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Adverse Credit Mortgage Specialists
An Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) is a serious mark on your credit history, but it does not permanently prevent you from getting a mortgage. Once your IVA is complete and time has passed, specialist lenders will consider your application - and homeownership becomes a realistic goal again.
Important distinction: Getting a mortgage during an active IVA is very difficult and usually requires your insolvency practitioner's consent. After your IVA is completed or settled, your options open up considerably - especially with a specialist broker on your side.
An Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) is a formal, legally binding agreement between you and your creditors — overseen by a licensed Insolvency Practitioner — to repay a proportion of your debts over a fixed period, typically five years. At the end of the arrangement, any remaining balance covered by the IVA is written off.
During an active IVA, you need your Insolvency Practitioner’s written consent before taking on any significant credit, including a mortgage. In practice, this is rarely granted. The right advice in almost every case is: complete the IVA first.
An IVA is a formal insolvency event. It appears on the Insolvency Register during the period it is active and on your credit file for six years from the date it was approved — which means it may remain visible for up to a year after you have completed it. Completing an IVA in five years does not mean it disappears in five years.
After completion, specialist lenders can consider you. The timeline from completion to mortgage application has three broad phases:
0–3 years post-completion: Around 17 specialist lenders may consider you. Deposit typically 20–25% minimum. Rates reflect the higher risk.
3–6 years post-completion (IVA still on file): Wider specialist panel — around 48 lenders. Deposit requirements begin to ease. Rates become more competitive as the IVA ages.
6+ years (IVA removed from file): Near-mainstream options. Over 70 lenders may consider you assuming clean recent credit. Standard deposit requirements may apply.
Lenders and brokers will ask to see your IVA completion certificate, which confirms the date the arrangement ended. This date determines which tier of lender criteria applies to your application.
Beyond the IVA itself, lenders look at: conduct since completion (has your credit file been clean?), current income and affordability, deposit size, and reason for the IVA.
Even if the IVA has dropped off your credit file, you must answer honestly on application forms — failing to disclose could be treated as mortgage fraud.
Start by obtaining your IVA completion certificate and checking your credit file with CheckMyFile. Verify that the IVA is recorded correctly — start date, completion date, and status.
Look at the underlying account entries (the defaulted debts that formed part of the IVA) and check that these are correctly marked.
Once you have a clear picture of your file, speak to a specialist broker.
At Alexander Southwell, we work regularly with clients post-IVA and know which specialist lenders consider which timeframes. We will assess your full position and — if the timing is right — prepare a strong application with the most appropriate lender.
Our specialist advisers understand IVA mortgages inside out. Fee-free advice, no obligation to proceed.
Speak to an AdviserCan I get a mortgage while in an IVA? Extremely difficult — you need your Insolvency Practitioner’s consent, and very few lenders will consider it. The practical advice is to complete the IVA first.
How long after an IVA can I get a mortgage? Some specialist lenders consider applications 1–3 years after completion. After the IVA drops off your file at six years from the start date, mainstream lender options open up.
What deposit do I need after an IVA? Typically 15–25%, depending on how long ago the IVA was completed and your current credit health. A larger deposit always improves your options and rate.
Do I have to disclose a previous IVA on a mortgage application? Yes — even if it no longer appears on your credit file. Failing to disclose could be treated as mortgage fraud.
Will my IVA completion certificate help my mortgage application? Yes. Lenders and brokers use it to verify the end date of the IVA, which determines which lender criteria apply to your case.
Alexander Southwell Mortgages is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA Ref: 1011890). Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage. The information on this page is for guidance only and does not constitute financial advice.
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