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.

The wait is shorter than most people think

A common myth is that you must wait the full six years before you can get a mortgage. You don't. While your IVA is on your file, your options are with specialist lenders rather than the high street — and a few will consider you within a year or two of completing, occasionally sooner. As time passes since completion, more lenders open up, and once the IVA drops off your file — six years from when it started — mainstream lenders and their best rates come back into reach.

What lenders look at

• How long since you completed: more lenders, and better terms, the further past completion you are.
• Your deposit: while the IVA is recent, expect to need a larger deposit than standard — often somewhere in the 15–30% range, easing as time passes and returning toward normal once the marker clears.
• Your recent record: lenders want to see clean, on-time history since your IVA — no missed payments. This is where the rebuilding you've done really pays off.
• Affordability: your income, outgoings and the usual checks, the same as any borrower.

Why it has to be a broker

The lenders who consider recent IVAs mostly 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.

You'll need your completion certificate

An underwriter won't look at your application until your IVA shows as completed — so you'll need your Completion Certificate from your insolvency practitioner. In 2026 these can take a few months to arrive after your final payment, so it's worth chasing yours early if you're planning to buy.

Mistakes to avoid

• Assuming you must wait the full six years — specialist options come much sooner.
• Applying directly to high-street lenders and collecting declines on your file.
• Not saving toward a larger deposit during your final IVA year — it widens your options.
• Letting your recent payment record slip — clean history since completion matters most.