larger deposit — A bigger deposit reduces the lender's risk and opens up more products. Moving from 90% to 85% LTV can make a meaningful difference to available rates.
Use a specialist broker — Adverse credit mortgages require careful lender matching. A broker experienced with adverse credit can identify the right lender for your specific circumstances and avoid unnecessary hard searches on your credit file.