bad credit.. mortgage or rent only option ?

Hi I'm looking for some advice.

i'm 34. Because of my silly lifestyle I run up some credit card, loans and account debts. This has been going on a few yrs - payments through CCCS. this then somehow cancelled when I started working abroad because of a missed payment. I didn't find CCCS very helpful so I decided to start making payments myself. I owe approx 13,000

My problem is I now need to find somewhere to live in UK. its not convenient to live at my mothers anymore. on both sides. there just isn't enough space because of her & step fathers family.

I am now looking at renting until today I was sent information on first time buyers mortgages at reasonable newly built house prices.

What I wondered after not being able to find the information i'm looking for, would I ever be able to do this. with my bad credit history. I know I will have alot of defaults on my history.

I now earn quite decent money so could afford my expenses.

Should I just accept the fact that renting is my only option or does anyone know a way around this ?


any advice will be much appreciated.