Keeping Your Home, Question by Question
What you keep, what you must do, and how joint ownership works.
Can I keep my home if I have an IVA?
Yes. An IVA is designed to let you keep your home while you deal with your debts. You carry on living there, keep paying your mortgage, and the arrangement handles your unsecured debts. Unlike bankruptcy, there is no forced sale of your property in a standard IVA, which is exactly why many homeowners prefer this route.
What do I have to do to keep it?
Mainly, keep paying your mortgage. Your mortgage stays outside the IVA and must be paid as normal, it is treated as an essential cost in your budget. As long as you keep up those payments and stick to your IVA, your home is protected. Falling behind on the mortgage is the main thing that could put it at risk.
What about my equity?
It affects the length of your IVA, not whether you keep the home. Under current rules, more equity generally means a six-year IVA rather than five, with the extra payments standing in for releasing equity. You keep the house either way. Our equity guide explains how the figures work.
Do I have to remortgage to keep my home?
Not if you start an IVA now. The 2025 rules removed the remortgage requirement, so keeping your home no longer depends on releasing equity. If your IVA began before July 2025, an older remortgage step might apply, but even then, being unable to remortgage just extends the IVA rather than costing you the house.
Can I keep my home if I own it jointly?
Yes, and your co-owner's share is protected. If you own with a partner who is not in the IVA, only your share of the equity is ever considered, theirs is untouched. You both carry on living there, and the joint ownership continues. Many couples use an IVA for one person while keeping the family home intact.
What if I am behind on my mortgage?
You can often still keep your home, but it needs attention. Mortgage arrears are not usually included in an IVA, and your lender keeps the right to act on them. However, clearing your unsecured debts frequently frees up money to catch up. Be upfront about any arrears with your adviser so a realistic plan can be built around them.
Is keeping my home guaranteed?
It is well protected, as long as you play your part. A standard IVA does not force a sale, so the main things within your control are keeping up your mortgage and sticking to the arrangement. Avoid any unusual proposal that mentions selling your home without getting advice. Do those things, and keeping your home is the normal, expected outcome.
Should I get advice?
Yes. A free, impartial adviser can confirm exactly how your home would be protected and whether an IVA is the best route for your circumstances. This is especially worth doing if you have significant equity or mortgage arrears. Free services like StepChange and MoneyHelper can help you decide, at no cost and with no obligation.
