How long after bankruptcy can you get a mortgage? There is no fixed waiting period once you are discharged, but in practice choice is usually at its narrowest in the first year. A small number of specialist lenders may consider an application soon after discharge, often where there is substantial equity and a clean record since, but rates tend to be higher than high-street rates and the range of deals is limited. More lenders tend to open up as time passes.
This page focuses specifically on the first year after discharge. If it has been longer, see bankruptcy over 3 years ago or the wider timeline on 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
- Registered in the last 12 monthsRecent issues tend to carry the most weight, so the choice of lenders is usually narrower.
Read the main guide: Remortgaging after bankruptcy: what may be possible and when
In short
- There is no fixed waiting period, but the first year after discharge usually has the narrowest choice.
- A specialist lender may consider you soon after discharge, often where there is significant equity.
- Your interest in the home needs to be genuinely resolved before any lender will proceed.
- A clean record from the moment of discharge starts building the history a future lender will look at.
How soon after discharge can you get a mortgage?
Every lender sets its own criteria, and none publishes a fixed number of months. What tends to happen in practice is that very few lenders will consider an application in the weeks immediately after discharge, a small number of specialist lenders may look at cases within the first year, and more options tend to appear as the discharge date recedes.
Where a lender will consider you this soon, expect the loan to value to matter a great deal. More equity generally means less risk for the lender, which can be the difference between an application being considered at all.
What is usually true in the first year
| Time since discharge | What tends to be true |
|---|---|
| 0 to 3 months | Very few lenders will consider an application. The trustee’s position on your home is often still being finalised. |
| 3 to 6 months | A small number of specialist lenders may look at cases with strong equity and a clean record. |
| 6 to 12 months | Choice usually widens a little further, though rates are often still higher than high-street rates. |
| Over 12 months | More lenders tend to become available. See bankruptcy over 3 years ago for the next stage. |
For illustration only, based on general lending patterns rather than a fixed rule. Every lender and every case is different.
What needs to be in place before you apply this early
- Proof of discharge, such as a certificate of discharge or a letter from the Official Receiver.
- Written confirmation from the trustee about your interest in the home, particularly if it has already been resolved.
- A clear title, with any bankruptcy entry at the Land Registry dealt with or being dealt with alongside the remortgage.
- A clean mortgage payment record, especially since discharge.
- Evidence of income and affordability, as for any remortgage.
If any of these are not yet sorted out, our page on a discharged bankruptcy covers what usually needs doing.
What can you do if no lender will consider you yet?
If your current deal is ending and no lender will consider a full remortgage this soon, ask your existing lender about a product transfer. Where you are not borrowing more, FCA rules allow lenders to switch existing customers to a new deal without a full new affordability assessment, though the lender can still decide what it offers you.
If your deal has already moved to the standard variable rate, that is worth discussing with your lender too. Waiting a further few months and reapplying, rather than applying repeatedly, tends to avoid unnecessary hard searches on your file.
If money is tight in the meantime, MoneyHelper, StepChange and National Debtline offer free, impartial guidance.
Building your record for the months ahead
The first year after discharge is a good time to build the track record a lender will want to see later. Keeping every payment up to date, staying on the electoral register and avoiding new credit issues such as a county court judgment or a default all add up over the months that follow.
If your low credit score is a separate concern alongside the bankruptcy, our page on remortgaging with a low credit score explains what lenders actually look at, which is often more useful than the number shown in a credit app.
What affects your options soon after discharge
| Factor | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Time since discharge | Even a few extra months can change what a specialist lender is willing to consider. |
| Whether the trustee’s interest is fully resolved | This needs to be genuinely clear, in writing, before a lender will proceed. |
| Loan to value | More equity generally widens the small number of options available this early. |
| Mortgage payment history | A clean record since discharge, and ideally through the bankruptcy too, is looked at closely. |
| Other credit issues | Any new defaults or missed payments since discharge tend to matter more than the bankruptcy itself at this stage. |
| Property value | A current valuation sets the equity a specialist lender will assess. |
| Income and affordability | Lenders assess income and committed outgoings and stress test the payments as for any remortgage. |
| Employment type | If your bankruptcy followed a business failure, expect questions about your current work. See self-employed remortgages with bad credit. |
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 and discharge date
- Proof of discharge, such as a certificate or Official Receiver letter
- Written confirmation from the trustee about your home
- Confirmation of whether the property title is clear
- Your current mortgage balance, deal end date and payment history
- An estimate of your property’s value
- Proof of income
Frequently asked questions
How long after bankruptcy can I get a mortgage?
There is no fixed number of months. Very few lenders will consider you in the weeks straight after discharge, a small number of specialist lenders may look at strong cases within the first year, and choice tends to widen after that. It depends on your whole picture, not a set waiting period.
Can I get a mortgage the same month I am discharged?
It is very unusual. Most lenders want to see the trustee’s interest in your home fully resolved and some clean record established first, even if only for a few months.
Does having a lot of equity help this soon after discharge?
Often, yes. Where a specialist lender will consider an application this early, a lower loan to value tends to matter more than it would for someone further from their bankruptcy.
Should I keep applying if I am declined in the first year?
Repeated applications add hard searches that other lenders can see, which can work against you. It is usually better to speak to an adviser about what is realistic now, and revisit in a few months if nothing is currently available.
Is a product transfer easier than a full remortgage this soon after discharge?
It can be, where you are not borrowing more, because FCA rules allow lenders to switch existing customers without a full new affordability assessment. The lender still decides what it offers you, and the trustee’s interest in the home still needs to be resolved.