Six years after the bankruptcy order, the entry drops off your credit file with Experian, Equifax and TransUnion, whether or not you have paid anything back. This is a genuine milestone, and many more lenders will not see the bankruptcy at all when they search your file. It is not quite the whole story, though: some mortgage application forms ask directly whether you have ever been declared bankrupt, and you must answer honestly regardless of what your credit file shows.
This page covers what changes at the 6-year point and what the ongoing disclosure question means. For the years leading up to this point, see bankruptcy over 3 years ago or our main remortgage after bankruptcy page.
On this page
This page covers
- Credit issue
- BankruptcyUsually stays on your credit file for 6 years from the bankruptcy date.
- When it happened
- More than 6 years agoMost issues drop off your credit file after 6 years, though some applications ask whether you have ever had one.
Read the main guide: Remortgaging after bankruptcy: what may be possible and when
In short
- The bankruptcy drops off your credit file 6 years from the order date, whether or not it is fully resolved.
- Some lenders still ask on the application form whether you have ever been bankrupt.
- Giving false information on an application is serious and can lead to an offer being withdrawn.
- Your home’s title should already be clear by this point; check it if you are not sure.
What actually happens after 6 years?
The bankruptcy entry is removed from your credit file with each of the three main agencies 6 years from the date of the bankruptcy order. This happens automatically and does not depend on when you were discharged or whether the trustee ever dealt with your home.
For many lenders, this means the bankruptcy simply will not appear when they search your credit report. Combined with several years of clean payment history since, this can meaningfully widen your choice of lenders and deals.
Why some lenders still ask if you have ever been bankrupt
A credit file search only shows what is currently recorded. Some lender application forms ask a direct question, such as whether you have ever been declared bankrupt, with no time limit attached. This is different from what shows on your credit file, and the two do not always match.
If a form asks whether you have ever been bankrupt, you must say yes, even if it happened many years ago and no longer shows on your file. Giving false information can lead to an offer being withdrawn, even after completion, and may affect any related insurance.
How lenders tend to view an old, disclosed bankruptcy
| Factor | What it tends to mean |
|---|---|
| How long ago it was | A bankruptcy from many years ago, disclosed honestly, is often viewed very differently from a recent one. |
| What has happened since | A long, clean record after the bankruptcy usually carries more weight than the event itself by this point. |
| Whether your home’s title is clear | Any bankruptcy restriction on the Land Registry title should already have been resolved and removed. |
| Why it happened | Some lenders may ask for a short explanation, particularly if the bankruptcy is disclosed rather than found on a search. |
General information only. Lenders set their own criteria and questions vary between application forms.
Checking your credit file and your home’s title
Get your statutory credit report free from Experian, Equifax and TransUnion to check the bankruptcy has actually been removed. If it is still showing after 6 years, raise this with the agency concerned.
It is also worth checking your property’s title register, or asking your solicitor to, to confirm there is no lingering bankruptcy restriction or notice from years ago. If there is, it needs clearing before you can remortgage, even though the bankruptcy is no longer on your credit file.
What if other credit issues are more recent than the bankruptcy?
By this stage, a lender is often more interested in what has happened since the bankruptcy than the bankruptcy itself. A more recent county court judgment, default or period of mortgage arrears is likely to carry more weight, simply because it is newer and still tells a lender something about your current finances.
If your score still looks low for reasons unrelated to the bankruptcy, our page on remortgaging with a low credit score explains what a lender actually checks, rather than the number shown in a credit app.
What may affect a remortgage this long after bankruptcy
| Factor | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Whether it has actually been removed from your credit file | Check all three agencies show it has gone; errors do happen. |
| Whether an application form asks the question directly | You must disclose an old bankruptcy honestly if asked, regardless of your credit file. |
| Whether your property title is clear | Any old bankruptcy restriction at the Land Registry needs resolving separately from the credit file. |
| Your record over the years since | A long, clean history since the bankruptcy is usually the strongest factor in your favour. |
| Mortgage payment history | Consistent payments over many years carry significant weight this far on. |
| Loan to value and equity | Equity built up over the years since often gives you more choice of lender. |
| Income and affordability | Assessed as for any remortgage, with a stress test against higher rates. |
| Employment type | Relevant mainly if the bankruptcy followed a business difficulty and questions remain about your current work. |
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.
- Your bankruptcy order date, for reference even though it no longer shows
- Confirmation from each credit reference agency that the entry has been removed
- Confirmation that your property title is clear of any bankruptcy entry
- Your current mortgage balance and payment history
- Proof of income
- A brief explanation of the bankruptcy, in case a lender’s form asks
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to tell a lender about a bankruptcy that is more than 6 years old?
If the application form asks whether you have ever been declared bankrupt, yes, you must answer honestly even though it no longer shows on your credit file. Giving false information can lead to an offer being withdrawn, even after it has been made.
Will a bankruptcy from years ago still count against me?
Some lenders may ask a little more about it if you disclose it, but a bankruptcy from many years ago with a clean record since is usually viewed very differently from a recent one. An adviser can help you find lenders whose questions and criteria fit your history.
My credit file still shows the bankruptcy after 6 years. What do I do?
Raise it with the credit reference agency showing the entry and ask for it to be removed, quoting the bankruptcy order date. This is a common and usually straightforward correction.
Do I need to check my property title even if my credit file is clear?
It is worth doing so. The credit file and the Land Registry title are separate records. If a bankruptcy restriction or notice was never removed from the title, it needs dealing with before you can remortgage.
Is bankruptcy treated the same as an IVA this long afterwards?
Both drop off the credit file after 6 years, but bankruptcy involves your home’s ownership in a way an IVA usually does not. If your case involved an IVA instead, see remortgaging after an IVA.