Can you get a mortgage with an IVA? Highly unlikely but some lenders will consider you 1 year after discharge

Getting a mortgage with an IVA (individual voluntary arrangement) that is still running is rare: none of Britain’s ten largest lenders will consider it, and none of the five specialists Newspage checked consider a live IVA in their standard criteria, though a few lenders may look at it on a case-by-case basis.

But once the IVA ends, the door opens sooner than most borrowers expect: Aldermore and Vida Homeloans will consider an application one year after discharge, and Nationwide and HSBC after three.

And brokers say some lenders will lend, even during an IVA, but it's rare and comes with caveats.

How long do you have to wait for a mortgage with an IVA?

Three years at the earliest with the high street, and one year with some specialist lenders, Newspage research shows.

But brokers say many borrowers who have been through an IVA, the most common form of personal insolvency in England and Wales, assume it will keep them from getting a mortgage for years after it ends. 

This knowledge gap is increasingly relevant, as there were 7,385 IVAs in September 2026, the highest monthly number since November 2022, excluding a one-off backlog last December, according to data from the Government Insolvency Service.

Newspage checked the published broker criteria of the ten largest UK mortgage lenders, and found that none will consider an applicant while an IVA is still running, or in the first two years after it is discharged.

Specialist lenders move far faster. Of the five specialist lenders checked, two (Aldermore and Vida Homeloans) will consider an applicant one year after an IVA is discharged.

Brokers said the date an IVA started matters as much as the date it ended, because an IVA stays on a credit file for six years from when it began.

They said a clean credit record, a completion certificate and a larger deposit all help, and that specialist lenders can open the door years earlier than the high street, though usually at a higher rate.

How quickly will specialist lenders consider you after an IVA?

Aldermore and Vida Homeloans will consider an applicant one year after an IVA is discharged, Bluestone Mortgages after three years, and all five of the specialist lenders analysed will consider an applicant six years after an IVA is discharged.

However, earlier access often comes with a larger deposit and a higher rate. Aldermore lends up to 80% loan-to-value (LTV) one year after discharge, and Vida up to 75% LTV.

Vida's two-year fix at 75% LTV costs 7.38% on its Packager tier, which considers applicants one year after an IVA is discharged, compared with 5.93% on its top tier for those three years after discharge.

Bluestone adds a 1% rate loading on three of its tiers for anyone with an IVA discharged in the last six years, while two specialists, Pepper Money and Kensington Mortgages, apply the same six-year wait as most of the high street.

Richard Davidson, Mortgage Advisor at onlinemortgageadvisor.co.uk, said: “Getting a mortgage with an IVA is possible, whether it is still running or recently finished”, but said borrowers will usually need a bigger deposit.

He added: "As a rough guide, expect around 25% for a live IVA and 15% if it's recently finished.

"The start date matters, too. Most lenders go from the settled date, but the IVA drops off your credit file six years from when it started, which can open up high street rates at a high loan-to-value (LTV) even if it only finished recently.

"You won't necessarily be stuck with a specialist lender either, as some of the few lenders who will consider it are high street banks.

"Beyond keeping your credit clean, the main thing is getting your completion certificate. It can take months to come through, so chase it early."

Darryl Dhoffer, Founder at Milton Keynes-based The Mortgage Geezer, a broker specialising in bad credit mortgages, said: "One of my key specialisms is guiding clients through mortgages after an Individual Voluntary Arrangement or even during one.

"If your IVA and associated defaults are fully cleared from your credit file following an early discharge, numerous high street lenders will welcome your application.

"However, if the IVA remains visible on your report despite an early discharge, the process requires specialised lenders or specific mutual building societies, often demanding a higher deposit.

"Interestingly, a select few lenders will even consider active IVAs, provided your insolvency practitioner consents, though this similarly necessitates a larger financial commitment upfront."

Stephen Perkins, Managing Director at Norwich-based Yellow Brick Mortgages, said: "Finishing an IVA does not automatically mean waiting six years for a mortgage.

"The IVA normally stays on a credit file for six years from the date it started, not the date it finished, and some specialist lenders will consider borrowers much sooner than the mainstream banks.

