Bluestone Mortgages has eased its credit policy and tiering criteria across the specialist lender’s residential product range.    

The firm has expanded its acceptable county court judgment criteria, “making it more likely for customers to qualify for a better mortgage rate”. 

For its AA credit tier, customers are now allowed up to two county court judgments in the past 36 months. Similarly, for its A tier, customers are allowed up to three county court judgments in the same timeframe. 

The lender has also raised its threshold for defaults and county court judgments, now discounting those under £500 — a £200 increase on its previous limit — offering broader eligibility for customers.  

In addition to disregarding telecoms defaults and county court judgments, the business will now exclude utility bill defaults and county court judgments from consideration. 

The lender has also increased its flexibility for customers who have recently been discharged from bankruptcy on AA, A and BBB credit tiers.  

For its AA tier, the firm will now accept customers who have been discharged for over two years, and over one year for its A and BBB products. 

Bluestone Mortgages/Shawbrook retail mortgages commercial director Steve Griffiths says: “These changes reflect Bluestone’s understanding of the challenges many customers face in accessing mortgages.  

“By offering greater flexibility with county court judgments, defaults, and bankruptcy history, we’re ensuring that more people have the opportunity to secure a mortgage, even if their financial past doesn’t fit the traditional mould.”