Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage. Fee £299 on mortgage offer. No fee if no offer is issued. If you are in financial difficulty, a mortgage may not be appropriate.
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In most cases, a mortgage will not be available to someone with an IVA. Only in limited circumstances, and with a small number of lenders, may an application be considered.
For many people, focusing on completing the IVA or improving their financial position may be more appropriate than applying for a mortgage at this stage.
An IVA does not automatically prevent you from getting a mortgage, but it significantly affects which lenders will consider your application and on what terms. If you have other adverse credit alongside your IVA, see our bad credit mortgages guide. In practice, many IVA mortgage enquiries do not result in a mortgage being available. Some applicants will not qualify, and in some cases no suitable lenders are available. The critical distinction lenders make is between an active IVA, where monthly payments are still ongoing, and a completed IVA, where the arrangement has concluded and a completion certificate has been issued. These two situations are assessed very differently. Not all applicants with an IVA will be eligible for a mortgage, and acceptance cannot be guaranteed. In some situations, waiting or improving your financial position may lead to better outcomes than applying immediately.
Many applicants with an IVA are not eligible for a mortgage, particularly where the IVA is recent or still active. Even among lenders who consider adverse credit, many applications are declined. Eligibility depends on individual circumstances and lender criteria.
Monthly payments ongoing. Insolvency practitioner consent required before any mortgage application. Only a small number of lenders may consider active IVA cases. Specialist lenders apply stricter criteria and do not guarantee acceptance. Many applications are still declined. A larger deposit is generally needed.
Arrangement concluded with completion certificate issued. No practitioner consent needed. More lenders available than for active IVAs, although in practice only a small number may consider such applications and many are declined. Options improve over time as the IVA ages.
The formal document from your insolvency practitioner confirming the IVA has concluded. Most lenders require this as evidence. If you have completed your IVA and do not have this document, your practitioner can issue it.
An IVA shows on your credit file for six years from the date it was registered, not from completion. Completion status updates the entry but does not remove it early. Lenders can see both the IVA and its status.
IVA applicants generally need a larger deposit than for standard mortgage applications. The exact amount depends on the lender, whether the IVA is active or completed, and individual circumstances. A larger deposit generally improves the available options.
For an active IVA, your insolvency practitioner must agree to you taking on new credit. This is a practical requirement of the IVA agreement, not a lender rule. You will need a letter from your practitioner for any application.
Even where lenders consider IVA applications, approval is not guaranteed and many applications are declined.
For an active IVA, the starting point is insolvency practitioner consent. Your practitioner must agree in writing that taking on a mortgage is consistent with your IVA terms. Without this, no lender will proceed.
Lenders who consider active IVA applications assess whether the mortgage payments are genuinely affordable alongside the continuing IVA payments. Both obligations need to be sustainable. The combined monthly commitment is the key affordability test.
A larger deposit reduces lender risk and can open more options. The quality of your IVA payment record matters too. Consistent on-time payments demonstrate that you are managing your existing obligations reliably.
A completed IVA with a current completion certificate removes the need for practitioner involvement and makes a wider range of specialist lenders accessible. The completion certificate is the key document: lenders use it to verify the IVA has formally concluded.
How recently the IVA was completed affects which lenders are willing to consider an application. Options generally improve as time passes, though the rate of improvement varies between lenders and individual circumstances.
The credit history since the IVA completed also matters. Consistent good conduct since completion strengthens an application. Any new adverse entries after completion will complicate matters regardless of the IVA's age.
Not sure which lenders may consider your IVA situation? In many cases, no mortgage will be available. An adviser can help assess your situation and explain how different lenders assess IVA applications and whether any may consider your circumstances, before any credit search is made. You are under no obligation to proceed.
Book a Call With an AdviserFee £299 on mortgage offer. No fee if no offer is issued.
No obligation. Any recommendation is provided only after a full assessment of your circumstances.
Find out whether a mortgage is realistically available based on your circumstancesWho this information is intended for: People who currently have an active IVA, have recently completed an IVA, or completed an IVA some years ago who are considering a mortgage application.
