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Original poster

Mortgage while pregnant - lenders who don't ask probing questions

37 replies

WazFlimFlam · 16/04/2018 15:36

DH and I are going through the process of applying for a mortgage for our first property at the moment. We have a mortgage in principle and have spoken to some brokers.

I am 9 weeks pregnant and haven't disclosed this to anyone (other than DH and healthcare provider) as I was under the impression that as the baby wasn't born yet it isn't a dependent.

However, I have now read (partly on here) that you may be asked about maternity leave plans, specifically. Is that even legal?

Does anyone know about who these lenders are so we can avoid them?

OP posts:
DD2017 · 16/04/2018 15:47

Whilst it may feel intrusive; all responsible lenders should ask about family plans. The questions are all around finances now and in the future to ensure your mortgage is affordable and you don't end up in financial difficulty.
A baby is a known future commitment and will be taken account of for affordability calculations. You can also state you will have a known future income (usually within 3 months) of child benefit (if you meet the criteria).
Any face to face interaction would be on an advised basis. There may be some companies who offer 'execution only' online where you can choose for yourself... however; if you're asked the question online or face to face it could be deemed a fraudulent application if you're not forthcoming with the information.
Appreciate it's early days and your own business but lenders need to make an assessment based on your circumstances and have to ask the questions to find these out.

DD2017 · 16/04/2018 15:49

Maternity leave shouldn't hinder your application unless you intend not to return to work or reduce your income. If you intend to return on the same terms; this is generally accepted as reasonable.

Original poster
WazFlimFlam · 16/04/2018 15:58

DD2017 I am self employed, how on earth can I prove that I plan to return to work?

OP posts:
Original poster
WazFlimFlam · 16/04/2018 16:09

BTW I am well aware of what the party line is on this, but there are threads and threads of women on here who say they didn't mention they are pregnant when applying for a mortgage and I wondered who they had applied for a mortgage through?

OP posts:
tmh88 · 16/04/2018 16:27

We found the mortgage We wanted when we were pregnant through a broker, we moved when baby was here, the first mortgage we had was with Halifax this one is with Santander and they weren't overly intrusive about mat leave etc, Santander might be worth a look as a few other companies wanted a letter from my employer proving the dates I had said I would return to work etc but probably every company you'll have to say when your returning and what your wage will be! Nightmare moving with a baby (but doable) so hopefully you get the move soon haha! 💕

Original poster
WazFlimFlam · 16/04/2018 16:32

Hi TMH I'm unsure what you mean. Did you tell the broker you were pregnant? Or did the mortgage companies just not ask?

OP posts:
tmh88 · 16/04/2018 16:35

Sorry just re read that I didn't make much sense, we wanted to stay with Halifax for our second move but they wouldn't let us borrow what we wanted so we got a broker to find us the best deal we told the broker I was pregnant and he found the best ones for that as well, would be worth involving a broker as they do all your paperwork etc Santander only wanted dates I would return to work and payslips from before I was pregnant where as other companies wanted letters etc off the employer to prove I weren't changing hours and was returning to work on the same pay etc x

tmh88 · 16/04/2018 16:37

I had to explain that sometimes my wage differed month to month for my pregnancy scans and consultation appointments, but as you say you are self employed a broker also finds the best deals for that 👍 hope that helps x

Original poster
WazFlimFlam · 16/04/2018 16:48

TMH88 so did you tell the broker you were pregnant and they bore this in mind when they were searching for deals?

OP posts:
Original poster
WazFlimFlam · 16/04/2018 16:50

Thanks again TMH88 for giving me an example of a self employed person who was pregnant. And did Santander then ask you to consider how much your mortgage payments would reduce by when you had a child/consider childcare costs in the calculation of how much you could afford?

OP posts:
tmh88 · 16/04/2018 16:52

Yes the broker we used did, it made it much easier. Fingers crossed you'll find one soon 🤞🏻 x

MrsRyanGosling15 · 16/04/2018 16:54

I wouldn't say anything. You are 9 weeks pregnant. It is no one else's business but yours. I have bought houses with different lenders and nowhere has there been anyone ask if I am pregnant or planning to get pregnant.

tmh88 · 16/04/2018 16:54

No but the broker did say that because we get the £20 a week most people get that also goes in your favour! I'm not personally self employed but I know our broker looked into that, I would personally not mention childcare etc unless that ask say family are having him as once the house is yours you don't have to report what you spend your money on! 💕

Original poster
WazFlimFlam · 16/04/2018 16:54

How recently has that been RyanGosling?

OP posts:
tmh88 · 16/04/2018 16:56

I did only tell them I was pregnant as I was near the end and the move happened after I had my little boy so would of been stuck then if I hadn't of said anything x

Allshadesofpinkie · 16/04/2018 16:58

When we remortgaged I was 8months gone and the advisor said until the baby was safely here she wouldn't count him as a dependent as anything could happen. That was nationwide 4 years ago.

OfDragonsDeep · 16/04/2018 17:01

If you're only 9 weeks pregnant (& can make it through the appointment without throwing up!) then I wouldn't mention it.

They'll ask some questions about your future plans, but I'd give a non commital answer about 'sometime in the future maybe'

EatSleepCake · 16/04/2018 18:29

I've just applied for a mortgage. Wasn't asked about family plans or pregnancy etc. Only asked about dependants.

Never been asked and this will be the 6th or 7th mortgage I've had

coffeeforone · 16/04/2018 18:33

I was 16 weeks pregnant when I applied and just didn’t mention it. They didn’t ask the question outright.

GeekyWombat · 16/04/2018 18:40

DH is a contractor with a limited company, at the time we got our mortgage I was full time in a salaried position but eight months pregnant. We used a broker who specialised in self employed and contractor mortgages and who got us a great deal with Halifax which we’d tried to get by walking into a branch (before I was even showing as pregnant) and we’re ‘computer says no’ed for.

Neither the broker nor Halifax at any point asked if I was pregnant or if we were planning a family. We never even spoke to anyone at Halifax, it was all handled by the broker (best £400 I’ve ever spent). And every two years the broker contacts us, gives us a new deal with Halifax and arranges a new fixed rate based without us even having to give new financial information etc. Last month he lopped £180 a month off our mortgage without us doing anything (we’re overpaying it - going to finish four years early. Whoop!).

I think they’re a nationwide company (we only ever spoke to him on the phone / by email) happy to give details by DM if you want them.

GeekyWombat · 16/04/2018 18:41

Should have said, got the mortgage four years ago. Possibly they’ve tightened up asking these questions since then, but at that point it wasnt an issue.

SoyDora · 16/04/2018 18:44

At 9 weeks i definitely wouldn’t mention it.
We just got a mortgage with Lloyds (FTB’s) and I wasn’t asked about my family plans.

TheDuckSaysMoo · 16/04/2018 18:52

While on mat leave nationwide told me I had to return to work before they'd grant our mortgage. I was gutted. They had a letter from my work with my intended return date i.e. showing a guaranteed income. I came home and phoned their head office as it seemed discriminatory. They quickly backtracked and all was fine, so don't accept their first suggestion if it seems unfair.

coffeeforone · 16/04/2018 18:54

I should have said our mortgage is from Nationwide but we also got a mortgage offer from Santander on an aborted purchase and they never asked either.

TwittleBee · 16/04/2018 18:56

We went with a broker who got our FTB 95% mortgage with Halifax. We werent asked any questions about future babies and we are in middle of TTC #2 (so for all we knew we could have been pregnant when we applied if it wasnt for my POAS addication anyway )