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Difficult situation with mortgage - advice?

75 replies

ontheroadtorecoveryyy · 03/08/2021 12:08

Hi all, I'm hoping someone can offer some advice on how I should proceed with this situation. I've not spoken with my mortgage broker yet and I'm not really sure if I want to as I know legally they will have to change all my details on the mortgage application which could either slow down the process or put a stop to it all together.

I applied for a mortgage at the beginning of last month which was approved. Went through all the necessary checks and sent off the paperwork - payslips, bank statements etc.
At the time I was in a permanent role where I'd worked for the last 3 years. When I applied for the mortgage I thought I was going to be in the job long term but my situation has suddenly changed. My employment ends at the end of this week and I won't have a job. I will be paid at the beginning of next week and receive my final payslip shortly afterwards. Now this is the tricky bit - I won't be without money. I'm fortunate enough to have been presented with an exit/compensation package from my current employer for reasons I won't go into. It is a relatively large sum but won't be paid in one go due to tax reasons. I will be paid my full salary every month for the next 8 months, but it won't be through the books.

The monthly payments will be paid into my bank account but I won't receive a payslip as usual. I understand that even though I will have this income coming in every month, I am technically unemployed. I don't plan to be off work forever as I already have another job offer in place but it doesn't start until Mid September (even if this job doesn't work out there are plenty around in my area and field). How do I proceed with the mortgage application now? I'm very wary of coming clean with my advisor as I know it could ruin everything.

I am hoping to be in the property by the end of September but the searches are still taking place (longer here than usual due to covid). Solicitor has reassured me I'll be in by then as there is no onward chain and the property is vacant. My mortgage offer is valid for 90 days so I still have plenty of time. How likely is it that the lenders will ask for more payslips? My last one will be in August so I'm slightly worrying that they might ask for one in September and I won't be able to provide it. I know they usually only ask for payslips at the beginning of the process but after Googling it I've read that some lenders do ask for more paperwork right before completion. I've spoken with my current employer and told her they might contact her for a reference. She said she will word it in a way that works in my favour (not great I know but she's just trying to help out as she knows it's a tricky situation for me).

How do I proceed? Should I just take the risk and hope that they don't ask for any more paperwork? I reckon that I'm still at least two months away from completion so I'd be devastated to wait all that time (along with wasting everyone else's time) for it to be ruined at the very last minute if they ask for more payslips. Family have just told me to take the risk as it will all probably work out any way and they won't do anymore checks now. If I back out now and come clean I'll never know if it would have worked out or not. I've rented for the last 7 years, worked really hard to save up and finally found a property that I can afford which is in a lovely area (they don't come up very often) I'd be absolutely gutted to have to let it go after all this work.

Just to clarify - the exit package is 100% legal and binding, employment solicitors dealing with it all and both parties will need to sign so the money will be guaranteed.

Advice???

OP posts:
DameCelia · 03/08/2021 18:03

@VanGoghsDog
Yes 30k (don't know where 35 came from).
And yes, settlements are used for all sorts of reasons so no reason to automatically assume redundancy.

Tzimi · 03/08/2021 18:47

I'd just go ahead. The important thing is that you can cover the payments from your redundancy & later from the new job. Afterwards, just give your mortgage company the new employer details.

sunshineandrosesx · 03/08/2021 19:23

Sorry, name changed as I was a bit worried about being outed after giving details about the settlement agreement.

I've decided to email my current employer to ask if they can extend my garden leave for another month just so I can stay on their books and receive another payslip, just incase the lenders ask for another one before completion. Obviously they can say no, but I just hope they will do me this one favour just to see me through so I can get the mortgage done.
If not, unfortunately I will have to withdraw from the whole process as I will just be on eggshells until it's completed. I spoke with a friend who stressed it's a really risky thing to do, mortgage fraud. I just hope my boss will help. I feel devastated tbh.

Eminybob · 03/08/2021 19:31

If you have a job offer for the new place starting September that will be fine OP. They won’t ask for any further proofs now as you’ve already had your mortgage offer, but if they do, just send them a copy of the job offer.

TakeYourFinalPosition · 03/08/2021 20:01

I think you're doing the right thing, @sunshineandrosesx.

It's easy to be confident that you won't be one of the people who gets asked for extra payslips until you're in that position - and then you've committed the fraud. And the banks are being more strict at the moment, with Covid.

I hope your employer can help. If not, then I hope your bank will consider the new job offer - they may well do. My husband got his mortgage in his first month, during probation.