This information may be less suitable where: you have other significant adverse credit alongside an IVA, where different considerations apply; you are considering bankruptcy or other insolvency options, where specialist debt advice should be sought first; or your IVA situation is unusual or complex.
Foreseeable harm: Applying for a mortgage with an active IVA without insolvency practitioner consent could breach your IVA terms. Applying to a lender not set up to consider IVA cases risks an unnecessary hard credit search and declined application. Understanding your position before applying reduces these risks.
Financial vulnerability: If your circumstances involve financial vulnerability or ongoing financial difficulty, additional support may be available before you consider any mortgage application.
If you are currently in financial difficulty: Taking on a mortgage may not be appropriate for your circumstances. If you are experiencing financial difficulty or are unsure whether a mortgage is right for your situation, it may be helpful to seek independent debt advice before proceeding. Free independent guidance is available from MoneyHelper (www.moneyhelper.org.uk). Free debt advice is available from StepChange (www.stepchange.org), which can also advise on IVA implications for future credit.
Outcome uncertainty: There is a risk that no suitable mortgage will be available based on your circumstances. This is particularly likely where an IVA is active or recently completed, or where the deposit available is limited.
How we mitigate this: Our adviser process includes assessing your IVA status, practitioner consent requirements, credit file, and deposit position before identifying any lenders for consideration.
These are third-party reviews and do not reflect typical outcomes for IVA mortgage applications. Many applicants with an IVA will not be eligible for a mortgage.
Customer reviews reflect individual experiences and are not indicative of typical outcomes. Many applicants with an IVA will not be eligible. Reviews are from a third-party platform and do not constitute advice.
These examples illustrate rare scenarios where a lender may consider an application. They do not reflect typical outcomes, and most applicants in similar circumstances will not be eligible for a mortgage. Many applications in these situations are declined or no suitable lender is available. These examples are for illustration only and must not be relied upon as an indication of success, likelihood of approval, or typical customer outcomes.
An individual with a completed IVA, a formal completion certificate, and a period of good financial conduct since completion. Stable employment, a deposit available, and no new adverse credit since the IVA concluded. Looking to purchase their first home.
In limited circumstances, a specialist lender who assesses completed IVA applications individually may be identified. The completion certificate, the clean credit record since completion, and stable income were the key documents. The application was positioned around the completion and subsequent good conduct rather than the IVA history itself.
In this scenario, a specialist lender may have been willing to consider the application, although many similar cases may still be declined. This does not indicate likelihood of acceptance. Individual circumstances, the size of the deposit, how recently the IVA completed, and lender criteria at the time would all affect actual outcomes.
An individual partway through an active IVA with a consistent payment record. Stable income sufficient to cover both the IVA payment and potential mortgage payments. A larger deposit available. Insolvency practitioner consent obtained. Looking to purchase a property rather than continue renting.
In limited circumstances, a specialist lender experienced with active IVA applications may be identified. The practitioner consent letter, IVA payment history, and detailed affordability evidence showing both obligations were sustainable were the core documents. Affordability was demonstrated for the mortgage payment alongside the ongoing IVA payment.
In this scenario, a specialist lender may have been willing to consider the application, although many similar cases may still be declined. This does not indicate likelihood of acceptance. Active IVA applications face a more restricted lender pool than completed IVA cases, and actual outcomes depend entirely on individual circumstances and lender criteria.
Options are often limited for applicants with an active IVA. In a limited number of cases a mortgage may be possible, although this is not guaranteed. An active IVA requires consent from your insolvency practitioner before you can take on new credit including a mortgage. Without that consent, no lender will proceed. A limited number of specialist lenders may consider active IVA applications in certain circumstances, although many applications are declined and in some cases no lenders are available. Where consideration is given, practitioner consent, a sufficient deposit, and clearly affordable mortgage payments alongside IVA payments are all required. The lender pool for active IVA applications is significantly smaller than for completed IVAs, and in some cases no mortgage may be available.
