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Adverse credit mortgages
Yes - many people with a County Court Judgment on their file can still get a mortgage. Specialist lenders assess CCJs individually, and your options depend on the judgment's age, amount and whether it's been satisfied.
Yes, you can get a mortgage with a CCJ, though your options depend on the judgment's age, amount, and whether it's been satisfied.
Because eligibility varies so much between lenders, speaking to an advisor who compares a wide range of lenders, including specialists who don't appear on the high street, gives you the clearest picture of what's available for your circumstances.
If you're wondering whether you can get a mortgage with a CCJ, the short answer is yes - though the judgment's age, amount and status all affect which lenders will consider you. A County Court Judgment, or CCJ, is a court order made when someone fails to repay money they owe, and it can sit on your credit file as a black mark for years afterwards.
A CCJ is registered against you once a creditor takes you to court over an unpaid debt and the court rules in their favour. From that point, it appears on your credit file for 6 years from the date of the judgment, whether or not you pay off the debt during that time. After 6 years, it's automatically removed and lenders can no longer see it.
CCJs apply in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Scotland uses a different system - unpaid debts that go to court there result in a Sheriff Court Decree rather than a CCJ. If you're in Scotland, mention this to your advisor, as some lenders treat it separately.
You can check whether you have a CCJ registered against you by searching the Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines for a small fee, or by requesting your credit report from Experian, Equifax or TransUnion. A CCJ is one type of adverse credit marker; for the wider picture on how lenders treat other credit issues, see our guide to adverse credit mortgages.
We often see people assume an old CCJ still counts against them long after it's dropped off their file. It's always worth checking your current credit report rather than assuming the worst - the picture is often better than expected.
A CCJ doesn't automatically stop you getting a mortgage, but it does narrow your options considerably compared with someone who has a clean credit history.
High-street lenders tend to decline applicants with a CCJ registered in the last 3 years, and some won't lend at all against an unsatisfied CCJ, however small. Their credit scoring is largely automated, which leaves little room for individual circumstances.
Specialist adverse credit lenders take a different approach. They assess each application on its own merits - looking at the age and size of the CCJ, whether it's been paid off, and your overall financial position - rather than applying a blanket rule. Many will lend against satisfied CCJs, and some will consider unsatisfied ones alongside a larger deposit.
Deposit size plays a big part too. A larger deposit reduces the lender's risk, which can open up options that wouldn't otherwise be available. Because most high-street banks don't publish detailed adverse credit criteria, it helps to speak to an adverse credit specialist who compares a wide range of lenders, including options the high street doesn't offer.
Adverse credit specialists
Speak to an advisor about your CCJ before you apply. We compare a wide range of lenders, including specialists the high street won't consider.
When you apply for a mortgage with a CCJ on your file, lenders don't just see a single black mark - they weigh up several things about it together before deciding whether they're comfortable lending to you, and on what terms.
What lenders look at
Age of the CCJ
A CCJ registered in the last 12 months is the hardest to get a mortgage against - only a small number of specialist lenders will consider it, usually alongside a larger deposit. Between 1 and 3 years, more lenders open up, especially if the CCJ is satisfied. From 3 to 6 years, your choice widens further and some high-street lenders may start to consider your application. After 6 years, the CCJ drops off your credit file entirely and you're back in the standard mortgage market.
Satisfied vs unsatisfied status
A satisfied CCJ, meaning the debt has been paid and you've obtained a certificate of satisfaction, puts you in a noticeably stronger position than an unsatisfied one. Most mainstream and many specialist lenders decline unsatisfied CCJs outright, though a small number will accept them alongside a deposit of 25-35%.
The CCJ amount
Some lenders treat small CCJs, often under £250, more leniently than larger ones. If you have more than one CCJ, lenders usually add up the total value and assess your application against the combined amount rather than each judgment separately.
Deposit and loan-to-value
Deposit requirements typically rise with the severity of your CCJ. A standard mortgage might ask for a 10-15% deposit, a satisfied CCJ that's 3 or more years old often needs 15-20%, and an unsatisfied or recent CCJ can require 25-35%. These figures are indicative only - each lender sets its own criteria, which is why comparing options through an advisor matters.
Your overall credit profile
Lenders don't look at a CCJ in isolation. Defaults, missed payments or an IVA alongside a CCJ add up and compound how risky your application looks, while a clean record everywhere else can work in your favour.
Whether your CCJ has been satisfied or not is one of the biggest factors in how a lender treats your application. Here's how the two compare.
If you've paid off a CCJ but it still shows as unsatisfied, you can apply to the court for a certificate of satisfaction for a small fee (currently £15). Once it's recorded, your file shows the CCJ as satisfied, which most lenders view far more favourably.
