A Debt Management Plan is a mechanism by which you can have a third party negotiate with the people to whom you owe money and set out a plan by which you will make a single, affordable monthly payment each month.

Debts that can be included in a DMT are referred to as non-priority debts and include;

  • Overdrafts
  • Personal loans
  • Bank or building society loans
  • Money borrowed from friends or family
  • Credit card, store card debts or payday loans
  • Catalogue, home credit or in-store credit debts

Unfortunately, some debts can’t be included in a DMT. These include;

  • Court fines
  • TV Licence
  • Council Tax
  • Gas and electricity bills
  • Child support and maintenance
  • Income Tax, National Insurance and VAT
  • Mortgage, rent and any loans secured against your home
  • Hire purchase agreements, if what you’re buying with them is essential.
  • These debts are known as ‘priority debts’.

Whilst a Debt Management Plan is not specifically registered on your credit file, the fact that the implementation of a DMP will almost always be the result of you struggling to maintain (or miss previous payments to creditors) may have an effect on your credit score. However, just because you have a DMP does not necessarily restrict you from obtaining a mortgage as long as your credit history and other factors are still within parameters.

Whilst anyone can set up a Debt Management Plan, if you use a third party business then they must be properly registered with the FCA. The advantage of using a third party is that they do all the negotiating with your creditors, taking away that pain and hassle. You then pay one single agreed payment plus a once-a-month charge to your Debt Manager.

You may qualify for a Debt Management Plan if you have unsecured debt equivalent to between 15% and 39% of your annual income and you’re finding it hard to maintain repayments. It’s also usual to be on a steady income that should allow you to repay the outstanding debts over 5 years or less.

A DMP can take just a few weeks to set up and can give you the flexibility needed to repay your creditors over time.

Related articles:

 

 

Recent posts

Deals of week web larger

Here are the lowest fixed mortgage rates of the week, available to first-time buyers, home movers, buy-to-let, and those remortgaging.

Call us for more information: 01628 507477 or email: team@mortgagerequired.com.

Nationwide Electronic Signature   Web Larger

Nationwide is the first lender to allow mortgage deeds to be signed electronically and without the need for a witness.

Santander 98 Percent   Web Larger

‘My First Mortgage’ from major high-street lender Santander is specifically for those wanting to buy their first property. It allows first-time buyers to purchase 98% of the property’s value. However, certain criteria must be met to be eligible.

Team MR Y Not PR   Web Larger

Maidenhead, Berkshire – 26th January 2026 – Dedicated independent mortgage experts, Mortgage Required, are delighted to have acquired fellow experienced brokerage, Y-Not Finance.

The acquisition connects two well-respected brokerages, both with a wealth of experience and shared values, to continue providing the best advice on all aspects of the mortgage market.

Ground Rents 250   Web Larger

As part of the UK government’s plans to change the leasehold system to help families struggling with unaffordable ground rent costs.

The Prime Minister announced this morning (27 January) that ground rents will be capped at £250 per year, reverting to a peppercorn rate after 40 years.

Five Common Reasons Additional Borrowing   Web Larger

Additional borrowing, also known as a further advance, is when you borrow more money on your existing mortgage for a specific reason agreed with your lender.

Here are five of the most common reasons for additional borrowing. 

2025 Round Up   Web Larger

Property search site Zoopla has estimated that the UK housing market will end 2025 with approximately 1.15 million completed sales – 4.5% more than the previous year.

Take a look at the 2025 summary of the UK housing market.

New Home   Web Larger

If buying your first property, or moving home, is on your to-do list this year, the new year can be a great time to take this big step. In this short blog, we look at what you need to consider as you plan and prepare for your home-buying journey.