Can You Get a Mortgage After a Default, CCJ or Missed Payment?

This guide provides general information and is not a substitute for personalised mortgage, tax or legal advice.

Written and reviewed by the Highhouse Money mortgage team · Last reviewed: 25 August 2026

A default, a County Court Judgment (CCJ) or a run of missed payments does not automatically end your chances of a mortgage — but it does change which lenders are realistic, and how your case needs to be presented. The worst approach is applying blindly to high-street lenders and collecting declines; each failed application can make the next one harder.

This guide explains how lenders typically think about credit events, what you can check and prepare before applying, and where specialist advice fits. It cannot promise an outcome: every case turns on its own details and on criteria that change regularly.

The events, and how they differ

Event	What it means	How long it stays on file
Missed / late payment	A payment made late or missed on a credit account	Recorded on your payment history, visible for years
Default	The lender closed the account after sustained missed payments (usually after 3–6 missed)	Six years from registration
CCJ (County Court Judgment)	A court ruled that you owe a debt	Six years unless paid in full within one month of judgment
Debt management plan (DMP)	An informal arrangement to repay debts at reduced rates	Visible while active and through related markers
IVA / bankruptcy	Formal insolvency solutions	Usually six years; many lenders require discharge plus a further period

Timescales reflect standard credit reporting practice. Lender policies on how they treat each event vary.

These events are not equivalent. A single missed credit card payment three years ago is a different proposition from an unsatisfied CCJ registered last year. Lenders read the pattern and the story, not just the presence of a marker.

The four things lenders weigh: recency, size, status and context

Recency — events in the last 12–24 months weigh far more heavily than older ones. Time is the most powerful repair.
Size — a £200 mobile phone default is treated very differently from a £10,000 loan default.
Status — satisfied (repaid) events are usually viewed more favourably than unsatisfied ones, though the marker remains for six years either way.
Context — an event caused by a one-off life event such as redundancy, illness or divorce, with clean conduct before and since, can often be explained and evidenced.
Type of credit — missed mortgage, rent or secured payments are treated most seriously; small unsecured blips less so.

Check your credit reports before anyone else does

Before applying anywhere, obtain your reports from all three main agencies — Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. Lenders do not all use the same agency, and errors are common: accounts that are not yours, incorrect default dates, or events that should show as satisfied. Dispute and correct genuine errors with evidence; a wrong default date can change which lenders will consider you.

Make sure you are registered on the electoral roll at your current address, that addresses on old accounts are consistent, and that any notice of disassociation from a former joint account holder has been applied where appropriate.

Disclose accurately — always

Application forms ask direct questions about credit history. Answer them exactly, even where the event feels old or unfair. Lenders verify against credit files and public registers, so omissions are usually discovered — and a decline for non-disclosure is harder to recover from than a decline on the merits. Accurate disclosure also protects you: a mortgage based on false information can be called in.

Specialist 'adverse credit' lenders exist precisely for cases the high street declines. Their products are priced for higher risk, so rates and fees are typically higher — for some borrowers the right answer is to wait and rebuild; for others, a specialist product now is a reasonable bridge to mainstream rates later. That trade-off needs individual advice.

Deposit and affordability still matter

Credit history is only one axis. A larger deposit reduces the lender's risk and widens the pool of lenders prepared to consider adverse credit. Strong, stable income and low outgoings do the same. Conversely, recent credit problems combined with a minimal deposit and stretched affordability leaves very few options — which is why the overall picture has to be assessed together.

Why repeated applications make things worse

Each full mortgage application usually triggers a hard credit search, and several in a short period signal desperation to subsequent lenders. A scattergun approach — trying lender after lender to see who says yes — can convert a borderline case into a clearly declined one. The better sequence is: check all three reports, establish exactly what is on file and when, then target only the lenders whose published criteria fit, ideally through an advisor who can confirm the fit before any application is made.

If debt is the real issue, deal with that first

If current commitments are unmanageable, a new mortgage is rarely the immediate answer. Free, impartial debt advice is available from MoneyHelper, StepChange and Citizens Advice, and formal solutions carry their own rules and consequences. A mortgage advisor can help you map a route back to borrowing; a debt charity can help you stabilise the present. The two are complements, not substitutes.

What lenders may assess

The type of event: missed payment, default, CCJ, DMP, IVA or bankruptcy
How long ago each event was registered, and what your conduct has been since
The amounts involved and whether events are satisfied or unsatisfied
Whether the event was secured (mortgage or rent) or unsecured
The explanation and evidence for what happened — one-off life events versus a pattern
Current affordability: income, outgoings and existing credit commitments
Deposit size and loan-to-value
The number of recent credit applications and searches on your file

Every lender sets its own criteria, which change regularly. The points above are common themes, not a guarantee of how any individual lender will treat an application.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get a mortgage with a CCJ?

Sometimes, yes — it depends on the lender, how old the CCJ is, its size, whether it is satisfied (paid), and the rest of your case. High-street lenders often decline recent or unsatisfied CCJs, while specialist lenders consider them. No outcome can be guaranteed; the details of your situation determine which lenders, if any, may consider you.

How long does a default stay on my credit file?

A default remains on your credit report for six years from the date it was registered, whether or not you repay it. Its impact on lenders' decisions usually lessens with time, particularly once it is marked satisfied, but policies differ between lenders.

Is a satisfied CCJ or default better than an unsatisfied one?

Generally yes — many lenders distinguish between events you have repaid and those you have not, and some require events to be satisfied for a period before they will consider lending. However, treatment is entirely lender-dependent: some are flexible, others are not.

Will a few missed payments stop me getting a mortgage?

Not necessarily. Isolated, older missed payments — especially on unsecured credit with a clear explanation — are viewed very differently from repeated recent arrears, and differently again from missed mortgage or rent payments, which lenders treat most seriously. Recency, frequency and pattern all matter.

Should I pay off old debts before applying?

Sometimes settling an old default or CCJ helps a case; sometimes the money is better kept towards your deposit, because the event stays on file for six years regardless. There is no universal right answer — an advisor can look at the specific events and lender criteria before you decide.

Will checking my own credit report hurt my score?

No. Checking your own report is a 'soft' search and is invisible to lenders. You should check all three main agencies — Experian, Equifax and TransUnion — because lenders do not all use the same one and errors do appear. Correcting a genuine mistake can transform an application.

What happens if I don't declare a credit problem and the lender finds it?

Lenders check credit files and sometimes public registers such as the Registry Trust for CCJs, so undisclosed events are usually found. At best the application is declined for inconsistency; at worst, a deliberate misstatement can be treated as fraud and recorded in ways that affect future applications. Always disclose accurately — an advisor can only place a case well if they know the full picture.

Where can I get free help if I'm struggling with debt?

Free, impartial debt advice is available from organisations such as MoneyHelper, StepChange and Citizens Advice. If keeping up with current commitments is difficult, speak to a debt advice charity before taking on new borrowing. A mortgage advisor can help you understand your future options, but debt advice is a separate, regulated service.

Sources and further reading

Where figures or rules can change, the position described is correct at the time of writing (25 August 2026) — always check the linked authoritative source for the latest position.

Residential mortgages

We regularly place cases the high street has declined.

Self-employed and director mortgages

Complex income alongside complex credit.

When should you start remortgaging?

Options when your current deal ends, whatever your history.

Speak to an advisor

Tell us what's on your file and we'll give you an honest view.

Talk it through with an advisor

Every case is different. A short, no-obligation conversation with a whole-of-market advisor is often the fastest way to understand your options. Call 0345 512 0077 or send us a message.

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