“I’m buying a place with my partner, but his credit score is far worse than mine. He’s making no effort to improve it and I’m worried it’ll ruin our chances of getting a mortgage. What can I do?”

Rob, South London

Hi Rob,

Buying a home with a partner can be both exciting and emotional. It’s a major decision and one that will tie your lives and finances together for a long time, even influencing your own ability to get credit in the future.

You’re right in thinking that your partner’s credit score can affect the interest rate you’ll be offered on your mortgage, though a score is only an indicator. This is because when you apply for a joint mortgage, lenders consider both applicants’ credit histories and affordability together, rather than any single score threshold.

Depending on whether your partner’s score sits in ‘Let’s start climbing’ (0-409) or ‘Moving on up’ (410-519), you might struggle to get a good deal. But this doesn’t mean you won’t get a mortgage at all.

The good news is, there are lenders out there who specialise in ‘bad credit’ mortgages. However, their rates are normally far higher, meaning both of you will end up paying more for your mortgage.

Improving the underlying credit file may broaden the range of mortgage deals available, though lender criteria and affordability vary. It could make a real difference to the amount you pay over the coming months and years.

Learn more: Borrowing together: 5 things to know before you commit

As well as the credit score itself, it’s important to consider the reason why your partner’s score is so low. Is it that he’s simply never used credit before and so doesn’t have a credit history for the lender to consider? If so, that can be fairly easily solved by using a credit card to build up some credit history.

But if he’s missed payments or has CCJs against his name, those can leave a mark on his credit rating for years, which means improving his score will take much longer.

You could offer to help your partner improve his credit score. Of course, that might not be an easy conversation to have, as many of us don’t like discussing our finances even with our loved ones. But by explaining that your goal is a financially secure future for you both (and by staying calm and not blaming your partner) you have an opportunity to stop and take stock.

It’s also important to think about your general spending habits and debts. When you apply for a mortgage, not only do banks look at your credit score, they also assess whether you’ll be able to afford your repayments. This means they’ll assess your income, debts, regular spending and overall affordability, often using several months of bank statements.

So, if either of you have a lot of outgoings and expenses, be those debt repayments, childcare costs or even gym memberships, this could affect whether you’re likely to qualify for a mortgage. Don’t forget that someone with a great credit score might still struggle to get a mortgage if their income is all tied up in monthly bills.

Now would be a great time to sit down and have a big discussion about credit scores, outgoings and debt levels. This way, you’ll both know exactly what your situation is and how you can improve it, and you can be sure that you have the same financial goals and values, which is the basis for a secure future.

How long does bad credit stay on your file - and what lenders actually do about it

Almost every negative marker on a UK credit file drops off after six years from the date it was recorded - but the date it disappears is rarely the date mainstream lenders start saying yes. What matters far more is how recent the marker is, how large the debt was, and whether it has been settled. A £180 unsatisfied catalogue default from four months ago will cause more trouble than a £6,000 default from four years ago that was paid in full. Lenders read the file as a story about behaviour, not as a pass/fail checklist.

The practical next step is to work out exactly which of these your partner has, because the answer changes whether you are waiting six months or three years. Ask him to pull his full report and look at the account-level detail: the status flags against each account, the date any default was registered, whether the balance shows as satisfied, and whether there is a public record entry for a CCJ. If something looks wrong - a default recorded twice, a debt you know was paid, an account he does not recognise - he can dispute it with the lender and the credit reference agency, and a successful challenge can lift a score in weeks rather than years.

How to help your partner improve his score

There are lots of ways that your partner can rebuild and improve his score - some will have an impact quickly and some might take longer to work their magic. The sooner he starts improving his score, the sooner you may be in a stronger position to apply for a mortgage.

There are some simple steps he can take immediately, such as checking his credit file for errors (checking his own score won’t affect it), ensuring he’s registered to vote and getting his name on some bills if he doesn’t already. After that, it’s more of a long-term project.

One of the best things he can do is to keep his credit utilisation low. So, if your partner has a credit card or overdraft, it helps to try to keep credit utilisation below 30% of the limit. This will show lenders he can manage his credit sensibly.

If his score is in the ‘Let’s start climbing’ band (0-409), he might want to consider taking out a credit builder credit card. The interest rate can be very high but by using it regularly and repaying it off in full each month, he would demonstrate to lenders that he can use credit without getting into difficulty. If he repays his purchase balance in full and on time each month, he should usually avoid interest charges.

Check out our guide to improving your credit score for some more ideas.

The more you can do to help him repair his credit score, the better - even if it’s just making the odd suggestion and offering encouragement. You’re planning to buy a home together, and honesty and support are great foundations for such a step.

