A County Court Judgement (CCJ) is a court order registered against you if you fail to repay money you owe. It can be issued for unpaid credit cards, loans, utilities, phone contracts, or any other debt. Once registered, a CCJ stays on your credit file for 6 years and can significantly impact your ability to borrow.

A CCJ stays on your credit file for exactly 6 years from the date the judgement was issued. This applies regardless of whether you pay it off or not - the 6-year clock starts from the original judgement date, not when you satisfy it. After 6 years, the CCJ is automatically removed by all three credit reference agencies (Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion).

The good news for mortgage applicants is that the impact of a CCJ diminishes over time. Most specialist lenders become significantly more flexible once your CCJ is 2-3 years old, especially if it's been satisfied. For a complete guide on CCJ timelines and removal options, see our guide to removing CCJs from your credit file.

A satisfied CCJ is one that has been paid in full. While the CCJ still appears on your credit file for the full 6 years, it's marked as "satisfied" which significantly improves your mortgage prospects. Many lenders require CCJs to be satisfied before they'll consider your application, and a satisfied CCJ demonstrates financial responsibility.

A CCJ has a significant negative impact on your credit score. When first registered, you can expect your score to drop by 200-300 points or more depending on your starting position. The CCJ signals to lenders that you've previously failed to repay a debt, which makes you appear higher risk.

However, the impact lessens over time. As your CCJ ages and you demonstrate good financial behaviour, your credit score will gradually recover. Paying off the CCJ (satisfying it) helps, as does maintaining low credit utilisation and making all current payments on time.

For mortgage purposes, many specialist lenders focus less on your actual credit score number and more on the individual CCJ details - when it was registered, how much it was for, and whether it's satisfied. Have questions about your situation? See our quick answer guide on CCJ mortgages.

There are limited circumstances where you can get a CCJ completely removed from your credit file before the 6-year period ends:

For step-by-step instructions on both methods, read our comprehensive guide on how to remove a CCJ from your credit file.

Yes, you can get a mortgage with a CCJ. While high street banks typically decline applicants with County Court Judgements, the specialist lending market in the UK has grown significantly to serve borrowers with adverse credit histories. Whether you have one CCJ or multiple CCJs, there are lenders who will consider your application based on your individual circumstances rather than automatically rejecting you.

The key factors that determine whether you can get a mortgage with a CCJ include how old the judgement is, the amount involved, whether it's been satisfied, and your current financial stability. Many borrowers are surprised to learn that specialist lenders take a more holistic view of their application, considering factors like steady employment and a clean recent credit history alongside any historic CCJs.

• CCJs over 2-3 years old have more lending options available
• Satisfied CCJs are treated more favourably than outstanding ones
• Small CCJs under £500 may be disregarded by some lenders
• A larger deposit typically opens up more lender choices

For a quick overview of your options, check our guide to getting a mortgage with a CCJ, or explore our wider bad credit mortgages section for related information.

Specialist CCJ mortgage lenders operate differently from mainstream banks. Rather than relying solely on automated credit scoring, these lenders employ underwriters who manually assess each application. This approach means your CCJ is viewed in context - a single small CCJ from several years ago is treated very differently from multiple recent, large CCJs.

The UK specialist lending market includes building societies, challenger banks, and private lenders who specifically cater to borrowers with adverse credit. These lenders understand that life circumstances can lead to financial difficulties, and they're often more interested in your current ability to afford the mortgage than in past credit issues.

Working with a specialist mortgage broker gives you access to lenders who don't deal directly with the public. Learn more about improving your application in our guide to removing CCJs from your credit file, or speak to our team about bad credit mortgage options.

Your CCJ mortgage deposit requirement depends on several factors including the age and size of your CCJ, whether it's satisfied, and any other adverse credit on your file. Generally, expect to need a larger deposit than borrowers with clean credit - typically between 15% and 25% of the property value.

The good news is that a larger deposit significantly improves your options. With 25% or more, even borrowers with recent or unsatisfied CCJs can often find suitable lenders. Conversely, if you only have a 10% deposit, your CCJ needs to be older (typically 3+ years) and satisfied to access competitive rates.

If you're unsure about your deposit requirements, our CCJ mortgage guide explains what to expect. You might also find our bad credit mortgages page helpful for understanding the broader landscape.

Getting a mortgage with a satisfied CCJ is significantly easier than with an unsatisfied one. When you pay off your CCJ in full, the court updates the Register of Judgments to show it as "satisfied", and this status is reflected on your credit file. Most specialist lenders view a satisfied (also known as settled) CCJ much more favourably, as it demonstrates you've taken responsibility for the debt.

Many lenders specifically require CCJs to be satisfied before they'll consider an application. Even those who accept unsatisfied CCJs often charge higher rates or require larger deposits for unsettled judgements. If you have the means to satisfy your CCJ before applying for a mortgage, doing so can open up more lender options and better rates.

• Satisfied CCJs qualify for more mainstream specialist lenders
• Lower interest rates are typically available with settled CCJs
• Deposit requirements are often lower (15-20% vs 25%+)
• Shows lenders you've resolved past financial difficulties
• Combined with age of CCJ, satisfaction status is a key factor

For detailed information on satisfying your CCJ and the timeline involved, see our comprehensive guide to CCJ removal and satisfaction. Our CCJ mortgage answers page also covers common questions about the process.

Yes, you can get a joint mortgage even if one applicant has a CCJ on their credit file. In fact, applying jointly with a partner who has a clean credit history can sometimes improve your chances of approval. Lenders will assess both applicants' credit profiles, and a strong co-applicant may help offset the impact of one person's CCJ.

However, both applicants' credit files will be linked going forward, so it's important your partner understands that your CCJ may affect their credit rating through association. Some couples choose to have the CCJ-free partner apply alone if their income is sufficient, though this means only their income is considered for affordability.

• Joint applications combine both incomes, allowing higher borrowing
• A partner with clean credit can strengthen the overall application
• Both credit files become linked after a joint mortgage application
• Specialist lenders assess joint applications on their individual merits

For more information on joint borrowing with adverse credit, see our joint mortgage with bad credit guide or explore our bad credit mortgages section.

High street banks such as Halifax, Nationwide, Santander, and Barclays typically decline mortgage applications from borrowers with CCJs. These mainstream lenders use automated scoring systems that often reject applications with any County Court Judgements, regardless of the circumstances. Even satisfied CCJs or those for small amounts may trigger an automatic decline.

This doesn't mean you're out of options. The UK's specialist lending sector has grown significantly, with many building societies and challenger banks specifically designed to help borrowers that mainstream lenders turn away. These specialist lenders manually underwrite applications, considering your full circumstances rather than just a credit score.

Rather than applying directly to high street lenders and risking multiple rejections (which can further damage your credit), speak to our team about your options. We access the full specialist lending market to find lenders who genuinely consider bad credit mortgage applications.