Can You Get a Mortgage While on an IVA? (A Guide for 2026)

The short answer is yes, but it’s rare, and it isn’t a decision you can make on your own. If you’re currently in an Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA), getting a mortgage while it’s still active is technically possible. But most lenders will turn you away outright, and the ones who won’t will expect you to meet a specific set of conditions first, starting with permission from your Insolvency Practitioner.

This isn’t the same as applying for a mortgage after your credit has recovered. While you’re still in an IVA, every application is assessed against your ability to keep meeting your existing repayments, and in some cases, the court gets involved too.

Below, we’ll walk through exactly what’s required to be considered, when lenders are actually likely to say yes, and what changes once your IVA comes to an end. 

Why Mortgage Lenders Are So Cautious About Active IVAs 

An IVA is a formal insolvency arrangement, and that alone puts you in a different risk category than someone with just a poor credit score. Most mainstream lenders apply blanket policies rather than     assessing each case individually, so an active IVA is often an automatic decline, regardless of your income or how reliably you’ve kept up payments.

There are a few reasons for this caution:

• Insolvency status on file: Your credit report flags the IVA clearly, and it signals to lenders that you were formally unable to manage your debts.
• Repayment priority conflict: Lenders worry a new mortgage could compete with your IVA payments, increasing the risk of you defaulting on one or the other.
• Limited visibility on affordability: Your finances are already tightly monitored under the IVA, which makes standard affordability checks harder to apply cleanly.
• Regulatory and risk exposure: Lending to someone mid-insolvency carries reputational and compliance risk that many lenders simply avoid.

Specialist lenders exist precisely because of this gap. They’re set up to assess IVA cases individually, rather than ruling them out by policy. That’s why approval, when it happens, almost always comes through this smaller pool of lenders rather than the high street. 

 

What are the Requirements You’ll Need to Meet?

Getting a mortgage while you’re still in an IVA isn’t just about finding a willing lender. There’s a permission process to work through first, and skipping it can put your entire IVA at risk.

1. Written permission from your Insolvency Practitioner (IP): Your IP must approve any new borrowing before you apply. They’ll review your income, existing IVA payments, and whether the new mortgage commitment is realistically affordable alongside them.
2. Court approval, in some cases: If the new borrowing could affect your ability to meet your IVA terms, your case may need to go before the court as well, not just your IP.
3. Proof the mortgage won’t disrupt your IVA payments: Lenders and your IP will both want evidence, such as payslips, bank statements, and a clear budget, showing the new repayment sits comfortably within your finances without risking your existing arrangement.
4. A larger deposit than usual: Even with permission granted, expect lenders to ask for a substantial deposit, often 30% or more, to offset the risk they’re taking on.
5. A specialist lender, not a high-street one: Mainstream banks are unlikely to consider your application at all, permission or not.

If you go ahead with a mortgage without your IP’s consent, you risk breaching your IVA, which could see it terminated and your original debts becoming payable in full again. 

When Lenders Are More Likely to Say Yes?

Meeting the basic requirements doesn’t guarantee approval, but certain circumstances make lenders noticeably more willing to consider your case. These are the scenarios where applications during an IVA actually tend to succeed.

Remortgaging to Settle the IVA Early

This is the strongest case lenders see. If you’re remortgaging your existing property specifically to raise funds and clear your IVA in full, you’re reducing their risk rather than adding to it. Odds here are comparatively good, provided you have enough equity, but expect a thorough affordability check and a rate above standard market offers.

Gifted Deposits

A deposit gifted by a family member can strengthen a weak application, since it lowers the loan-to-value ratio without relying on your own savings capacity. It won’t override the need for IP permission or a strong income profile, but it does widen your options slightly. Lenders will still want a paper trail confirming the gift is genuinely non-repayable.

Strong, Consistent Income and Payment History

If you’ve never missed an IVA payment and have stable, provable income, some specialist lenders will factor this in positively. It won’t get you high-street rates, but it can be the difference between an outright decline and a cautious yes, typically still paired with a 25–30%+ deposit and a higher interest rate than someone with clean credit. 

Is it Possible to Apply With a Partner Who Isn’t in an IVA?

Yes, and this is one of the more realistic paths to approval. Applying jointly with a partner who has a clean credit history and stable income can shift how a lender views the application, since they’re no longer assessing your finances in isolation.

That said, it’s not a workaround. Your IVA still needs to be disclosed, and your IP’s permission is still required, since any new mortgage commitment affects the household budget you’re both relying on. Lenders will look at the application as a whole, not just your partner’s side of it.

What tends to help:

• A strong, independent income from your partner that could reasonably support the mortgage on its own
• A clean credit file, with no missed payments or existing insolvency markers
• A larger combined deposit, which further reduces the lender’s exposure
• Clear separation of finances, showing the IVA payments won’t strain the household’s ability to meet the mortgage

Even with all of this in place, don’t expect standard rates or high-street lenders. Most joint applications involving an active IVA still go through specialist lenders, and the interest rate will usually reflect the added risk, even if your partner’s profile is strong.