Your 12-month plan before you apply

Giving yourselves a year turns a vague ambition into a project with milestones you can both hold each other to. Most lenders want to see six months of clean bank statements and a settled credit picture, so working backwards from your target application date is the most reliable way to prepare for a mortgage application.

• Months 12-10 - audit everything. Both of you pull your full credit reports from all three agencies (Experian, Equifax and TransUnion), because lenders do not all use the same one. Dispute any errors in writing. Get on the electoral roll at your current address. Check for financial associations with ex-partners or former housemates - an old joint account or utility bill can drag someone else's record into your assessment, and removing it needs a notice of disassociation.

• Months 12-10 - agree the numbers. Set a joint budget, a target deposit and a realistic purchase price. Work out what you can each contribute monthly and open a separate savings pot so the deposit build-up is visible and traceable.

• Months 9-7 - tidy the credit picture. Try to keep credit utilisation below 30% of your limit. Close dormant store cards carefully, but do not close your oldest account - length of history counts in your favour. Put a direct debit on every credit agreement so a missed payment is far less likely.

• Months 6-4 - the bank statement window opens. From here on, every transaction is potentially visible to an underwriter. What do mortgage lenders look for on bank statements? Gambling transactions, unarranged overdraft use, payday lending, returned direct debits, and transfers labelled 'loan' from friends or family. Keep your accounts in credit and your labelling clean.

• Months 6-4 - cut the outgoings that eat affordability. Every committed monthly cost reduces what you can borrow. Cancel unused subscriptions and gym memberships, clear or consolidate small debts, and think hard before taking on a car finance agreement - a £300 monthly payment can cost you tens of thousands of pounds of borrowing capacity.

• Months 3-2 - go quiet. Stop applying for new credit entirely. Avoid hard searches, including for phone contracts and buy-now-pay-later. Keep balances steady rather than swinging up and down, and do not move large sums between accounts without a clear paper trail.

• Month 1 - get application-ready. Obtain a decision in principle, speak to a broker who knows which lenders take a pragmatic view of your partner's file, and gather three months of payslips, the last two or three years of accounts if either of you is self-employed, ID, proof of address and evidence of the deposit's source.

• If nothing has moved by month six - have the honest reset. If his score has not shifted and the direct debits are not being set up, the problem is not the credit file, it is the commitment. Better to reset the timetable, or rethink the plan, at month six than to discover it at the application stage.

What about your score?

One more thing: you said your partner’s score is ‘far worse’ than yours. You haven’t told me your exact circumstances, but it may be worth you taking some time to try and improve your own score, too.

You could use what you’re doing well as a way of showing him it’s possible and opening up those important conversations with him.

If you still can’t get him to act then it’s time for some difficult decisions. You could always take out a mortgage in your own name, but there are downsides to this. For example, your income alone may not be enough to buy your first home - ditto your savings - and there’s a risk that going it alone could affect your relationship.

Alternatively, you could wait for his credit score to improve. But if you’re going to put a major life event on hold, you need to be sure he’s taking the right steps to make that happen.

Probably one of the most important things to remember is that if you buy a home together, your partner’s financial affairs will also affect you. It’s important for you to both be on the same page before you commit to such a big purchase - and that starts with him taking his credit score seriously.

Buying in your name only: what you need to know first

Taking the mortgage in your name alone is a legitimate route when a partner's credit file will not clear in a reasonable timeframe - but it changes the legal and financial shape of the purchase in ways that catch people out years later. Understand the mechanics before you commit, not afterwards.

Can you use your partner's income if the mortgage is in your name alone?

Generally, no. If he is not on the mortgage, his income does not count towards affordability, which is often the deciding constraint. That single fact usually determines whether a sole application is viable at all, so run the numbers on your income alone before going any further.

What lenders ask of a non-borrowing partner living in the property

If your partner will live in the home but is not on the mortgage, most lenders require him to sign an occupier's consent form (sometimes called a waiver of rights). It confirms he accepts that the lender's charge takes priority and that he would have to leave if the property were ever repossessed. He will usually need to take independent legal advice before signing, which adds a modest cost.

Protecting his contribution

If he puts money towards the deposit or the monthly payments, and the property and mortgage are in your name only, he gains no automatic share simply by living there - though in England and Wales he may still be able to establish a beneficial interest through a resulting or constructive trust, so take tailored legal advice and put a declaration of trust in place before completion. A declaration of trust - a short deed prepared by a solicitor - records exactly who contributed what and how the proceeds are split on sale. A cohabitation agreement can cover the wider arrangements: who pays which bills, what happens to contributions if you separate, and how either of you can exit. For unmarried couples in particular, this is the single most important protective document, because 'common law marriage' does not exist in English law.

