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Original poster

Husband applying for a mortgage while I’m pregnant- do we have to tell them?

22 replies

EmAreSea · 05/09/2019 14:14

Just that really... I’m 33 weeks pregnant, DH in the process of applying for a mortgage and obviously the amount he can borrow could be hugely affected by the pregnancy, but is he legally obliged to declare it? I mean technically he doesn’t have any dependants at the moment. I’ve done a bit of googling but everything I’ve found assumes it’s the pregnant woman applying, and I’m not. We do have a broker but all he asked was whether there are any dependants.

OP posts:

NoisingUpNissan · 05/09/2019 14:19

Yes
They go through everythuling

BarbaraofSeville · 05/09/2019 14:34

They'll probably ask if there's any expected change in circumstances.

If you're not dependent on him, then that must mean that you have a decent income of your own, to be able to pay bills, food, housing costs etc, so why aren't you on the mortgage too?

If you both apply and you expect at least some maternity pay, does that make the numbers look better?

Or do you have credit problems that make him having joint finances with you unwise? If so, are there any poor credit mortgages that you would qualify for and get you the income multiple you need? The interest rate isn't usually that much extra and you can always remortgage onto a prime product in the future.

Original poster

EmAreSea · 05/09/2019 14:41

I’m not involved in the application as I work mostly short term contracts (haven’t had one since April as the pregnancy has been rough) and my credit history is worse than woeful! No lender in the land is going to give me a mortgage. I’ve got enough saved up to take care of myself for at least 6 months, and will in all likelihood return to contracting after that. Have arranged childcare with family and I can do my job from home so those sort of costs aren’t really an issue.

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fedup21 · 05/09/2019 14:42

Is it a joint mortgage based off both your incomes?

Original poster

EmAreSea · 05/09/2019 14:44

No, just DH. Because I do short term contracts my income isn’t guaranteed, plus crap credit history.

OP posts:

RedCrab · 05/09/2019 14:46

We’re applying for a mortgage right now. We have three children and at the moment - no childcare costs. But when we were going through everything, they asked if that would change. We plan on putting the youngest in pre school in October so they said that had to go down with estimated costs.

To be honest, in seven weeks, he WILL have a dependent. That’s an expected change in his circumstances. If he’s able to apply by himself and be offered what you need, you can include it and include that there won’t be childcare costs.

fedup21 · 05/09/2019 14:47

I’m confused-have you changed names?

TryingToBeBold · 05/09/2019 14:50

We re mortgaged in June and I was due in May. My maternity pay is more than generous so we didn't mention anything and just didn't meet them in person.. we really needed the remortgage and it worked out fine

Original poster

EmAreSea · 05/09/2019 14:55

We do have a broker but all he asked was whether there are any dependants, and DH told him about the pregnancy. Consequently the amount we thought we were able to borrow was considerably lower than we’d previously been able to, which means taking a way bigger chunk of our savings for the deposit.

OP posts:

Ohmybloomers · 05/09/2019 15:00

We didn't tell ours when we were expecting our DC because it would have made a huge difference to the amount we could borrow, and we were certain that we would still be able to comfortably make the payments after the baby arrived.

It may be a murky area, and people on here may tell you not to do it, but just to let you know that some people do.

Original poster

EmAreSea · 05/09/2019 15:09

Ohmybloomers that’s basically the dilemma we have... our worry is that not declaring it may be considered as mortgage fraud, but at the same time, not all pregnancies result in a baby (not that we’re expecting something awful to happen, but acknowledging that it could) and surely some people apply without even knowing they’re pregnant?

OP posts:

MiaFarrowsWheelbarrow · 05/09/2019 15:24

I'd be surprised if, as a married couple, they will let your husband have a mortgage without you on it.

We applied a few years ago in similar circumstances and it turned out that my NOT being on the application was detrimental to it and the mortgage company preferred me being on the application despite my very shaky credit history.

Sorry I can't advise you on the pregnancy bit but good luck with everything!

Original poster

EmAreSea · 05/09/2019 15:27

MiaFarrowsWheelbarrow we had a recent purchase fall through, I wasn’t on that application and it was fine. He also applied before we knew about the pregnancy and was able to borrow a lot more than he apparently can this time around- even though he’s had a pay rise since!

OP posts:

carly2803 · 05/09/2019 15:37

dont know about being married, but yes, heavily pregnant but use a broker!

I have used this particular broker a couple of times and he is pretty decent.It wasnt an issue!

NC2605 · 05/09/2019 15:46

We weren't asked so didnt declare when we renewed ours a few years back. As PP said we felt we could make the payments with no issues whilst on mat leave and also agree that yes we didnt actually have dependents at that point. Anyway it was all fine. Have remortaged since and this time declared our DC as they are now obviously an actual dependent and I returned to work part time so salary adjusted accordingly too.

berlinbabylon · 05/09/2019 16:08

If you'd said 13 weeks I would have said no. But 33 weeks is going to be pretty obvious and an employer will also know though I see in your case you do contracting.

But I think it highly irregular for a married woman not to be part owner of a home her husband has bought for them both to live in!

ShirleyPhallus · 05/09/2019 16:12

I’m pregnant and buying a house, we haven’t declared it

They go through everything what - including demanding urine samples?!

caringcarer · 05/09/2019 16:19

My dd and sil got a new mortgage when she was 4 months pregnant with first child. They did it all on phone and sent off pay slips etc. She just sent in last three which is what they asked for. They did not mention she was pregnant and did not tick box for no unforeseen circumstances change. They got mortgage and moved in when she was 8 months pregnant. Money was tight as she only had basic maternity package but they had saved up for almost a year beforehand to cover cost when she was on maternity leave.

BuggerOffAndGoodDayToYou · 05/09/2019 18:15

We borrowed an additional amount when I was seven months pregnant. It was a joint loan even though I wasn’t a SAHM and hadn’t worked for nearly five years. I was huge sat in the mortgage advisers office and he didn’t bat an eyelid!

queenofmycastlex · 05/09/2019 18:57

I’m in Scotland so not sure if it’s different but used a mortgage advisor who we told but he said it wouldn’t make a difference to the banks as it was a temporary change in wage - plus my husband is the higher earner so that was also part of it. They didn’t even ask if I was planning to go back to work. Moved into our house the day before DC was born!

PurpleCrazyHorse · 05/09/2019 19:04

We didn't mention my pregnancy, nor that I was likely to stop work when we got our mortgage. It was a joint mortgage and we were both working. We borrowed what I knew we could afford if I did stop work, not the maximum they wanted to lend us.

We've just remortgaged with the same company and I answered no to any planned change in circumstances. We've been paying the mortgage for years. Our current circumstances aren't planning on changing.

BlueflowerRedthorns · 05/09/2019 19:14

We applied when I was 7 months pregnant and the mortgage advisor didn't declare the pregnancy. She said there is not a dependent until they are in the room in their own right or words to that effect. I was also the lower earner which may have been a factor.

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