Historical guide: written for the circumstances and rules of March 2026. This article forms part of our backdated information archive; it is not a live product quotation.
Bankruptcy or an Individual Voluntary Arrangement can leave people assuming that home ownership is permanently out of reach. It is more accurate to say that the timing, status and wider financial picture need careful assessment. A mortgage after bankruptcy or an IVA is not something anyone should promise from a single date or credit score. This March 2026 guide explains the questions to prepare before making applications in Hampshire or elsewhere in England.
Bankruptcy and an IVA are different
Bankruptcy involves a formal insolvency process, while an IVA is an arrangement with creditors overseen by an insolvency practitioner. Lenders distinguish between an active arrangement, a completed IVA, discharge from bankruptcy and any continuing restrictions or obligations. Discharge does not necessarily end every financial obligation connected with the bankruptcy. Keep the relevant court, insolvency and completion documents rather than relying on memory. If you are uncertain about your legal status, ask the insolvency practitioner or an appropriately qualified adviser before discussing mortgage eligibility as though everything has finished.
There is no single waiting period for all lenders
Some lenders require several years after discharge or completion; specialist lenders may assess cases differently. The relevant time can run from different events, and deposit requirements may change with it. A six-year credit-report milestone is not itself a guarantee of acceptance. Equally, a record still being visible does not tell you every lender's answer. The case needs checking against actual criteria when you plan to apply. A broker should explain the limits of an initial assessment and avoid a blanket claim that everyone qualifies after a fixed number of years.
Understand what the credit file shows
Bankruptcy entries and IVAs generally remain on credit files for six years from the relevant starting date, though an IVA that continues beyond that can remain longer. Associated defaults and incorrect dates may also need attention. Check reports from the main agencies and challenge genuine errors through the appropriate provider. Do not pay a company on the promise it can simply erase accurate adverse records. Keep evidence of settled accounts and completion. The dates and status on the report should be consistent with your official documents so the lender is not left to reconcile conflicting information.
A deposit helps, but does not settle the case
A lender considers deposit size, source, income and existing commitments as well as the insolvency history. A larger deposit can reduce the lender's exposure, but it does not remove its credit rules or affordability checks. Savings should be evidenced and consistent with your circumstances. If family are helping, distinguish a genuine gift from money that has to be repaid. Avoid borrowing to create a deposit without discussing it: the new debt can make affordability worse and may be unacceptable to the mortgage lender even if the cash reaches your bank account.
Rebuilding stability is more useful than chasing a score
Keep essential payments up to date, check address links and electoral registration where eligible, and avoid unnecessary credit applications. A consistent bank account record and an affordable budget matter more than a quick score increase advertised online. There is no need to take expensive debt purely to prove that you can borrow. If money is still tight, impartial debt guidance may be more useful than preparing a mortgage application immediately. A sustainable period of stability also helps you judge whether future housing payments are manageable rather than simply technically possible.
Specialist products need a total-cost review
Where a specialist lender is an option, compare the initial rate, fees, early repayment charges and the payment after the introductory period. Do not assume you will definitely qualify for a cheaper mainstream mortgage at the next review. Criteria, property values and your circumstances can change. Easy Mortgages' specialist broker fee is £895 where applicable, separate from lender and purchase costs. Ask for an explanation of why a route is being considered and whether waiting could materially improve the options. An approval at an unaffordable cost is not a useful outcome.
Arrange a confidential, factual first review
For an initial enquiry, have the bankruptcy or IVA start date, discharge or completion date, deposit amount and a summary of your current income and commitments. You need not send sensitive paperwork through an unverified channel to ask the first question. We can explain what documents are needed and how to provide them appropriately. Sometimes there may be a route now; sometimes the honest answer is to prepare and revisit. Either way, a clear explanation grounded in your record is better than repeated applications followed by unexplained refusals.
Talk it through with Easy Mortgages
If you would like to understand how this relates to your own plans, contact Easy Mortgages for an initial conversation. We can explain the next steps and the information a personalised review would need, without assuming a particular product is right for you.
This is general information, not personal mortgage, insurance, legal or tax advice. Rules, lender criteria and products can change after March 2026. Any recommendation requires an assessment of your circumstances. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage or other borrowing secured on it.