When one person on a joint mortgage has an individual voluntary arrangement (IVA), a lender assesses the application as a pair, looking at both credit files and both incomes together. Your IVA supervisor’s agreement is usually only about the IVA holder’s own interest in the property, not your partner’s share, though in practice the whole remortgage still needs everyone’s consent to go ahead.
This page goes deeper into the joint ownership side of an IVA than our main IVA page. If your partner has a different credit issue rather than an IVA, our page on remortgaging when your partner has bad credit covers that more broadly.
On this page
This page covers
- Credit issue
- Individual voluntary arrangements (IVAs)Usually stays on your credit file for 6 years from the start date.
In short
- A lender assesses a joint application as a pair, looking at both credit files and combined income.
- Your partner’s own file is not directly affected by your IVA, but a joint mortgage creates a financial association.
- Your supervisor’s agreement usually relates to your own share of the property, not your partner’s.
- A sole-name remortgage is possible but usually needs a transfer of equity and passing affordability alone.
How does a joint mortgage work when one of you has an IVA?
A lender looks at the application as a whole, checking both credit files and both incomes rather than treating you separately. The IVA on one file, and any equity clause within it, usually shapes the whole conversation, because raising or restructuring the mortgage affects the jointly owned property, not just the IVA holder’s share.
| Situation | What tends to happen |
|---|---|
| Only one of you has an IVA | Your supervisor is usually involved in decisions about the property, and the lender assesses you both together |
| You both have separate IVAs | Both supervisors may need to be involved, and lender choice is often narrower still |
| One of you had an IVA that has completed | The IVA still shows on that person’s file for 6 years from its start date, but supervisor consent is no longer needed |
A general guide only. Check your own IVA terms with your supervisor, as arrangements vary.
Does your partner’s credit file show your IVA?
No. Your IVA is recorded against your own name, not your partner’s. What links you is a financial association, created by the joint mortgage itself, which lets a lender consider both files together when you apply. Your partner’s own borrowing in their sole name stays unaffected. Our guide on what a financial association is explains how these links are made and, later, removed.
Can you remortgage jointly while one of you is in an IVA?
It can be possible, though usually with fewer lenders than a joint application with no IVA involved. Whether you are meeting an equity release clause or simply need a new deal because your fixed rate is ending, your supervisor is likely to want the full picture, including your partner’s income and credit history. If you are not borrowing more and staying with your current lender, a product transfer can sometimes be the simplest route, since lenders can often switch existing customers without a full affordability assessment, though many IVA terms still require you to tell your supervisor about any change.
Whatever the reason for the remortgage, tell your IVA supervisor before submitting an application, not after. It avoids any risk of breaching your IVA terms and gives your supervisor the chance to raise any concerns early.
What if you want to remortgage without your partner’s IVA affecting the outcome?
Some couples consider a sole-name remortgage so that the IVA holder’s file no longer plays a part. This usually means a transfer of equity, taking the IVA holder off the mortgage and the legal title, and the remaining partner passing affordability entirely on their own income.
Points that tend to come up
- Your supervisor is likely to have an interest in what happens to the IVA holder’s share of the property, so speak to them first.
- The remaining partner must afford the mortgage alone, including under the lender’s stress test.
- A solicitor or conveyancer handles the transfer of equity and registers the change of ownership.
- The IVA holder should get independent advice before giving up their share of the home.
This is a significant step, not a paperwork shortcut, so weigh it up carefully before deciding it is the right route for either of you.
What may affect a joint remortgage involving an IVA
| Factor | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Whose IVA it is | The lender still assesses you as a pair, but your supervisor’s agreement usually relates only to the IVA holder’s own interest. |
| Stage of the IVA | An active IVA usually needs supervisor consent. A completed one no longer does, though it stays on file for 6 years from the start date. |
| Financial association | The joint mortgage links your two credit files for lending purposes, even though the IVA itself only appears on one. |
| Combined income and affordability | Both incomes count, but so does the IVA contribution, which is usually treated as a committed outgoing. |
| Equity and ownership shares | How the property is owned affects what a supervisor may expect from an equity release clause. |
| Sole affordability, if considered | A sole-name remortgage needs the remaining partner to pass affordability alone. |
| Mortgage payment history | A clean joint mortgage record throughout the IVA is one of the strongest points in your favour. |
| Employment type | Self-employed or contract income for either applicant is assessed differently. See self-employed bad credit remortgages. |
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.
- Credit reports for both applicants from Experian, Equifax and TransUnion
- A copy of the IVA terms, including any equity or property clause
- The IVA supervisor’s contact details and any written consent
- Your joint mortgage balance, deal end date and any early repayment charges
- Proof of income for both of you
- An estimate of the property’s value and how it is owned
- Whether you plan to stay joint or move to a sole-name mortgage
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a joint mortgage if my partner has an IVA?
It can be possible, but fewer lenders are likely to consider it while the IVA is active, and your supervisor is usually involved in any decision about the jointly owned property. Once the IVA has completed, more lenders may consider you, though it stays on your partner’s credit file for 6 years from its start date.
Does my partner’s IVA appear on my own credit file?
No, not directly. Your partner’s IVA is recorded against their name. A joint mortgage creates a financial association between your files, which a lender can see when assessing you together, but the IVA entry itself stays on your partner’s report only.
Can we remortgage jointly while the IVA is still active?
It depends on why you want to remortgage and what your partner’s IVA terms say. A like-for-like new deal, such as a product transfer, is often more straightforward than raising extra money, which is more likely to need the supervisor’s specific agreement.
Can I take my partner off the mortgage because of their IVA?
It is possible through a transfer of equity, but it needs your partner’s agreement, is likely to interest their supervisor, and you would need to afford the mortgage alone. It is a significant change of ownership, not a quick fix, so take advice before deciding.