Mortgage Protection After Cancer in Ireland: Right to Be Forgotten 2026

Mortgage Protection After Cancer in Ireland: Right to Be Forgotten 2026

Getting mortgage protection after surviving cancer is about to become significantly easier in Ireland. New legislation expected to pass in 2026 will reduce the waiting period from seven years to five and increase the coverage threshold from €500,000 to €650,000.

This guide explains exactly what's changing, who's covered, how the Right to Be Forgotten works, and what you need to know when applying for mortgage protection as a cancer survivor.

What is the Right to Be Forgotten?

The Right to Be Forgotten is a legal principle that allows cancer survivors to apply for mortgage protection without disclosing their past cancer diagnosis after a defined period in remission.

Rather than your cancer history following you indefinitely, insurers must disregard a disclosed cancer diagnosis once you've been in remission for a specific timeframe. This recognises that many cancers, when successfully treated, don't increase long-term mortality risk.

Since December 2023, a voluntary Code of Practice has been in place, signed by insurers covering approximately 95% of the Irish life assurance market. The new legislation will make this a legal right with penalties for non-compliance.

What's Changing in 2026?

The Central Bank (Amendment) Bill 2025 introduces several improvements:

Remission Period Reduced - Drops from seven years to five years for adults. Remains five years for those diagnosed under 18.

Higher Coverage - Maximum cover increases from €500,000 to €650,000, reflecting current property prices.

Legal Enforcement - Becomes statutory law with penalties for non-compliance, not just a voluntary code.

Future Reviews - The €650,000 threshold will be reviewed periodically.

This aligns Ireland with France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Portugal, which already operate five-year periods.

Who Qualifies Under the Right to Be Forgotten?

You can apply for mortgage protection without disclosing your cancer if:

Time Requirements - Treatment ended 5+ years ago (adults) or 5+ years ago if diagnosed under 18. Treatment includes surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or transplant.

Medical Status - Your oncologist confirmed complete remission with no signs or symptoms of cancer.

Cover Amount - You're applying for €650,000 or less per applicant.

Property Type - The mortgage is for your principal private residence.

If you meet these criteria, insurers may disregard your cancer diagnosis.

What You Still Need to Disclose

Whilst you don't need to disclose qualifying cancer diagnoses, you must answer all application questions honestly:

• Other medical conditions unrelated to your cancer
• Recent medical treatment or investigations (past five years, excluding qualifying cancer)
• Family medical history
• Lifestyle factors (smoking, alcohol, hazardous activities)

The Right to Be Forgotten applies specifically to your qualifying cancer diagnosis. Everything else must be disclosed as normal.

How the Application Process Works

Confirm Eligibility - Calculate when treatment ended and confirm you've reached five years in remission.

Apply for Cover - Use our online quote form to compare insurers.

Answer Questions Fully - Omit your qualifying cancer diagnosis but disclose everything else honestly.

Underwriting Assessment - Your qualifying cancer won't be considered in pricing or acceptance decisions.

Receive Decision - Most applications receive decisions within a few weeks at standard rates.

What If You Need More Than €650,000 Cover?

The Right to Be Forgotten applies to the first €650,000 per applicant. If you need higher cover:

• First €650,000 assessed under the code (cancer disregarded)
• Amounts above €650,000 assessed using normal underwriting
• Joint applications allow €1.3 million total (€650,000 each)

Common Questions Cancer Survivors Ask

Can I apply before five years? Yes, but your cancer will be considered in normal underwriting. You may receive cover with exclusions, loadings, or postponement.

Do I tell my solicitor? No. Once you qualify, you don't need to disclose to solicitors, banks, or lenders.

Multiple cancers? Each is assessed separately. If all treatments ended 5+ years ago with complete remission, you should qualify.

Does this apply to life insurance? No. The code specifically covers mortgage protection for principal private residences only.

What if cancer returns after I get cover? Your policy remains valid. Recurrence after securing cover doesn't affect existing protection.

Which insurers signed up? Irish Life, Aviva, Royal London, New Ireland, and Zurich—approximately 95% of the market.

Why Use a Specialist Broker?

Navigating mortgage protection as a cancer survivor benefits from specialist broker support:

• Knowledge of which insurers to approach for your circumstances
• Help completing applications correctly
• Appeals support if declined or offered poor terms
• Timing advice on whether to apply now or wait
• Guidance on other protection needs

Brokers know which insurers interpret the code most favourably and can guide you through the process efficiently.

The Impact on Cancer Survivors

The Irish Cancer Society's campaign has been driven by real stories of people medically cleared but unable to buy homes due to insurance barriers. Research shows three in five people affected by cancer found it difficult to access financial products. The reduction to five years and increase to €650,000 means thousands more cancer survivors can access home ownership without discrimination.

The legislation is expected to pass through the Oireachtas before summer 2026, with a short implementation period before new legal requirements take effect.

The Bottom Line

If you're a cancer survivor in Ireland, mortgage protection is becoming more accessible. The Right to Be Forgotten legislation reduces waiting periods, increases coverage limits, and provides legal protection against discrimination.

Five years after treatment ends, you can apply for up to €650,000 of mortgage protection without disclosing your cancer diagnosis. This removes one of the biggest barriers to home ownership for cancer survivors.

The voluntary code is already in place with most insurers. The new legislation will strengthen these protections and ensure consistent treatment across the market.

Ready to explore your mortgage protection options? Use our mortgage protection calculator to estimate your cover needs or get a quote to compare insurers. Our team can guide you through the application process as a cancer survivor. Call 01 539 44 50 to discuss your specific circumstances.

Northstar Financial Planning Limited trading as QuoteLeader is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland, registration number 190060.