"The exact timing will depend on when the IVA began and ended, the deposit, how the credit file has been managed since and the rest of the case.

"The important thing is not to assume a mainstream lender saying no means homeownership is off the table for another six years."

When will high street lenders consider you after an IVA?

Two of the ten largest lenders, Nationwide and HSBC, will consider an applicant three years after an IVA ends, and this rises to 80% of the ten high street lenders Newspage looked at, at six years.

NatWest, Barclays, Virgin Money, TSB, Coventry and Accord join them at the six-year mark, with Coventry excluding first-time buyers and Accord requiring no other adverse record on the account.

Toby Quanstrom, Director at Eastbourne-based Quanstrom Financial, said borrowers with an IVA are "watching the wrong clock".

He added: "It sits on a credit file for six years from the day it starts, but most lenders won't lend until six years from the day it ends, so a five-year IVA can mean an eleven-year wait for the high street. Specialists are far quicker.

"Our advice is simple: the sooner your IVA is cleared, the sooner you will qualify for a competitive mortgage. Get it paid off sooner rather than later."

Can you get a mortgage while an IVA is still running?

None of the ten largest lenders will consider an applicant with an IVA still in progress, and none of the five specialists include a live IVA in their standard criteria.

Bluestone Mortgages says it may consider applicants with an IVA still running, case by case, although its standard criteria require an IVA to have been discharged more than three years ago.

Rohit Kohli, Director at Romsey-based The Mortgage Stop, said: "An IVA will affect your credit file, but it doesn't automatically rule out a mortgage. While it's still in progress, options are very limited, and most mainstream lenders will want to see a period of time pass after completion.

"Both the start and completion dates are relevant, as the IVA stays on your credit file for a set period from when it began.

"Specialist lenders may consider applicants sooner, typically at a higher interest rate and with higher fees.

"Lenders will also want to understand the circumstances behind the IVA and see evidence that credit has been managed well since.

"Keeping your credit record clean, holding onto your completion certificate and saving a larger deposit can all help. Speaking to a broker early will give a clearer picture of what's realistic."

How can borrowers improve their chances of a mortgage after an IVA?

Brokers say borrowers should keep their credit record clean, check their credit reports, hold onto their IVA completion certificate and save the biggest deposit they can.

Nouran Moustafa, Practice Principal and IFA at Roxton Wealth, said: "An IVA does not mean you are banned from getting a mortgage forever, but timing matters enormously.

"While an IVA is still active, mainstream mortgage options are extremely limited. Once it has finished, specialist lenders can sometimes consider applicants much sooner than the high street, although that can mean a bigger deposit and higher rates.

"The date people often misunderstand is the start date. An IVA normally stays on your credit file for six years from when it began, not six years from when it finished.

"After completion, check all three credit reports, make sure the IVA is marked correctly, keep every payment spotless and build the biggest deposit you reasonably can.

"Most importantly, do not fire applications at lenders randomly. An IVA closes doors. Time, clean credit and the right lender start opening them again."

Your questions answered

Questions answered by Richard Davidson, Mortgage Advisor at onlinemortgageadvisor.co.uk

Can I get a mortgage while I am in an IVA?

It’s possible to get a mortgage if you are currently in an IVA. There will be deposit requirements that are stricter than for a standard mortgage, and higher rates than with a high street lender.

How long after an IVA ends can I get a mortgage?

You can get a mortgage during an IVA, or when it has recently completed. These will have different rates and requirements than high street lenders. Once you are three years from the end or six years from the start of the IVA, subject to a clean credit file, you will have access to high street ‘best’ rates with as little as a 5% deposit.

What size deposit do I need for a mortgage after an IVA?

One year from the end, you need 15%; three years after it has finished, 5%. Some lenders go from the start date, so six years from the start date, as long as it has ended and is off the credit file, it would be 5%.

When does an IVA come off my credit file?

An IVA would drop off six years from the start as long as it is marked as ended in my understanding, but it’s one for the credit agencies.

Should I use a mortgage broker if I have had an IVA?

Yes, anyone with an IVA would need specialist advice and would likely need to use a mortgage broker, as there will be a restricted number of lenders.