If you haven't yet paid off the CCJ, a debt consolidation loan is one route some people use to settle the debt and move towards satisfied status, though it's worth weighing up the total cost before going down this path. If your CCJ is linked to wider financial difficulty, MoneyHelper (0800 138 7777) offers free, impartial guidance on managing debt.
If you have a CCJ, expect to pay more than someone with a clean credit history, though exactly how much more depends on the age, amount and status of the judgment, plus your deposit and overall financial profile. Because pricing changes constantly and varies significantly between specialist lenders, we won't quote figures here - speaking to an advisor is the only way to get an accurate picture for your circumstances.
As a general pattern, the newer and larger the CCJ, and the smaller your deposit, the higher the premium a lender is likely to charge. An older, smaller, satisfied CCJ combined with a larger deposit narrows that gap considerably. Because we compare a wide range of lenders, including specialists that don't appear on the high street, we can usually find options that a single high-street branch wouldn't offer.
Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage or any other debt secured on it. It's worth being realistic about what you can afford before taking on a more expensive deal, whatever the terms end up being.
Whether you're applying with a fresh CCJ or one that's a few years old, there are practical steps that can widen your options and improve the terms you're offered.
Before you apply
Satisfy the CCJ if you haven't already
Paying off the debt and applying to the court for a certificate of satisfaction is one of the most effective things you can do. Lenders respond far better to a satisfied CCJ than an unsatisfied one, even if it happened recently.
Check your credit file with all three agencies
Experian, Equifax and TransUnion don't always hold identical information, so check all three. If anything about the CCJ entry looks wrong, such as the amount or date, raise a dispute to get it corrected. You can also search the Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines directly for a small fee.
Save a larger deposit
A bigger deposit lowers the lender's risk and can open up options that wouldn't otherwise be available. Even moving from a 15% deposit to 20% can bring extra lenders into play.
Avoid taking on new adverse credit
Steer clear of missed payments and new credit applications in the months before you apply. Multiple hard credit searches in a short space of time can damage your score further and raise questions for underwriters.
Use an advisor who compares a wide range of lenders
High-street branches can only offer their own products. An advisor with access to specialist lenders can match you to criteria that fit your specific circumstances, rather than a one-size-fits-all decision.
If you're applying for a joint mortgage with a CCJ on one applicant's file, lenders assess both applicants' credit histories together rather than looking at either person in isolation.
In practice, this usually means the weaker credit profile has the biggest influence on which lenders will consider the application and what deposit or terms they offer. One applicant having a CCJ doesn't automatically rule out a joint application, but it will narrow your lender choice compared with two applicants who both have clean credit files.
If you're in this situation, it's worth having both applicants' credit reports reviewed together before you apply, so your advisor can identify which lenders are most likely to look favourably on your combined circumstances.
Support for CCJs, defaults and other adverse credit
A CCJ rarely appears entirely on its own. If you also have defaults, missed payments or an IVA on your file, lenders look at the whole picture rather than judging the CCJ by itself. If you want more detail on how defaults specifically affect a mortgage application, see our guide to a mortgage with defaults. If you already own a home with a CCJ on your file, our guide to remortgage options covers how the same principles apply when you're switching deals rather than buying.
Working with a Financial Conduct Authority-regulated advisor means you're getting help from a business that's required to act in your best interests. You can check any firm's status on the Financial Conduct Authority Register.
Combined adverse credit
Common questions
A CCJ stays on your credit file for 6 years from the date of the judgment. It's automatically removed after that and no longer visible to lenders. The impact is greatest in the first 3 years; after that, more lenders may consider your application, especially if the CCJ is satisfied.
It's possible, though your options are limited to specialist adverse credit lenders. A larger deposit, often in the region of 25-35%, can significantly help, and satisfying the CCJ before applying improves your position further.
A satisfied CCJ is viewed far more favourably than an unsatisfied one. Some lenders will consider satisfied CCJs that are at least 12 to 24 months old, and the older and smaller the CCJ, the less impact it typically has.
Yes. Lenders carry out a hard credit search that accesses all three credit reference agencies, and a CCJ registered within the past 6 years will be visible.
It's more difficult, but not impossible. Most mainstream lenders decline unsatisfied CCJs, but a small number of specialist lenders will consider them, usually alongside a deposit of 25-35% and a clean record everywhere else on your credit file.
It depends on the age and status of the CCJ. A satisfied CCJ that's 3 or more years old might only need a 15-20% deposit, while an unsatisfied or recent CCJ can require 25-35%. These figures are indicative only, as individual lender criteria vary, so it's worth speaking to an advisor about your specific circumstances.
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Adverse Credit
Our specialist adverse credit advisors work with lenders who consider all circumstances, including CCJs, defaults, and IVAs.
