Missed or late payment markers on a partner’s file are usually the mildest form of adverse credit, and they are often less of a barrier to a joint remortgage than a default, CCJ or insolvency. What matters most is how recent they are, how many there have been, and whether payments have been on time since. A single missed payment from a couple of years ago is looked at very differently from a recent, repeated pattern.
This page looks at how missed payments on a partner’s file may be viewed on a joint application, and what tends to help. For other credit problems on a partner’s file, see our main page on joint remortgages when your partner has bad credit.
On this page
This page covers
- Credit issue
- Missed paymentsUsually stays on your credit file for 6 years from the date recorded.
- Reason for remortgaging
- Changing the mortgageChanges to the term, repayment type or borrowers usually need a fresh application.
Read the main guide: Remortgaging jointly when your partner has bad credit
In short
- Missed payment markers stay on a credit file for 6 years from when they were recorded.
- A single, older missed payment is usually viewed very differently from a recent, repeated pattern.
- A steady run of on-time payments since tends to matter more here than with a default or CCJ.
- Missed payments on a joint account show on both your credit files, not just your partner’s.
How are missed payments different from a default or CCJ?
A missed or late payment marker is recorded when a scheduled payment is not made on time, and it appears earlier and more often than a default, which is usually only recorded after around 3 to 6 months of missed payments. Most people have one somewhere in their history, whether from a forgotten direct debit or a genuinely difficult period.
Because it is a lighter marker than a default or a CCJ, lenders who would decline an application with an unsettled default may still be comfortable with a partner’s missed payments, particularly if they are isolated and not recent.
Does the number and pattern of missed payments matter?
Yes, more than with a single default or CCJ, because there is a wide range within "missed payments", from one late direct debit to a run of several months across different accounts.
| Pattern | How it may read to a lender |
|---|---|
| One missed payment, over a year ago, on one account | Often a minor point, particularly with a clean record since |
| A short run of missed payments during a specific period | May be explained by circumstances such as illness or a job change |
| Missed payments recorded across several accounts recently | Often looked at more closely, as it can suggest wider financial strain |
| Missed payments on the current mortgage itself | Usually weighs more heavily than missed payments on other credit |
General patterns, not a lender’s specific criteria. Each lender applies its own scoring and rules.
How much does a clean run since help?
With missed payments, the months and years since the last one tend to carry real weight. A consistent record of on-time payments afterwards shows the earlier problem was resolved, and it is one of the more straightforward things a partner can build up before applying.
- Set up direct debits for regular bills where possible, to reduce the risk of accidentally missing one.
- Check both credit reports for any missed payments neither of you were aware of.
- Keep a note of what happened around any missed payment, in case an adviser needs to explain it.
- Avoid new credit applications in the run-up to your remortgage, since each hard search shows on the file.
Do missed payments on a joint account affect you both?
Yes. If the account is in both your names, a missed payment shows on both your credit files, whoever was meant to make it. This is different from an account only in your partner’s name, which stays on their file alone unless a financial association leads a lender to look at it when assessing you together.
If the missed payments are on your current mortgage rather than other credit, see our page on remortgaging with missed payments and remortgaging with mortgage arrears, which cover that situation directly.
What may affect a joint remortgage when your partner has missed payments
| Factor | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| How recent the missed payments are | Recent gaps in payment usually weigh more than older, isolated ones. |
| How many, and on how many accounts | A single missed payment reads differently from a pattern across several accounts. |
| Payment record since | A consistent run of on-time payments afterwards tends to help significantly. |
| Whether the account is joint | Missed payments on a shared account show on both credit files. |
| Whether the mortgage itself was affected | Missed mortgage payments usually weigh more heavily than missed payments elsewhere. |
| Combined income and outgoings | Affordability for you both, alongside any other credit commitments. |
| Loan to value | A lower LTV generally widens the choice of lenders. |
These are general points, not lender rules. Each lender sets and changes its own criteria.
Information an adviser may ask for
You don’t need all of this to make an enquiry. It helps to know where to find it, because an adviser is likely to ask about most of it.
- Dates and accounts for any missed payments on your partner’s file
- A short explanation of what led to any missed payments
- Recent credit reports for both of you from all three agencies
- Proof of on-time payments since, such as recent statements
- Proof of income for both applicants
- Your mortgage balance, deal end date and an estimate of your property’s value
Frequently asked questions
Is one missed payment on my partner’s file likely to stop us remortgaging jointly?
On its own, usually not, particularly if it happened over a year ago and there have been no others since. Lenders tend to look at the wider picture, including your combined income, equity and mortgage payment record.
How long do missed payments stay on a credit file?
A missed or late payment marker stays for 6 years from when it was recorded, the same as a default or CCJ, even though it is usually viewed as a lighter issue.
Does missing a payment on a phone contract matter as much as missing a loan payment?
Lenders can view different account types differently, and a missed payment on a mortgage or loan is generally taken more seriously than one on a smaller account such as a mobile contract, though both still show on the file.
Can we improve things quickly before applying?
You cannot remove genuine missed payments, but building a run of on-time payments, correcting any errors on the credit report and avoiding new credit applications in the meantime can all help present a stronger case.