the loan. "By having funds to cover 20% deposit, and other costs such as stamp duty and legal fees, you avoid having your application be assessed by the mortgage insurer, and you have a greater chance of the loan being approved," Wight says. 3. Demonstrate that you have improved your financial situation "If you have had problems in the past, you need to show that you are now back on track by ensuring all current financial commitments are being paid on time," Wight says. "This includes not only your loans and credit cards but your rent and utilities as well. Evidence of regular savings will also strengthen your application." 4. Apply to a specialist lender Depending upon the severity your bad credit history, the mainstream lenders may not be able to assist you -- but there are specialist lenders in the market place who price their products based on the element of risk. "The interest rate is usually higher," Wight admits, "but people usually only stay in these products long enough for their credit situation to improve, and then they refinance to a lower rate." 5. Seek professional advice regarding your credit report "There are a number of specialist credit repair agencies that may be able to assist you with cleaning up your credit report. It is advisable to speak with them or a solicitor to investigate if it is possible for adverse entries on your report to be removed," Wight says. 6. Shop around --  but only in principle