I really hope it works out. Pulling out was horrendous - honestly, I was gutted for a long time, it hurt! But we're now buying somewhere better and I'm glad, in hindsight, that it worked.

sunshineandrosesx · 03/08/2021 21:12

@TakeYourFinalPosition no reply from my employer yet. I'm on pins tbh. Can't relax at all. This is the only thing that's holding me back now. I just feel devastated knowing it might all fall through. Frustrated is an understatement! I have the money and can make the payments. Why does it matter that I don't have a payslip?

If my employer saids no I will have to come clean. Will the lender take into consideration the settlement agreement? I will have income coming in every month, just not through the books. Will also be in new job by then too so my income will be doubled. I really really don't want to give this place up. Can't ask mortgage broker for advice as they are legally obligated to report it.

Azilliondegrees · 03/08/2021 21:17

My DH changed jobs halfway through us moving house. We just notified the mortgage company, and they asked for a copy of his new contract (no payslips as it hadn’t started yet), and approved the mortgage on this basis. So I think that’s probably the best thing.

AlmostSummer21 · 03/08/2021 21:45

Is there anyone who would be willing and able to be a guarantor?

I keep slipping off different sides of the fence. I honestly don't know what I'd do, but I'd probably tell the MB (in an email, so it's in writing) as I wouldn't want the risk of 'mortgage fraud' following me for life.

TheLette · 03/08/2021 22:59

We had a similar situation recently - my partner got made redundant whilst we were buying a house. He managed to get a new job within 6 weeks and our broker said he was fine for us to proceed with the mortgage because our circumstances hadn't changed - still employed and salary higher than before. But the new job was starting very soon after exchange. We couldn't have proceeded had he not got a job. (It all fell through in the end anyway for other reasons, a very stressful 2 months of my life!)

PointyMcguire · 03/08/2021 23:20

Agree with others you absolutely shouldn’t open yourself up to fraud but can you not just tell them you’re starting a new job next month and share your new contract?

VanGoghsDog · 03/08/2021 23:49

[quote sunshineandrosesx]@TakeYourFinalPosition no reply from my employer yet. I'm on pins tbh. Can't relax at all. This is the only thing that's holding me back now. I just feel devastated knowing it might all fall through. Frustrated is an understatement! I have the money and can make the payments. Why does it matter that I don't have a payslip?

If my employer saids no I will have to come clean. Will the lender take into consideration the settlement agreement? I will have income coming in every month, just not through the books. Will also be in new job by then too so my income will be doubled. I really really don't want to give this place up. Can't ask mortgage broker for advice as they are legally obligated to report it. [/quote]
Try not to worry.

It's entirely possible that the bank will agree to proceed as you have a job offer and a legal agreement for the interim income. OR your broker may advise a different mortgage provider.

OR you could maybe increase your deposit.

I'd say there is a high chance of it working out one way or another. But I'm glad you've decided to be honest with them.

Re the payslip - I had an issue years ago where I wanted a £50k mortgage. I was on a salary of £73k, I had a deposit of c£200k+, and I had liquid savings of about £80k.

They turned me down because I was on a fixed term contract. Even though, despite doing contract work, I had never been out of work.

In the end I just used savings and bought without a mortgage.

VanGoghsDog · 03/08/2021 23:51

Why does it matter that I don't have a payslip?

Because it proves you have a job, that's what they want to see.

But they might accept the settlement agreement plus the new contract for the new job.

You really should tell them you know, not just fudge the payslip thing.

memberofthewedding · 04/08/2021 01:43

Ive always been a big believer in not telling people and organizations more than they absolutely need to know.

VanGoghsDog · 04/08/2021 02:13

@memberofthewedding

Ive always been a big believer in not telling people and organizations more than they absolutely need to know.
And that's good, because they absolutely do need to know otherwise you're committing a criminal offence.
BootsScootsAndToots · 04/08/2021 10:35

@ontheroadtorecoveryyy didn't need to provide anything further. The mortgage came through, we completed and a week later dd1 was born.

Reallybadidea · 04/08/2021 10:41

I would be absolutely astonished if the police felt it was worth prosecuting the OP because she didn't tell her mortgage company that she was changing jobs 🤣

VanGoghsDog · 04/08/2021 12:27

@Reallybadidea

I would be absolutely astonished if the police felt it was worth prosecuting the OP because she didn't tell her mortgage company that she was changing jobs 🤣
The bigger risk really is being blacklisted. 11,000 cases in 2017. And it's going up.

It's not as simple as "didn't tell them she changed job", she's actually technically unemployed for a couple of months and the bank thinks she is employed. That is a material change during the application process. You don't need to tell them once you're up and running, but during the application it's a big issue.

www.google.com/amp/s/www.independent.co.uk/money/spend-save/faked-mortgage-applications-borrowing-fraud-house-prices-affordability-a9122396.html%3famp

sunshineandrosesx · 04/08/2021 13:09

@VanGoghsDog thought you could help as you seem experienced in this sort of thing?

