Home › Mortgage with an IVA — What You Need to Know in 2026
Adverse Credit Mortgage UK Whatever's On Your File
Darryl Dhoffer
CeMAP · CeRER · FCA 301173 · ⭐ 52 Reviews
"I specialise in exactly this. Free assessment — no credit search, no obligation. I respond within 2 hours."
An IVA — active or completed — doesn't permanently close the door to a mortgage. Specialist lenders have specific criteria for IVA applications. Here's what you need to know.
Being declined feels personal. It isn't — banks use computers. Darryl uses judgement.
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Quick answer
Can I get a mortgage with adverse credit? Often yes. CCJs, defaults, missed payments, IVAs, DMPs and bankruptcy rule out many high street lenders, but not specialist ones. What matters most is how recent the issue is, how large it was, whether it has been paid, and how much deposit you have. A specialist adverse credit mortgage broker can match your file to the right lender before any application is made, which avoids needless credit searches. Darryl Dhoffer's assessment is free and involves no credit search.
How an Adverse Credit Mortgage Broker Works: 4 Steps
Free assessment. You tell Darryl what is on your file, your income and your deposit. No credit search.
Lender matching. Your details are checked against the criteria of lenders on a panel of 65+ before any application is submitted.
Application with context. The case is presented with the story an automated system would miss: what happened, when, and how you have managed credit since.
Offer and completion. A broker fee is only payable once your mortgage is agreed and offered. The initial assessment is free.
The most important date is when your IVA drops off your credit file — 6 years from start date, not completion date. If your IVA started in 2020, it clears in 2026 regardless of when it completed. From that point, you may access near-mainstream lenders.
Adverse Credit Mortgage Timeline — What's Possible When
During IVA — Very Limited
IVA supervisor consent required. Essentially not possible except in specific windfall scenarios.
IVA Complete — 0 to 12 months
Very few lenders. 20%+ deposit required. Pepper Money and Together Money are the primary options.
IVA Complete — 12 to 36 months
Bluestone and Kensington become available. Rates improve. 15-20% deposit typically needed.
IVA Complete — 3 to 6 years old
Wider specialist lender access. Rates approach near-mainstream. 10-15% deposit may be sufficient.
6 years from IVA start — IVA drops off file
IVA no longer visible to lenders. Near-mainstream rates available. This is the full recovery point.
Types of Adverse Credit and How Lenders View Them
From least to most severe in terms of lender impact:
Missed payments — one or two missed payments, particularly older ones, have minimal impact on specialist lender criteria. Some mainstream lenders will still consider you.
Defaults — a default is registered when a lender closes an account due to non-payment. Small satisfied defaults older than two years are often ignored by specialist lenders.
CCJs — County Court Judgments are more serious markers. Satisfied CCJs under £1,000 older than two years have the least impact. Large recent unsatisfied CCJs are the most significant.
DMP — Debt Management Plans show on your credit file and indicate financial difficulties. Many specialist lenders will consider applications from borrowers currently on or having completed a DMP.
IVA — Individual Voluntary Arrangements remain on your credit file for six years. Some specialist lenders will consider applications after your IVA is completed.
Bankruptcy — the most serious marker. Most lenders require at least two to three years after discharge before they will consider an application.
Adverse Credit and Deposit Size
The size of your deposit has a significant impact on your options with adverse credit. More equity reduces the lender's risk and opens up more lenders and better rates:
5-10% deposit — very limited options with adverse credit. Some specialist lenders at higher rates.
15-20% deposit — more specialist lenders available. Better rates.
25%+ deposit — wide range of specialist lenders. Some near-mainstream options.
40%+ deposit — best specialist rates available. Some mainstream lenders may consider you.
Adverse Credit Mortgage FAQs
What is adverse credit on a mortgage application?
Adverse credit refers to negative information on your credit file that indicates past difficulty managing credit. This includes missed payments, defaults, CCJs, DMPs, IVAs and bankruptcy. Adverse credit makes mortgage applications more difficult with mainstream lenders but specialist lenders have criteria specifically designed to accommodate a wide range of adverse credit histories.
How long does adverse credit affect a mortgage application?
Most adverse credit markers stay on your credit file for six years. However their impact diminishes over time — markers older than two to three years and those that are settled are treated significantly more favourably than recent unsatisfied adverse credit. Darryl can assess exactly how your specific adverse credit history affects your current options.
Can I get a 90% LTV mortgage with adverse credit?
A 90% LTV mortgage with adverse credit is possible in some cases, particularly where the adverse credit is minor and well in the past. Most specialist lenders prefer a maximum LTV of 75-85% for adverse credit applications. The lower the LTV, the more lenders will consider your application and the better the rates available.
What is the difference between adverse credit and bad credit?
Adverse credit and bad credit mean the same thing — negative information on your credit file. Adverse credit is the more formal term used by lenders and mortgage professionals. Bad credit is the colloquial term most commonly used by borrowers. Both refer to the same range of issues from missed payments to CCJs and IVAs.
Do I need a broker to get an adverse credit mortgage?
Not legally, but in practice usually yes. Many specialist adverse credit lenders only accept applications through FCA-authorised brokers, and a broker checks lender criteria first so you avoid declined applications and unnecessary credit searches.
Will an adverse credit mortgage cost more?
Often the rate is higher than a mainstream mortgage, because specialist lenders price for additional risk. More recent or more serious issues and a smaller deposit generally mean a higher rate. As issues age and your deposit grows, choice and pricing usually improve. Compare the total cost, including product fees, not just the headline rate.
What do I need to get started with an adverse credit mortgage?
Details of what is on your credit file (ideally a multi-agency report), three to six months of bank statements, proof of income, evidence of your deposit, and what you want to achieve and by when. The bad credit mortgage checklist on this site lists everything.
About Darryl Dhoffer
CeMAP and CeRER qualified independent mortgage broker. FCA regulated — No. 301173. Serving clients across the whole of the UK since 2015. Specialises in adverse credit, complex income and specialist mortgage cases. Every client works directly with Darryl — no handoffs, no call centres.
YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP YOUR REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE OR ANY OTHER LOAN SECURED AGAINST IT. This page is for general information only and does not constitute regulated financial advice. The Mortgage Geezer is a trading style of Access Financial Services Ltd who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. The Financial Services Register number is 301173. Registered in England No. 04427489. Registered office address Access Financial Services Ltd, Unit 1 Furtho Court, Towcester Road, Old Stratford, Milton Keynes, MK19 6AN.
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IVA and mortgage — it's more possible than you think
Darryl has arranged mortgages for people in active IVAs and those who have completed one. Your situation may have more options than you realise. Free check.
