Ask the experts

About our experts...

At John Charcol, we are constantly asked for advice by borrowers on what they should do when it comes to mortgages.  As such, we created this section so that you can submit your questions to our experts.  The answers are provided by a number of people who have years of experience in the mortgage market.  The team is led by Peter Woodward who works in our technical department.  Peter spent his formative years as an underwriter with one of the major UK lenders so what he doesn't know, quite frankly, isn't worth knowing...

So please do submit your question and we will do all we can to answer it as quickly as possible

Please be aware that these answers can only be generic and no personal recommendations can be made.


Posted on 7 June 2009

I ran up a few credit cards whilst at university which resulted in a default around 3 years ago. I have yet to pay them off in full but am paying them each month. My wife and i earn a joint salary of £40,000 and want to buy our...

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Category: Bad credit


Posted on 27 May 2009

Hi

I own a house with my ex partner although I no longer live in it. I have been paying my half of the mortgage directly to her as the payment for the mortgage comes out of her bank account. I have just foudn out that for six...

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Category: Bad credit, Separation or Divorce


Posted on 5 May 2009

I live with my partner but the mortgage, bills etc. are all in his sole name. I am on the electoral roll. He has a good credit rating whereas mine is bad. I am thinking of entering into a debt management programme with CCCS but...

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Category: Bad credit, Remortgaging


Posted on 13 February 2009

I am having difficulty with Experian and my credit report. Despite having no loans or debt and savings my credit report comes's up with poor. i am trying to purchase a £225,000 house and have 40% to put down. Can I get a mortgage...

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Category: Bad credit, Special circumstances


Posted on 11 February 2009

My husband and I are in our 4th year of an IVA and our fixed rate mortgage ended in January so we are now on the variable rate. We bought the house in 2001 for £43,000 but have a secured loan of £36,000 when we had the house...

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Category: Bad credit, Consolidation of debts, Remortgaging, Secured loans


Posted on 6 February 2009

Hi, I have recently put in an offer on a shared equity scheme property and started legal proceedings however at the valuation stage I was declined my mortgage by Abbey. I have since retrieved a copy of my credit report which...

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Category: Bad credit, Shared ownership


Posted on 3 February 2009

I am 50 years, no deposit and bad credit, I desperately want to buy again, I am on £12,000 per year and on my own. Is there anyone out there who will help me?

 

 

I am afraid the short answer is no. There are hardly any lenders...

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Category: Bad credit


Posted on 13 May 2008

My ex boyfriend is selling the flat we lived in in West London. We are on very good terms and have been working together on getting it ready for sale. It was bought in 2000 for 72k and is now worth around 153,000. The mortgage...

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Category: Bad credit, Secured loans


Posted on 12 May 2008

Are there still any lenders out there with deals for newly-discharged ex-bankrupts looking for a mortgage? I would be buying with someone else who has a 25%-30% deposit to put down.

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Category: Bad credit


Posted on 5 March 2008

Hi Katie, we are in an IVA and have our mortgage with Northern Rock. The APR is so high and they will not consider a lower rate. Is there any way I could get a mortgage with an IVA? My husbands income is £33,000 and mine is...

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Category: Bad credit


Posted on 13 February 2008

I have got a 40% stake in a shared ownership flat. I already have a secured loan on it for £24,000 along with unsecured debt when I was married. The only thing is, I have adverse credit, and no one will touch me with a barge...

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Category: Bad credit, Consolidation of debts


Posted on 24 January 2008

Myself and my partner are trying to get a sub prime mortgage of 95% is this possible? The deposit comes from my partners work as a long service pay award, would this be an acceptable form of deposit?

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Category: Bad credit


Posted on 24 January 2008

I'm 27 and earn £17,500 my partner earns £20,000 my partner wants us to buy a house together, I would love to but unfortunately was stupid when I was younger and have bad credit as a result, we have £10,000 deposit and would like...

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Category: Bad credit


Posted on 12 January 2008

Hi, help needed urgently please. Our fixed rate with mortgage express ends at the end of March 2008, which consists of a balance of £138,000 interest only and we have a secured loan with yesloans and mortgages. To clear this one...

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Category: Bad credit, Secured loans


Posted on 8 November 2007

Hi katie, I would like to buy a pub, but don't know the best way to go around it. The tenant at the moment would like £25,000 and there is 7 years left on the lease. I live in private rented accommodation,and my credit rating is...

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Category: Bad credit, First-time buyer, The application process explained


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