Fixed term RA contract - can I get a mortgage?

[twiglet123]

Anyone got any experience of getting a mortgage while on a research assistant fixed term contract? I think banks are being even stricter than usual with lending due to Covid and I wonder if I have any chance at all of borrowing when my contract is only a year (1st post at this university after long career break). Anyone been in a similar situation?

I was and did but my contract was longer (three years, and we got the mortgage near the beginning) and it was in 2015, when I think it was a bit easier to get a mortgage in general. We also didn't have that wide a range of mortgage providers to choose from and so didn't get a brilliant rate (though it wasn't awful either). We had a broker and I'd definitely recommend that's what you do - I don't think sorting it all yourself is a good idea if you're in an unusual situation. Before we went to the broker we did go to our bank (HSBC) to see if we could have a mortgage with them. We had a very long meeting and then the woman said she'd speak to a senior underwriter about my job and get back to us. I'm still waiting for her to call...

Speak to an broker firm - a free one like London and country. They’ll be able to find a lender. lots of lenders lend to people on fixed term contracts just depends on the case.

Are you on your own?

I've just got a mortgage in principle; my fixed-term contract ends September 2021. My partner has a permanent job but isn't eligible on her own.

I know one person who got a mortgage on a fixed-term contract two years ago, without a partner, but I don't know any more details than that.

I did but:
a) My husband is also on the application and he has a "normal" full-time job.
b) Mine is a 3-year post
c) They didn't ask if it was fixed term, so I didn't volunteer the information! Just asked if I was full-time employed so I said yes.