Removing Ex from HSBC Joint Mortgage - advice

[bringmesunshine78]

Hi, can anyone advise on this? I can't get through to HSBC and there's nothing clear online. My question is which way round do I do this?

Mortgage is about to run off its fixed rate and I need to renew. At this time I also have to remove Ex from the Joint Mortgage (court ordered). I have only just started working so might not have enough payslips to be able to prove on paper I can take it over - even though I can easily make the repayments and have been ever since the split a good number of years ago.

Which way round do I do it? I can fix it online without checks but then will there be a cost for removing him in a few months? As in is this a repayment charge? It would be much better to refix as the cost of a standard variable is wasted money. I'm not clear whether there will be a repayment charge if his name is removed once it is refixed? Does it then become a new mortgage in my name only, does anyone know?

Also, does anyone know if HSBC take into account the UC top up payments on top of salary, and Child Maintenance payments, when they're calculating affordabilty? Or am I better off with a broker to negotiate these with them?

https://www.hsbc.co.uk/help/life-events/separation/help-and-support/#:~:text=Joint%20HSBC%20mortgage&text=To%20ask%20about%20changing%20the,%3A00%20Saturday%20and%20Sunday).
To ask about changing the owner and/or borrower named on your mortgage, please call us on 0800 169 6333 (lines are open 08:00 to 20:00 Monday to Friday, and 09:00 to 17:00 Saturday and Sunday).

You need to talk to them - you can talk to a broker as well, that's a good idea to speak to both. But there are rules around "mortgage prisoners" that might mean HSBC can be more helpful (though a broker might come up with something better)

It's not as simple as removing him from the mortgage. You have to reapply as a sole applicant and they will assess whether you can afford it. That's regardless of where you are in your mortgage term.

And yes they will consider maintenance payments if you can evidence that these are legally agreed and have been paid to you over a period of time.

This! Plus you might need a solicitor

Thank you, I should have added that it was domestic abuse that involved economic abuse so yes, I will be reassessed as a sole applicant but thats why im asking the question - Ideally I need to fix asap when it rolls onto the standard variable but if I do this as a sole applicant now I won't have enough payslips - in three months I will - so wasn't sure whether there is any sort of financial penalty that goes along with removing him from the mortgage whilst it is fixed. If you see what I mean. And therefore is it better financial sense to just pay the standard variable and wait until I have enough payslips to show I can take it on on my own. I own the equity, he has no financial interest in it legally.

You will need to give them a call OP - I've just done this and you have to get a solicitor involved too, to take them off the deeds. In terms of payslips etc, then yes you will probably need 3 months worth, however I would HIGHLY recommend ringing them and talking it through with them even if you can't actually apply until you have 3 months payslips - the overall process can take 6 weeks+ so they will be able to advise you on timings, deals etc, and if there's anything they can do to get the process started now - I would say hold off picking a new deal online, and talk it over with them first.
You won't pay a penalty as such, but there is a charge (normally about £90) and then you will have to pay the solicitors on top to do the deed change, I'm afraid. But, as you are an existing customer they will want to keep you so ringing them is the best way forward.
Really sorry that you've been through so much - wishing you all the best with sorting everything out and hoping your 2024 brings good things to your door.

@Foxblue thanks for your reply. I wasn't on the original mortgage so had to go through this all last year, being added and added to the deeds, it was all done through the HSBC conveyancing team, it took a while but it was much cheaper than using a separate solicitor. It's all court ordered and he has no financial interest or legal hold over the property - have a watertight Deed of Trust. So it should be relatively straightforward. I've been having problems getting through to HSBC but maybe its the holidays thats effecting it, and I'll try next week. Were you with HSBC? Yes, maybe its better to just keep on trying. Thanks a lot for your reply.

Oh it was through Santander, not HSBC - I'm not sure I got the offer of am in-house conveyancing team, that's handy! Best of luck with it, I'm sure it'll be easier come Monday

Call HSBC. Keep trying. They are prepared to waive all of their credit risk rules in cases of domestic abuse.

When I had to do this it wasn't a matter of removing ex from the mortgage I had to apply for a whole new mortgage in my name and it was a different mortgage number. You do really need to speak to them and their conveyancing solicitor can remove ex from deeds for an extra fee - 10 years ago I paid £300,