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DSCR = net operating income ÷ total debt service. Lenders typically look for 1.25 or higher.
What a CCJ is
A County Court Judgment is a court ruling that your company owes a debt it did not pay. It becomes a public record, appears on your credit report, and lowers your score. Lenders treat it as evidence of past payment trouble.
How long it lasts
A CCJ stays on the register for six years from the judgment date. If you pay it within a month you can have it removed; pay later and it is marked "satisfied", which is still visible but reads far better than an outstanding judgment. Satisfying a CCJ is almost always worth doing.
How lenders read it
One old, satisfied CCJ against an otherwise clean company is very different from several recent, unpaid ones. A lender looks at the amount, the age, whether it is satisfied and the pattern. A single blemish rarely decides an application on its own — affordability still matters most.
Borrowing with a CCJ on file
It is harder, not impossible. A strong, evidenced cash flow and a clear explanation of the judgment help a lender look past it. Satisfy the CCJ first if you can, and be ready to show the affordability case plainly. See borrowing with adverse credit.
Show the affordability case
Use the calculator to demonstrate the cash cover behind your application.
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Frequently asked questions
How long does a CCJ stay on a company's record?
Six years from the judgment date. Pay it within a month and it can be removed entirely; pay later and it is marked satisfied — still visible, but far better than an outstanding judgment.
Can a business with a CCJ still get a loan?
Often yes, though it is harder. A single satisfied CCJ on an otherwise clean company, backed by strong affordability and a clear explanation, need not be decisive. A pattern of recent CCJs is a bigger obstacle.
Should I pay off a CCJ before applying for finance?
If you can, yes. Satisfying the judgment marks it as paid on your file, which reads far better to lenders than an outstanding CCJ and shows you resolve debts rather than leave them.
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