How long after bankruptcy until I can get a mortgage?

Buying your own home is exciting. Gaining the independence and freedom to own and manage a property how you like, and eventually have an asset to enjoy in the future, is something many of us aspire to. However, if you have been made bankrupt you might be wondering how long after bankruptcy you will have to wait until you can get a mortgage.

Being accepted for a mortgage can be tough, even with the best credit score, so when it comes to those who have been made bankrupt the journey won’t be a smooth one. However, it can be done.

How long should you wait before applying for a mortgage after bankruptcy?

There’s no set time, but it’s a good idea to wait until your credit rating is back to a reasonable score. This will ensure you can prove you are able to make repayments for credit products on time and in full.

Your bankruptcy will remain listed on your credit report for six years from the date you were made bankrupt. Even when it has been removed some mortgage lenders may still ask if you have been made bankrupt in the past – which you must answer truthfully. This can impact your chances of getting a mortgage and so is something to bear in mind.

How to improve your chances of getting a mortgage after bankruptcy

There’s no way to guarantee a mortgage provider will accept you but you could consider the following actions to improve your chances:

Wait it out

It might be worth waiting until the bankruptcy has been removed from your credit report and you have had time to make an impact on increasing your credit rating. Over time, it will naturally increase but taking on small amounts of credit and paying this off regularly and on time will help improve your rating.

Our in-depth guide explains how to improve your credit rating to help you recover after bankruptcy.

Use a mortgage broker

Brokers have access to all the lenders on the market and can get better deals when dealing with them directly. They also know which lender is more likely to accept your application and will go to these first to avoid any hard credit checks, leaving marks on your report.

Choose a specialist mortgage lender

Certain mortgage lenders specialise in lending to those with low credit ratings or poor credit history. We’ve looked into which ones are likely to lend to you after a debt solution in our guide on DMPs and mortgages – click here to read this.

Offer a larger deposit

It’s unlikely you will be able to obtain a standard 90% LTV mortgage anytime soon after your bankruptcy has ended – which is why it’s a good idea to offer a bigger deposit if you are in a position to do so.

However, this is easier said than done when you have been made bankrupt in the past, so you will discover that time and patience is key to obtaining a mortgage. Below, we’ve given some guidelines for how likely it is that you’ll be able to get a mortgage after bankruptcy:

Immediately after bankruptcy – it’s very unlikely that you’ll be able to get a mortgage at all

1 year after bankruptcy – You would need a minimum 40% deposit to be considered for a mortgage 

2-3 years after bankruptcy – A minimum of 25% deposit would be needed for your application to be considered 

4 years after bankruptcy – You are now more likely to get accepted for a mortgage and may only need to provide a 15% deposit

5-6 years after bankruptcy – It is now likely that you would be eligible for a greater number of mortgage products and may only need a 10% deposit with some lenders.

Bear in mind, that these are only estimates, so it’s worth speaking to a mortgage broker about what you can expect when making a mortgage application after a certain period of time after bankruptcy. However, it does indicate the longer you wait, the more likely it is you will be accepted with a lower deposit.

Expect to pay higher interest rates

If you’ve considered the above points and are applying for a mortgage, it’s a good idea to expect to still pay a higher interest rate at first. This is because lenders may still consider you to be a risk and will want to receive a higher return on what they have loaned you to protect themselves.

If you are considering applying for a mortgage after bankruptcy, it’s a good idea to seek free, impartial financial advice. Our experts here at PayPlan can help with this and can be reached by phone on 0800 316 1833 or via the contact form on the website.