How long does a CCJ stay on my credit file?

Six years from the date of the judgment, unless paid in full within one month of the judgment date — in which case it is removed entirely. A satisfied CCJ (paid after the one-month window) stays for six years but is marked as satisfied, which lenders weight more favourably than an unsatisfied one.

Can I get a mortgage one year after a CCJ?

Yes, with a specialist lender. The rate will be meaningfully higher than prime and the deposit requirement will typically be 20% or more. After the CCJ is two to three years in the past, the lender pool opens up considerably.

Does the CCJ amount matter?

Yes. Smaller CCJs (under £500) are treated less severely by some specialist lenders, particularly if satisfied. Larger amounts and unsatisfied judgments narrow the pool.

What if I have multiple CCJs?

Multiple CCJs shift you into the heavy-adverse tier. Borrowing is usually still possible with a larger deposit (25% to 35%), but the range of lenders shrinks and the rate is higher. Satisfying as many as you can before applying helps.

Mortgage Declined Because of a CCJ?

A County Court Judgment is one of the most common reasons a UK mortgage application gets automatically declined by a high-street bank — but it rarely blocks borrowing altogether. Specialist lenders look at the full context: how recent, how large, whether satisfied, and what the rest of the case looks like.

Why high-street banks decline CCJs automatically

Mainstream lenders apply hard cut-offs: any CCJ registered within the last 36 months triggers an automatic decline, regardless of amount or satisfaction status. Some apply the cut-off to the last 24 months. Unsatisfied CCJs are often a permanent decline on the current rate sheet even after the event is old.

How specialist lenders weight a CCJ

Specialist bad-credit lenders underwrite CCJ cases case-by-case. The factors that move the decision:

Age. A CCJ from three years ago lands in a different tier than one from six months ago. Most specialist lenders have clear tiers at 0–12 months, 12–24 months, and 24+ months.
Satisfied or not. A satisfied CCJ is materially better than an unsatisfied one. If the judgment is recent and not yet paid, paying it before applying opens more lenders.
Amount. A £150 CCJ for a forgotten utility bill is underwritten differently to a £8,000 CCJ from a commercial dispute.
Number. One CCJ is treated much more favourably than multiple. Multiple recent CCJs push the case into heavy-adverse territory.
Deposit. A larger deposit (25%+) opens lenders that a 10% deposit will not, independent of the CCJ itself.
Conduct since. Lenders look for clean conduct since the CCJ — no missed payments, no new defaults, stable affordability.

Typical outcomes by CCJ profile

1 satisfied CCJ, 24+ months old, small amount

Treated close to prime by some specialist lenders. Rate uplift is usually modest. A 10–15% deposit is often enough.

1 CCJ, 6–24 months old, satisfied, moderate amount

Clearly in specialist territory. Rate 1–2% above prime. Typical deposit requirement 15–20%.

Multiple CCJs or unsatisfied CCJ within 12 months

Heavy-adverse tier. A smaller pool of lenders, rate 2–3% above prime, and typical deposit requirement of 25–30%. Often still lendable.

What to do before you apply again

Check each credit bureau (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion) to confirm the CCJ status and amount is reported correctly.
Satisfy the CCJ if you can, and ensure the court and creditor update the record.
Avoid any further credit applications until the new mortgage is placed.
Work with a specialist broker who can match the exact CCJ profile to the lender most likely to approve it — see our what-to-do-next playbook.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a CCJ stay on my credit file?: Six years from the date of the judgment, unless paid in full within one month of the judgment date — in which case it is removed entirely. A satisfied CCJ (paid after the one-month window) stays for six years but is marked as satisfied, which lenders weight more favourably than an unsatisfied one.
Can I get a mortgage one year after a CCJ?: Yes, with a specialist lender. The rate will be meaningfully higher than prime and the deposit requirement will typically be 20% or more. After the CCJ is two to three years in the past, the lender pool opens up considerably.
Does the CCJ amount matter?: Yes. Smaller CCJs (under £500) are treated less severely by some specialist lenders, particularly if satisfied. Larger amounts and unsatisfied judgments narrow the pool.
What if I have multiple CCJs?: Multiple CCJs shift you into the heavy-adverse tier. Borrowing is usually still possible with a larger deposit (25% to 35%), but the range of lenders shrinks and the rate is higher. Satisfying as many as you can before applying helps.