In short, a financially solid partner can improve your odds meaningfully. But it doesn’t remove the underlying requirements. Permission, affordability checks, and lender caution still apply to the application as a whole, not just to the partner without the IVA. 

Not Sure Where You Stand? Talk It Through With an Advisor

Every IVA is different, and so is every mortgage situation. Whether you’re trying to work out if you’d qualify for permission from your Insolvency Practitioner, wondering if a joint application could help, or just want an honest read on your chances, our team can talk you through it without any pressure.

If a mortgage isn’t realistic right now, our team at Debt Advisory Service can also help you understand what your options look like, including whether your current IVA is still the right fit for your circumstances.

 

[Important Note: For additional independent guidance, you can also access free resources from MoneyHelper, the UK’s official platform for managing debt and finances.]    

Conclusion

It is possible for you to get a mortgage while on an IVA. But it’s the exception rather than the rule. Approval depends on your Insolvency Practitioner’s permission, sometimes court sign-off, and a lender willing to look past the insolvency marker on your file, usually a specialist one, not a high-street bank.

Your odds improve considerably in specific situations: remortgaging to clear the IVA early, applying with a financially strong partner, or bringing a gifted deposit to the table. Even then, expect a larger deposit, a higher interest rate, and a more thorough affordability check than you’d face with clean credit.

If none of that fits your circumstances right now, that’s not the end of the road, it just means the timing or the approach needs adjusting. Speaking with an advisor before you apply can save you a rejected application and a knock to your credit file, and help you understand whether waiting, restructuring, or a different route makes more sense for your situation. 

Key Takeaways

• Getting a mortgage while still in an active IVA is possible, but it’s rare, and it requires more than just finding a willing lender.
• Most high-street lenders apply blanket policies that automatically decline anyone with an active IVA, regardless of income or payment history.
• You need written permission from your Insolvency Practitioner before applying, as they must confirm the new mortgage won’t jeopardise your existing IVA payments.
• In some cases, court approval is also required if the new borrowing could affect your ability to meet your IVA terms.
• Applying for a mortgage without your IP’s consent risks breaching your IVA, which could see it terminated and your original debts becoming payable in full.
• Lenders willing to consider your application are almost always specialist lenders, not mainstream banks, and typically expect a deposit of 30% or more.
• Your chances improve significantly if you’re remortgaging specifically to settle your IVA early, since this reduces the lender’s risk rather than adding to it.
• A gifted deposit or a consistent, unbroken IVA payment history can also strengthen a weak application, though neither removes the need for IP permission.
• Applying jointly with a partner who has clean credit and stable income can improve your odds, but your IVA still needs to be disclosed and approved.
• If a mortgage isn’t realistic while your IVA is active, speaking with an advisor can help you understand your options and avoid a rejected application harming your credit file further. 

FAQs

Do I need my Insolvency Practitioner's permission to get a mortgage during an IVA?

Yes. Your Insolvency Practitioner must give written consent before you apply for any new borrowing, including a mortgage. They'll assess whether the repayment fits alongside your existing IVA payments. Applying without this consent risks breaching your arrangement, so this step comes before you approach any lender, not after.

Can a court stop you from getting a mortgage while in an IVA?

In some cases, yes. If the new mortgage could affect your ability to meet your IVA terms, your case may need court approval in addition to your IP's sign-off. This isn't automatic for every application, but it becomes more likely with larger borrowing amounts or tighter affordability margins.

Can you remortgage to pay off an IVA early?

Yes, and it's one of the stronger cases lenders consider. Remortgaging your existing property to clear your IVA in full reduces the lender's risk rather than adding to it. You'll still need sufficient equity, IP permission, and should expect a more thorough affordability check than a standard remortgage.

Does an IVA affect your partner's mortgage application?

If your partner already holds a mortgage separately in their own name, your IVA typically won't affect it directly. However, if you're both on the mortgage or applying jointly for a new one, your IVA will be assessed as part of the household application, not ignored.

Which mortgage lenders accept applicants with an IVA?

Mainstream high-street banks rarely consider active IVA cases. Approval usually comes through specialist or adverse-credit lenders who assess applications individually rather than by blanket policy. A broker experienced with IVA cases can point you toward lenders realistically likely to consider your circumstances.

Will you lose your existing mortgage if you enter an IVA?

Not automatically. Your mortgage is a secured debt, so it usually sits outside your IVA and continues as normal, provided you keep up repayments. Your IVA covers unsecured debts. That said, missing mortgage payments while in an IVA still puts your home at risk, separately from the arrangement itself.

Does home equity affect your IVA and future mortgage options?

Yes. If you have significant equity, your IP may require you to release some of it during your IVA, often through remortgaging, to increase repayments to creditors. This can affect how much borrowing capacity you have left for any future mortgage-related plans.