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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Not to tell mortgage broker I am pregnant?

94 replies

Seabiscuit1 · 12/03/2018 15:08

I asked about this a couple of weeks ago for renting but due to my family being incredible I am now in the position to buy rather than rent! It would just be me on the mortgage as my partner has a mortgage on another property that his ex still lives in with his DD. Not my place to interfere with that one as long as he still contributes fairly to our family.
So my credit rating is reasonably good and affordability shouldn’t be a problem but I am 28 weeks pregnant! Would it be incredibly wrong of me to hide that from them? I won’t be giving up work and even SMA will more than cover the mortgage repayments. The mortgage would be so much more affordable than renting so I am desperate to do this if I get a chance.
Someone tell me what to do!

OP posts:

Thundercatshoooo · 12/03/2018 17:26

I didn't tell our's, I was actually 7 months pregnant when we went to sign everything at their office. The questions only asked how many dependants we had at the time, well we had none, it wasn't a lie!

You could quite easily take out a mortgage and get pregnant immediately. It didn't say anywhere are you planning on becoming pregnant or are you pregnant?

I'd just keep it quiet if I was you, as long as you know you can afford the repayments on Mat leave.

Starlive22 · 12/03/2018 17:43

@Thundercatshoooo makes a very valid point, while I wasn't pregnant when we got the mortgage, I was pregnant within a few months. As long as you can still afford it then why mention it? Circumstances change all the time in life and we can't plan for them so might as well get your home and enjoy!

Good luck OP such an exciting time in life for you!!

EmmaJR1 · 12/03/2018 17:51

Don't do it!!! We told our broker and had to find a new company as they refused to consider my wage! We had a less favourable rate as a result.

justtryingtogeton · 12/03/2018 18:26

Mortgage companies are not allowed to discriminate if you are pregnant. If you plan to go back to work this won't influence how much they lend.

If you're not going back you should tell them, but then they will unlikely lend to you.

It's hard to know what is right. As baby isn't here yet.

Some companies ask about childcare, and expected costs.

Others like Natwest don't care...

Cuppaoftea · 12/03/2018 18:54

You'll likely be on maternity leave by the time any house purchase were to complete, particularly as you'd be the sole applicant you need to inform the broker and mortgage companies of your impending change in circumstances.

You'll be required to state why you're not making a joint application and your DP will need to sign an occupiers consent form to say he has no claim on the property. All sounds a complicated situation as he'll be financially contributing, I'm not sure your application will be successful in your current circumstances. Perhaps best if he removes himself from his previous mortgage before you move in to a bought property together.

Cuppaoftea · 12/03/2018 19:50

Basically if your DP is contributing at all to the deposit or mortgage a sole application will be a problem. Also difficult if you have any expectation he'll financially contribute to renovations and maintenance. It would be advisable for him not to as his name wouldn't be on the deeds and you're not married.

If your family have helped you with the deposit that needs to be a gift not a loan so it's clear they haven't any financial interest in the property. The full source of your deposit will need to be disclosed.

livingthegoodlife · 12/03/2018 20:07

Op are you a first time buyer? Don't forget you'll get stamp duty relief - another reason to not have the partner involved who already has an interest in property.

I wouldn't mention the pregnancy. You don't even have to see a broker, you can make online applications?

The partner will need to sign an occupiers consent form.

You should think about having a declaration of trust drawn up stating that if your partner contributes to say maintenance of the property etc that he doesn't acquire an interest in your property.

Lots to think about.

Original poster

Seabiscuit1 · 12/03/2018 20:18

I hadn’t really thought much about my partners involvement. Thank you for both for pointing that out. To be honest I am trying to cover my back by not involving him in the house purchase. Not that I think we are going to spilt up but since he already owns a house, he has something to fall back on. I don’t. Maybe I am being over cautious but we aren’t married and I want to protect my finances.
The deposit will be a gift. My grandparents have sold their house and giving all the grandchildren a deposit for their first home. Wonderful people!

OP posts:

43percentburnt · 12/03/2018 20:25

Yes you can get a mortgage when pregnant. A baby becomes a dependant at birth only with the majority of lenders.

Be careful if not disclosing if you have baby purchases on bank statements.

When asked about future changes baby should be disclosed. If you are returning on same hours, same role, you will be asked what date you will return. What childcare costs. How you will pay the mortgage on maternity leave - evidence may be required. You affordability MAY be affected, it depends how tight affordability is. 1 dependent is likely to decrease borrowing potential. Childcare is very likely to with most lenders.

Good luck.

Oysterbabe · 12/03/2018 20:32

We had a meeting with the bank we were getting our mortgage with. They asked loads of questions for their affordability check and we had to answer Definitely, likely, possible or unlikely to each question. One of them was will we have a child in the next 5 years. We shrugged our shoulders and said possible. I was 25 weeks pregnant that point. I'm pretty sure it's mortgage fraud but we knew we could afford it so decided not to care.

GreyGardens88 · 12/03/2018 20:37

The lender can easily find out. Any pregnancy/baby related payments on your bank statements they'll question

GreyGardens88 · 12/03/2018 20:39

I can't believe people are so blase about not disclosing major life changes like having a baby when applying for a mortgage. No wonder we jump from one financial crisis to another

Bigpizzalover · 12/03/2018 20:42

It affects your affordability, each dependant with take £xxxx off the amount the lender will borrow to you. As part of the mortgage contract you are signing all information you have provided is accurate so technically you could be seen as committing fraud - omitting material facts to gain higher funding, however many women don’t know they are pregnant so I’m not sure how they could do anything about that - unless you saw them face to face to set up the mortgage in which case you would have to declare that there will be a dependant

wildduckhunt · 12/03/2018 21:12

If it's a very sudden windfall, have you had a look at what your existing financial commitments are on a "what can I borrow" calculator like the one on Money Saving Expert? It will give you an idea of how dependants, and your other credit arrangements will impact your potential mortgage.

wildduckhunt · 12/03/2018 21:12

Fluffyears · 12/03/2018 21:44

Mine did ask ‘is there likely to be any change to your current income within the next 12 months?’

VodkaKnockers · 12/03/2018 21:47

As others have said if there is any baby/child related purchases on your bank statements this WILL be flagged by the lender and they will question further.

If tour payslip show any mayeenitu pay there will be further info requested and the lender may ask for evidence of how you will pay the mortgage when you are on mat leave.
In regards to your partner, if he is going to live in the new house he cannot contribute towards the purchase or the mortgage payments unless he is jointly on the mortgage. Your broker may not ask this but your solicitor more than likely will.

I'm a mortgage underwriter for a major high street bank who process a lot if applications from brokers.

Tartsamazeballs · 12/03/2018 21:54

Honestly I didn't declare that I was made redundant 2 days before completion. Mortgage is nearly paid off now so don't think it mattered too much in the long run.

I'd keep schtum!

Bambamber · 12/03/2018 22:01

I told our broker, But I literally couldn't hide it! I ended up being on maternity before contracts were exchanged on the new house, But because I was returning to work after maternity, they used my last 3 wage slips before I went on maternity to work out affordability. They did write to my work though to get written confirmation that I was intending to return to work and the that my contract was as I had declared to the broker, and we had to provide proof of savings to cover my maternity leave

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