Process
County Court Judgment (CCJ)
A County Court Judgment is a court ruling against someone who hasn't paid a debt. CCJs appear on credit files for six years and affect lender risk assessment.
Mainstream first-charge mortgage lenders typically reject any application with a CCJ in the last six years. Secured loan lenders are different — specialist providers like Pepper Money, Together, and Evolution Money will consider applicants with CCJs, particularly at lower LTVs.
Rate impact varies by severity. A satisfied CCJ over three years old usually has minimal pricing impact. A recent unsatisfied CCJ pushes the rate up — typically by 2–4% — and limits lender choice.
What matters most is context. Lenders want to know whether the CCJ resulted from a one-off life event (illness, redundancy, divorce) or a pattern of financial difficulty. A clear written explanation upfront — supported by current bank statements showing financial stability — gets a better outcome than trying to hide it.