Getting a mortgage when pregnant

[AnxiousAnnie94]

Hi all, first time posting. I am so sorry if this is the wrong place.

So me and my DH are desperately in the search for our first house, we are viewing a house tonight and have an appointment to get a mortgage in principle tomorrow.
I am 12 weeks pregnant with first baby.
We have worked eveything out as much as possible to the penny and we will be able to afford bills etc and to live whilst I am on SSM leave and we have a plan for finances for returning to work too.
We don't want to disclose to the mortgage broker about the pregnancy purely because the lenders won't take into consideration the workings out we have done and we will just say we can't afford it on paper.

Are we breaking any sort of law if we don't disclose it? And could we have our mortgage revoked?

We really need to move out of his parents house before baby comes along. I am stressing about everything and this is just one extra stress to add to the list.

TIA x

I'm no expert but in my experience you'll be fine. We got our first mortgage when I was about 8 weeks pregnant and we never disclosed it to either the mortgage broker or on any sort of application. Nothing ever came of it.

Good luck!

We didn’t disclose the future nursery fees we would be paying after my maternity leave, our mortgage broker told us not to!

I think you’re worrying about nothing personally.

Thank you! I am just worried about them (somehow) finding out and us being dragged away and arrested or something haha!

Thank you very much.
I could understand it if we weren't going to be able to afford it, but after the extensive research, workings out and endless pieces of paper and spreadsheets, we know we can afford to continue our payments when I finish work and when I go back, so I think we will keep quiet.
Just didn't want to be breaking the law and it come back to haunt us.
But realistically, I could fall pregnant the day after getting the mortgage and it would be the same outcome anyway!

Exactly! Circumstances change all the time. They only care that you can afford the repayments.

I never disclosed my pregnancy to our mortgage broker or on any of the applications and we got the keys to the house when I was 36 weeks pregnant.
Peoples circumstances change all the time, they don’t need to know so in your position I’d just keep it quiet.

They won't ask, and there's no need for you to tell them - good luck with both your pregnancy and your application!

Did the same, but was about 7 months pregnant- wore a big coat and complained about feeling cold ( it wasn’t!) to hide enormous bump!!
no one asked, it made no difference in the end

I didn’t disclose mine in 2021 - luckily everything was online and through zoom so managed to get buy a house and move in when I was 34 weeks pregnant. My husband was worried we were breaking the law but it was alll good so don’t worry!

We didn't mention my pregnanc and got our offer but the process took so long that by the time we moved in DD had already been born and I was on smp! Didn't affect anything. Don't think the bank ever even realised we'd had a baby. Good luck.

In theory the bank could ask you a broad question such as whether you are aware of any circumstances that are likely to affect your finances in the next year. Arguably it would be fraudulent to answer "no" in your shoes.

But if I were you I wouldn't volunteer the info and probably wouldn't worry too much about it especially if there are no affordability issues.

Mortgage broker here 👋🏻

The lenders can't discriminate against you or reduce your borrowing based on being pregnant. If you do disclose, depending on when you complete, the lender may just request confirmation from your employer that you'll be returning to work under the same t&c's

Good luck with your pregnancy!! X

What @overthinkersanonnymus said

I just remortgaged my house whilst on maternity leave and receiving no income. I had to send in my last 3 payslips from before I went on maternity leave and get a letter from the employer to say that when I went back to work I was going to be working the same amount of hours as before I started maternity.

They can't discriminate against you for having a baby

Yes! I was about to come on and say this.

Sadly it took us so long to find a house that we were no longer eligible for a mortgage as our childcare outgoings were so high (roughly 2.5k a month for 2).

Get it done quickly would be my advice.

We remortgaged when I had the baby and our mortgage advisor told us it's only the past 12 month income that counts they won't be looking at projection (my pay being reduced). I'd check with your mortgage advisor they are on your side.