Mortgage with a CCJ
You can often get a mortgage with a county court judgment (CCJ) through a specialist lender. The decision depends on how old the CCJ is, the amount, whether it is satisfied (paid), and how many you have. A small, older, satisfied CCJ is far easier to place than a recent, large, unsatisfied one. A CCJ drops off your credit file after six years, and your options widen as it ages.
What lenders actually weigh
Four things: age, amount, status and number. A CCJ from three years ago for a small sum, now satisfied, barely troubles many specialist lenders. A recent, large, unsatisfied CCJ narrows the field and raises the rate and deposit. Satisfying the CCJ (paying it and having it marked as settled) almost always helps, and keeping the months since clean matters more than the CCJ itself.
How your options change with time
- Recent CCJ: specialist lender, larger deposit, rate premium.
- One to three years old and satisfied: more lenders, smaller premium.
- Beyond three years: closer to mainstream for many borrowers.
- After six years: drops off your file and is no longer visible to lenders.
Common questions
Can I get a mortgage with a CCJ?
Often yes, through a specialist lender. The decision turns on how old the CCJ is, how much it was for, whether it has been satisfied (paid), and how many you have. A small, old, satisfied CCJ is treated very differently from a recent, large, unsatisfied one.
Does paying the CCJ help?
Usually, yes. A satisfied CCJ is viewed more favourably than an unsatisfied one, and some lenders prefer or require it to be settled. Marking it satisfied on the register also signals to lenders that the matter is resolved.
How long before a CCJ stops mattering?
A CCJ stays on your credit file for six years from the judgment date, then drops off. In the meantime, the older it gets the less weight lenders give it. Many borrowers find mainstream options reopen well before the six years are up, especially once it is satisfied.
Will I need a bigger deposit?
Sometimes. With recent or larger CCJs, specialist lenders may want a larger deposit to offset the risk, and the rate carries a premium. As the CCJ ages and your recent record stays clean, both the deposit requirement and the rate tend to ease.
Related: mortgage with a default and the adverse-credit hub.
Founder, MortgageExplained
Adam spent over eight years as a mortgage adviser at Just Mortgages, with further experience in commercial finance. He is CeMAP and CF qualified. He built MortgageExplained to do one thing well: explain mortgages in plain English, so you know where you stand before you speak to a regulated broker. Every page on the site is written by Adam.
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