Update - current employer still not got back in touch yet. Not sure if their just thinking it over or maybe not even seen the email yet. Hopefully they will agree to extend my garden leave until the end of this month so I will receive a payslip in September. This would be the more ideal solution, but I'm not putting all my eggs in one basket.

New job doesn't start until mid September so if current boss saids no to extending garden leave then there will be a gap in between my employment. New job pays more so I want to try and hold onto this if I can but there's no possibility of an earlier start date.

I've been offered another job which will start in two weeks time. It's a done deal, I just have to wait until the company FaceTime me next week (just to verify my documents) and then I will start the 2 week training course. I explained to them about my situation and asked if they can provide a document just stating that I've been offered the job and details in regards to my salary etc but they can't send that out until I've had my FaceTime call with them next week. This job however does pay less than my current salary, not by much. Around 1k difference a year but my deposit is small so I'm not if I will struggle even more now to get a mortgage.

Waiting to hear back from current employer with their decision before I contact my mortgage advisor. Not sure what else I can do at this point but wait. If current employer saids no, I'm 100% confident I will have another job to go but I won't be able to provide proof straight away. Do you have any suggestions on what I can do at this point?

sunshineandrosesx · 04/08/2021 13:11

@VanGoghsDog If all else fails I also have the settlement agreement which I can provide to the lender showing that I will be receiving money, but I know that might not work as I need to have a job in place. How much shit will this cause if I have to tell them that I've changed jobs?

VanGoghsDog · 04/08/2021 13:36

[quote sunshineandrosesx]@VanGoghsDog If all else fails I also have the settlement agreement which I can provide to the lender showing that I will be receiving money, but I know that might not work as I need to have a job in place. How much shit will this cause if I have to tell them that I've changed jobs?[/quote]
You'd need permission from your employer to show the settlement agreement to the bank as it will undoubtedly have a confidentiality clause.

It might be tricky for your employer to give you a payslip if your employment has ended, they would have to re-employ you which brings a heap of problems, and the settlement agreement would have to be rewritten I expect. But see what they say. They are probably taking legal advice.

Are you saying the September job has not issued a new contract? Or only this interim job, which is for, what, four weeks?

The issue is not whether you have a job, or a payslip, it's more that you've not told the broker about this rather significant change.

But, of course, if you don't tell them and they don't ask, it will all be fine. Some banks do ask for updated documents, some don't. So, you won't know until nearer the time. Maybe ask the broker "do you think they are likely to ask for a new payslip, I just need to know because I'm terrible for leaving them at work so I need to make sure I bring them home" or something like that?

If you front it out and just wait, then they ask and you've not got anything, you can probably blag it and they may accept the new documents (agreement plus new contract) but they might decide the relationship is broken and pull their offer. Your broker might suggest a different provider as they all have different risk profiles on what they will accept, but that could mean getting a less favourable rate or needing a bigger deposit.

It's really difficult to know to be honest. My general principle is that honesty is always best. But I can totally see how you might want to wait it out!

sunshineandrosesx · 04/08/2021 15:47

Good news!

Current employer have come back and said they are happy to keep me on the books until the end of this month so I can get a payslip in September. Solicitor is confident completion will be done by the end of September so all should be good. There shouldn't be any gaps in my employment now as I'll have another job to go to in September (whichever one I decide to go for or I might even apply for other ones as well if I see something I like as long as it's a September start).

@VanGoghsDog do you think I still need to inform lender that I'm changing jobs even if there's no gap in between employment?

Phew what a relief!

VanGoghsDog · 04/08/2021 16:14

do you think I still need to inform lender that I'm changing jobs even if there's no gap in between employment?

Technically you should, but I actually think I wouldn't bother to be honest, even me who is very risk averse!
Your financial situation, as evidenced, has not changed with the extra payslip available so I think it'll be OK.

Did they take an employer reference?

Good for them for helping you out with it though!

sunshineandrosesx · 04/08/2021 17:02

@VanGoghsDog I don't think they have taken an employer's reference yet. Mortgage broker said they might not even contact them. My only concern now is that they might contact current employer before completion after I've already left but if that's the case I can always just provide new jobs details and payslip.

Do you think that will be ok?
I know technically I should tell them I've changed jobs (as you said) but they might not even contact them so is it worth risking it all and messing everything up? I can always say I didn't think I needed to let them know as I went from one job straight to another (hopefully earning more)

TakeYourFinalPosition · 04/08/2021 17:02

Ah that’s great news, @sunshineandrosesx, I’m so pleased they are able to help.

FurierTransform · 04/08/2021 17:26

In this circumstance i'd honestly say nothing.

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