A CCJ that is over 3 years old has passed the halfway point of the 6 years it stays on your credit file, and choice of lender tends to widen from here, particularly if the judgment is satisfied and nothing has gone wrong since. It has not disappeared, though, and some lenders will still ask about it and factor it into their decision.
This page covers what tends to change once a judgment is past 3 years, how the countdown to the 6-year point works, and what still matters. For a judgment in its first 2 years, see remortgaging with a CCJ 1 to 2 years old. Once it passes 6 years, see remortgaging with a CCJ over 6 years ago.
On this page
This page covers
- Credit issue
- County court judgments (CCJs)Usually stays on your credit file for 6 years from the judgment date.
- When it happened
- More than 3 years agoOlder issues usually have less influence, especially when your credit since then is clean.
In short
- A CCJ over 3 years old is past the halfway point of the 6 years it stays on your file.
- Choice of lender tends to widen with age, especially once the judgment is satisfied.
- It still shows on your file and some lenders will still ask about it.
- It drops off entirely 6 years from the judgment date, whether or not it was ever paid.
How does age past 3 years change things?
Once a judgment is a few years old, many lenders who consider adverse credit view it as historical rather than a live concern, particularly if it is satisfied and no further problems have appeared since. Some lenders set their own age thresholds, for example considering applications more readily once a CCJ is over 3 years old, though this varies and is never guaranteed.
What has happened in the years since the judgment usually carries more weight than the judgment itself at this stage. A clean mortgage payment record, no further defaults or CCJs, and being up to date on the electoral register all help build the picture.
Counting down to the 6-year point
| Age of the judgment | Time left on your credit file |
|---|---|
| 3 to 4 years | Around 2 to 3 years remaining |
| 4 to 5 years | Around 1 to 2 years remaining |
| 5 to 6 years | Under a year remaining |
| Over 6 years | Should have dropped off your file |
Counted from the judgment date, not the date it was paid or the date the original debt started.
Some people choose to wait until a judgment is close to 6 years old before applying, hoping for wider choice, while others need to remortgage before then because their current deal is ending. An adviser can compare what is realistically available now against the cost of staying on a higher rate while you wait.
Does it still matter if the CCJ is unsatisfied?
Yes. Age reduces the impact of a judgment, but an unsatisfied CCJ, even an old one, still shows the debt was never paid, and some lenders may treat that differently from a satisfied one of the same age. If yours is still outstanding, see remortgaging with an unsatisfied CCJ for the options.
If you paid within one calendar month of the judgment, it can be removed from the Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines. After 3 or more years, that is no longer available, so a satisfied entry from this period will still show, marked accordingly, until the 6 years are up. The GOV.UK guidance on CCJs explains the process.
What to check before you apply
- Confirm the exact judgment date on all three credit reports
- Check the status shown is correct, especially if you have paid since it was recorded
- Note any other CCJs, defaults or missed payments and when they will drop off
- Get an up-to-date estimate of your property’s value to understand your loan to value
If your file shows more than one judgment, our page on remortgaging with multiple CCJs looks at how a group of judgments may be assessed together.
What lenders may look at with a CCJ over 3 years old
| Factor | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Exact age of the judgment | Some lenders set their own age thresholds for considering adverse credit, so a few months either side of 3 years can matter. |
| Satisfied or unsatisfied | An old unsatisfied judgment can still be viewed less favourably than a satisfied one of the same age. |
| Time until it drops off | How close the judgment is to the full 6 years, which some lenders may take into account. |
| Credit history since the judgment | Whether anything else has gone wrong on your file since the CCJ was registered. |
| Mortgage payment history | A clean record of mortgage payments over the years since the CCJ helps show stability. |
| Loan to value | How much equity you have now, which may have changed since the judgment was made. |
| Income and affordability | Whether your current income supports the mortgage you want once stress tested. |
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.
- The judgment date, amount and current status
- Recent copies of your Experian, Equifax and TransUnion reports
- Details of any other CCJs, defaults or missed payments still on file
- Your mortgage balance, deal end date and any early repayment charges
- An up-to-date estimate of your property’s value
- Proof of income and your main monthly outgoings
Frequently asked questions
Do lenders care about a CCJ from 4 years ago?
Many will still ask, but a judgment this age, particularly a satisfied one with no further problems since, is usually viewed more favourably than a recent one. Some lenders set their own age thresholds for considering an application.
Should I wait until my CCJ is 6 years old to remortgage?
It depends on your circumstances. Choice may widen a little more with age, but waiting means staying on your current deal or its standard variable rate, which can cost more. An adviser can weigh up both options with you.
Will an old CCJ show up if I have never paid it?
Yes. An unsatisfied CCJ stays on your file for 6 years from the judgment date regardless of whether it is ever paid. See remortgaging with an unsatisfied CCJ for what to consider.
Does a CCJ from over 3 years ago still need explaining to an adviser?
It helps to give a brief explanation of what happened and, if it was paid, when. Even an older judgment is easier to present with context than left for a lender to interpret on its own.