CCJ, IVA or defaults? You may still be able to get a mortgage.
Specialist lenders read credit history very differently from the high street. Start with a free, no-obligation call — and an honest answer about your options.
One decline isn't necessarily the end. No judgement — and no credit check to talk to us.
- No credit check to have the conversation
- CCJs, IVAs, defaults and discharged bankruptcy covered
- Fees in writing
- CeMAP-qualified · advice by phone across the UK
Book a free call with Phillip
Phillip Wakeling-Smith
Mortgage & Protection Adviser · 15+ years
Phillip will ring you at the time you pick.
A free 20-minute phone call. No obligation, no credit check.
Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.
Or call 02922 820 840 or WhatsApp
6 years
That's how long a CCJ or default stays on your credit file — but how lenders treat it changes long before it drops off. Age, size and whether it's settled all move the line, and every lender draws that line somewhere different. Our job is knowing which lenders fit where you are on that timeline.
Lenders that will consider you may charge higher rates or fees, or ask for a bigger deposit.
How lenders actually read credit issues — our guide →Talk
A free initial call to understand your circumstances and what you're trying to do.
We search
We compare lenders against your actual situation, not just the headline rates.
We handle it
We manage the application through to offer, keeping you updated at every stage.
Our fee
There may be a fee for arranging a mortgage and the precise amount will depend on your circumstances, this could be up to £499 but a typical fee would be £199. We also receive a commission from the lender. Credit-issue cases take considerably more work than a standard application — a full credit-file review, matching your specific history against lender criteria, and careful packaging so the application is right first time.
The initial call is always free, with no credit check. If your situation isn't placeable yet, we'll tell you that on the call — and what would need to change.
Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.
When might more lenders consider you?
Credit issues tend to age in a similar way — lenders draw lines at 12, 24 and 36 months, and most entries drop off your file after six years. Tell us what's on your file and when, and see your timeline straight away — no email needed.
Pick the month and your timeline appears here — no email needed, nothing stored.
Questions people ask before the first call
- Can I get a mortgage with a CCJ?
- It may be possible — it depends on how old the CCJ is, its size, and whether it's been satisfied. Recent, large or unsettled judgments are the hardest; the position improves meaningfully with time. Specialist lenders exist for exactly these situations.
- What about an IVA or a debt management plan?
- A completed IVA is very different from an active one, and lenders treat them differently — some will consider an active arrangement with a clean recent record. We'll tell you honestly which side of the line you're on. (We advise on mortgages, not on the arrangement itself.) If you’re worried about debt, you can get free, confidential debt advice from MoneyHelper (opens in a new tab).
- How long after bankruptcy can I get a mortgage?
- It starts from your discharge date — options genuinely improve with each year after it, and some specialist lenders will consider cases relatively soon after discharge, usually with a larger deposit. The honest answer depends on your timeline, which is what the free call is for.
- Will talking to you hurt my credit score?
- No. The conversation involves no credit check at all. A lender only checks your file when you actually apply — and we'll tell you exactly when that happens, before it does.
- How does the fee work for credit-issue cases?
- There may be a fee for arranging a mortgage and the precise amount will depend on your circumstances, this could be up to £499 but a typical fee would be £199. We also receive a commission from the lender. Credit-issue cases are usually more work: a full review of your credit file, matching your specific issues against each lender's criteria, and packaging the application properly the first time. Any fee is disclosed in writing.
Want to do your own homework first? Fine by us.
Plain-English guides on the questions people ask us most — no lender names, no sales pitch. Read, then talk to us when you're ready.
Should I pay off my CCJ or default first?
What settling does (and doesn't) do, the one-month rule, and how to get it marked satisfied.
Read the guide →Your credit report before a mortgage
All three agencies, what to look for, and how to fix errors before a lender sees them.
Read the guide →How lenders actually read credit issues
Recency, severity, deposit and what a realistic case looks like.
Read the guide →
Ready when you are
A free call with a qualified adviser — no obligation, no credit check, and an honest answer about where you stand.
Or call 02922 820 840 · Mon–Fri 9am–5:30pm
A free 20-minute phone call. No obligation, no credit check.