Yes, for an active IVA. Your IVA agreement requires you to obtain consent from your insolvency practitioner before taking on new credit above a certain threshold. A mortgage clearly falls above any standard threshold. You will need a formal consent letter from your practitioner to submit with a mortgage application. For a completed IVA, practitioner consent is no longer required, though you will need the completion certificate they issued at the end of the arrangement.
IVA mortgage applications generally require a larger deposit than standard mortgages. The exact amount depends on whether the IVA is active or completed, how recently it completed, and individual lender criteria. A larger deposit reduces the loan-to-value ratio and reduces lender risk, which can make the difference between an application being considered and declined. There is no universal minimum. It depends on the specific lender and the full application picture. An adviser can indicate realistic deposit requirements based on your specific IVA situation before you apply.
An IVA remains on your credit file for six years from the date it was registered with the credit reference agencies, not from the date it was completed. So a five-year IVA registered in January 2020 and completed in January 2025 would still show on your credit file until January 2026. The entry updates to show completion status once the completion certificate has been processed by the credit reference agencies, which improves how lenders view it, but does not remove it early. Once removed after the six-year period, its direct impact on most lenders' decisions is significantly reduced.
Whether to wait depends on how long remains until the IVA drops off and your individual circumstances. If the IVA will be removed within six to twelve months, waiting may open significantly better options with a wider range of lenders. If there are several years remaining, waiting may not be the most practical approach, as specialist lenders may be able to help in the meantime. The cost of continued renting versus an accessible mortgage at a higher rate is a calculation worth making with an adviser. There is no single right answer. It depends on your situation, your timeline, and what is actually available to you now.
For many applicants with an IVA, buying a house will not be possible. In a limited number of cases it may be achievable, although this is not guaranteed and depends on individual circumstances. For an active IVA, insolvency practitioner consent is required and the lender pool is more limited. For a completed IVA, more options may be available though a specialist lender is still generally required. A sufficient deposit and evidence of affordable mortgage payments are key factors in both cases. Not all applications will be successful, and what is available depends entirely on individual circumstances and lender criteria at the time.
There is no published list of lenders who accept IVAs, as lender appetite in this area changes regularly and depends on individual circumstances. Mainstream high street banks generally decline IVA applications through automated credit scoring. A limited number of specialist and building society lenders with manual underwriting processes may consider applications, though lenders who consider adverse credit apply their own criteria and many applications are declined even by those who do consider IVAs. The lenders available at any point depend on the status of your IVA, the deposit, the overall credit file, and current lender appetite. An adviser can identify which lenders are currently considering applications for situations similar to yours, without requiring a credit search to find out.
A completion certificate is the formal document issued by your insolvency practitioner when your IVA has successfully concluded. It confirms the arrangement is over and any remaining debts included in the IVA are typically written off in accordance with the IVA terms. For mortgage applications, lenders use the completion certificate to verify that the IVA has formally concluded, rather than relying solely on credit file entries which can sometimes lag behind. If you have completed your IVA but do not have a completion certificate, contact your insolvency practitioner to request one. Keep it in a safe place as you will need it for any mortgage application.
No obligation. Speaking to an adviser does not increase the likelihood of acceptance. This page does not constitute a personal recommendation. Any recommendation will only be made after a full assessment of your circumstances.
In many cases, a mortgage will not be available based on your circumstances.
Speak to an adviserWoodhall Mortgages is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Firm Reference Number 762513). We provide regulated mortgage advice. You can verify this on the Financial Services Register.
We offer advice on a comprehensive range of mortgages from across the market, although not all lenders and products are available through intermediaries. Availability will depend on your individual circumstances and lender criteria. We will make a personal recommendation after assessing your needs and circumstances.
This is a financial promotion, intended for UK consumers. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage. This page is for information purposes only and does not constitute regulated mortgage advice or a personal recommendation. Regulated advice is provided only after a full assessment of your circumstances. Last reviewed: April 2026.
Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage. Fee £299 on mortgage offer. No fee if no offer is issued.
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