First, an honest word on how we help

AfterMy is a credit broker, not a mortgage broker — we don't advise on or arrange mortgages ourselves. What we do is connect you with a regulated specialist mortgage broker who handles your mortgage from there. This guide is to help you understand the landscape before that introduction, so you know what to expect.

When it becomes realistic

You can't get a mortgage while your DRO is active — that's the one firm rule. Once it's discharged, most specialist lenders want to see at least a year of clean conduct before they'll consider you, and some prefer two to three. Your DRO stays on your file for six years from the date it started, so for that window you're with specialist lenders rather than the high street. The further past discharge you are — and the cleaner your record since — the more lenders open up and the better the terms.

What deposit you'll need

This is the big one after a DRO. Recently discharged, you should expect to need a sizeable deposit — often around 25–40% in the first year or two — because lenders see a recent DRO as higher risk. As time passes and your record stays clean, that requirement eases, and once the mark clears at six years it returns toward normal. If a big deposit isn't realistic yet, waiting a year or two and saving can genuinely widen your options.

What lenders look at

• Time since discharge: more lenders, and lower deposits, the further past it you are.
• Clean conduct since the DRO: no new defaults, arrears or missed payments — recent history matters most.
• Your deposit: a larger one offsets the lender's risk and opens more doors.
• Affordability: income, outgoings and the usual checks, same as any borrower.

Why it has to be a broker

The lenders who consider a recent DRO are mostly specialists who don't deal with the public directly — you reach them through a broker. A specialist mortgage broker knows which lenders fit your exact situation, so you apply where you're likely to be accepted rather than collecting declines. That's exactly why we introduce you to one rather than sending you to a comparison site.

While your DRO is still running

During your twelve-month order, a mortgage isn't possible — and you can't take on £500 or more of credit without telling the lender. The right move is to let the DRO finish, then use the time after to build clean history and save toward a deposit. This guide is about what becomes possible once it's discharged.

Mistakes to avoid

• Trying to apply while the DRO is still active — no lender will proceed.
• Applying to high-street lenders too soon and collecting declines.
• Not saving toward a larger deposit — it's the single biggest factor early on.
• Letting your record slip after discharge — clean recent conduct is what lenders weigh most.