Remortgaging with a CCJ registered in the last 12 months is harder than with an older one, and the choice of lenders is usually much narrower. It is not always ruled out, but many lenders will not consider a very recent judgment, and those that might will look closely at why it happened and whether it has been paid. Check the date first: if the judgment is less than a calendar month old, paying it in full now can mean it is removed from the register altogether.
If your deal is ending, your existing lender may have options that do not rely on a new credit assessment in the same way. For the wider picture, see our main page on remortgaging with a CCJ.
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
- Registered in the last 12 monthsRecent issues tend to carry the most weight, so the choice of lenders is usually narrower.
In short
- A CCJ from the last 12 months usually has the biggest effect on your options.
- If the judgment is under a calendar month old, paying it in full can mean it is removed from the register.
- A product transfer with your current lender may not need a full affordability assessment, if you are not borrowing more.
- If you did not know about the CCJ, you may be able to apply to have it set aside.
Why a recent CCJ has the biggest effect
Lenders tend to give most weight to recent credit events. A judgment from the last few months suggests the pressure behind it may still be there, with little time to build a clean record since. As months pass without new problems, that picture usually improves. Our guide on how long a CCJ affects a mortgage takes the longer view.
| Time since the judgment | How it may be viewed |
|---|---|
| Under 1 calendar month | May still be removed from the register if paid in full now |
| 1 to 6 months | Often the hardest period. Few lenders may consider it, and the explanation will matter |
| 6 to 12 months | Some specialist lenders may consider it, often at a lower loan to value and a higher rate |
| Over 12 months | Choice tends to widen, particularly if the CCJ is satisfied and nothing new has happened |
For illustration only. These are general tendencies, not lender rules. The one-month removal rule is the only fixed point.
If you pay the full amount within one calendar month of the judgment date, you can ask the court to remove it from the Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines, so it will not show on your credit file. After that, paying marks it satisfied but it stays for 6 years. GOV.UK explains how this works.
What are your options if your deal is ending now?
If your fixed or tracker rate is about to end, the worry is often moving to your lender’s standard variable rate (SVR), which is usually higher. A new lender is not the only way out.
A product transfer with your existing lender
A product transfer is a new deal with the lender you already have. Where you are not borrowing more, FCA rules allow lenders to switch existing customers without a full affordability assessment. Your lender still decides what it offers, particularly if your mortgage is in arrears, but a like-for-like switch often involves fewer checks than a new application, so a recent CCJ may matter less. If you need to borrow more, a further advance or a second charge mortgage are other routes an adviser may discuss.
Waiting or acting now
- Reasons some people act now: no product transfer on offer, a need to raise money, or plenty of equity in the home.
- Reasons some people wait: a product transfer is available, the CCJ is only weeks old, or other credit problems are also recent.
Staying on the SVR for a few months while the CCJ ages or is paid can make sense if there are no early repayment charges and you can afford it, but it costs more each month. Try not to make several applications to see what sticks, as each one usually leaves a hard search that other lenders can see.
What if you did not know about the CCJ?
Some people only find a judgment when they check their credit file, often because the court papers went to an old address. You may be able to apply to the court to have it set aside, meaning cancelled, in which case it should be removed from the register.
You usually need to act promptly once you find out and give a good reason, such as not receiving the claim or having grounds to dispute the debt. GOV.UK explains how to apply, and National Debtline or StepChange can give free advice.
How to strengthen an application in the meantime
- Pay the CCJ in full if you can, then apply for a certificate of satisfaction
- Keep every mortgage and credit payment on time from here on
- Register on the electoral roll at your current address
- Get your free statutory report from Experian, Equifax and TransUnion and correct any errors
- Write down what caused the CCJ and what has changed since
Once the judgment is paid, see remortgaging with a satisfied CCJ. If you have more than one, see remortgaging with multiple CCJs. If money is tight, speak to your current lender early and get free help from MoneyHelper.
What lenders may look at with a recent CCJ
| Factor | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Exact judgment date | How many months ago it was registered. With a recent CCJ, a few months can make a difference. |
| Paid or unpaid | Whether it is satisfied, being paid by instalments or still outstanding. Some lenders may not consider a recent unsatisfied CCJ. |
| Amount and cause | The value, and whether it came from a one-off problem such as a disputed bill or wider money difficulties. |
| Mortgage payment history | Whether your mortgage stayed up to date while the CCJ happened. |
| Loan to value | More equity may give a lender more comfort and widen the choice. |
| Income and affordability | Whether the new payments look affordable when stress tested, and how your income is evidenced. |
| Deal end date and charges | When your current deal ends and whether leaving early would mean early repayment charges. |
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 court for the CCJ
- Whether it has been paid, and any proof of payment
- Your deal end date and any early repayment charges
- Whether your current lender has offered a product transfer
- Proof of income and your main monthly outgoings
- A brief explanation of what happened and what has changed
Frequently asked questions
Can I remortgage with a CCJ from 3 months ago?
It can be difficult. Many lenders will not consider a judgment that recent, though some specialist lenders may, often depending on the amount, whether it is paid and how much equity you have.
Does a new CCJ stop me getting a product transfer?
Not necessarily. Where you are not borrowing more, lenders do not have to carry out a full affordability assessment. Your lender still decides what to offer, and mortgage arrears can affect that, so ask what is available.
Can I get a CCJ set aside if the debt is mine but I missed the court papers?
Possibly. The court will look at why you did not respond and whether you have grounds to dispute the claim. Even if a judgment is set aside, the creditor can usually pursue the debt again, so get free advice before applying.
How long should I wait before trying again?
There is no fixed waiting period, because each lender sets its own criteria. Options often widen as a judgment gets older and once it is satisfied, but waiting on the SVR has a cost.