Joint tenants vs tenants in common

If you later own the property together, you will choose between joint tenants (equal shares, and the survivor automatically inherits) and tenants in common (defined shares that can be unequal, and each of you can leave your share to whomever you choose in a will). Where one partner has funded far more of the deposit, tenants in common with a declaration of trust is usually the fairer structure.

Adding your partner to the mortgage later

You can add him once his credit has recovered, but it is not a form-filling exercise. It requires a remortgage or a transfer of equity: a fresh affordability and credit assessment, a solicitor to handle the legal transfer, Land Registry fees, possible early repayment charges on your existing deal, and potentially stamp duty if he takes on a share of the outstanding debt above the threshold. Budget for it rather than assuming it is free.

Stamp duty and first-time buyer relief

If you buy alone as a first-time buyer, you claim the relief on your own. The trap comes later: once you own a home, a subsequent joint purchase will not qualify for first-time buyer relief even if your partner has never owned property, and if you kept the first home you could face the higher rate for additional properties. If he has never bought and you have, it may be worth modelling which of you buys first.

When a joint borrower sole proprietor arrangement helps

A joint borrower sole proprietor (JBSP) mortgage lets someone else's income support the affordability calculation without them appearing on the deeds. It is most commonly used with parents, but it is worth asking a broker whether it fits your situation - though bear in mind the second borrower's credit file is still assessed, so it does not solve a poor-credit problem.

Signals it is better to wait

Buying solo may be worth considering when your income comfortably supports the loan, you have a clear written agreement in place, and his credit issues are historic and shrinking. It is worth waiting instead when you would be stretching to the very top of your borrowing capacity, when his markers will age out within 18 months anyway, or when the conversation about money is one he keeps avoiding - because that is a signal about the partnership, not just the paperwork. For decisions about sole ownership, declarations of trust, consolidating debts or choosing a lender, it's worth getting independent mortgage and legal advice.

Joint mortgages and credit scores: your questions answered

Will my partner's bad credit drag down my credit score?

Not by itself. Simply being in a relationship, or even living together, has no effect on your score. What creates the link is a joint financial product - a joint mortgage, joint current account or joint loan. Once that exists, you become financially associated, and lenders can see and factor in his file when they assess you.

Do lenders use the higher score, the lower score, or an average?

None of the above, strictly speaking. There is no single national score, and lenders run their own scorecards on the underlying data. In practice, most weight the weaker file heavily, because they are pricing the risk of the application as a whole. Assume the lower profile sets the rate.

What is a financial association and how do I get one removed?

It is a recorded link between two people who have held credit together. To remove it, first close or fully separate the joint account, then apply to each credit reference agency for a notice of disassociation. If the account is still open and active, the agency will refuse - the product has to go first.

Can we get a mortgage if only one of us has a poor score?

Often, yes - though approval always depends on the lender’s own checks, including income, existing borrowing and affordability. The question is usually the rate rather than the outcome. Specialist and adverse-credit lenders will consider applications with defaults, CCJs and even discharged bankruptcies, usually in exchange for a larger deposit and a higher interest rate. Over a 25-year term the difference is substantial, which is why improving the file first is normally the cheaper option.

Will a joint application leave a mark if we are rejected?

A full application leaves a hard search on both files, visible to other lenders for one to two years, depending on the agency. The rejection itself is not recorded, but a cluster of hard searches looks like repeated declines. Use eligibility checkers and a broker's knowledge of lender criteria rather than applying speculatively.

Is it cheaper to use a specialist lender now or wait for a high-street rate?

Work it out in pounds rather than principle. Compare the monthly payment on a specialist deal against a mainstream one, multiply the gap by the number of months you would be on it, and set that against the rent you would pay while waiting plus any change in house prices. If a marker drops off or becomes satisfied within a year or so, waiting usually wins.

What happens to the mortgage and my credit file if we split up?

The mortgage does not end with the relationship. You remain jointly and severally liable, meaning the lender can pursue either of you for the full amount, and any missed payment damages both files. Untangling it requires a transfer of equity, a remortgage or a sale - and the financial association stays until the joint product is closed and you disassociate.

Should we use a mortgage broker, and does it cost anything?

With adverse credit in the mix, a broker earns their place. Lender criteria on defaults, CCJs and payday loans are not published, and a broker who places these cases regularly will know which lenders to approach and which to avoid, sparing you needless hard searches. Many are fee-free and paid by commission from the lender; others charge a fee. Ask which applies before you engage them.