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Original poster

Getting a mortgage while pregnant/on maternity leave

22 replies

RedTangerine · 14/03/2022 18:27

I'm pregnant and due in the summer and we really could do with moving somewhere bigger.
Has anyone got experience of getting a mortgage while pregnant? Or on maternity leave? I'm the sole wage earner so really need my wage to count to afford moving.
I would get full pay at my job on maternity until around Christmas - although I am hoping my partner will get a job once I start maternity leave so I can afford longer off work.

OP posts:
SNUG2022 · 14/03/2022 18:34

I just hid my stomach. We didn't mention it.

PermanentlyTired03 · 14/03/2022 18:37

We got a new deal with a different bank when I was on maternity leave. I just had to have proof I was intending to return to work (got that from HR) and payslips before I was on mat leave. Also had to prove I could afford new mortgage whilst on mat leave (so current payslips and showed my savings account for when I went to SMP). It should be fine- just more paperwork!

Calmdown14 · 14/03/2022 20:17

It will be easier to do it before you start mat leave so I would be trying to get the process started as soon as possible.
I found mat leave itself the worst time. I was still on mat leave but at the end and away to start using holidays so was advised just to use these pay slips. I think I did have a letter from HR confirming my hours by then as well but wasn't needed.
You can't be discriminated against for being pregnant but can be treated differently once your wage slips show statutory may pay as your earnings are clearly affected

lavenderfine · 14/03/2022 20:19

I'm applying now whilst on maternity leave. The bank want payslips from before mat leave and a letter from my employer stating when I plan to return to work and that my job is still going to be the same when I go back. Plus they want proof we can afford to cover the period of unpaid leave I'm taking

AnotherNC22 · 14/03/2022 20:21

We just took some additional borrowing whilst I'm on mat leave to do the loft conversion. I had to get a letter from HR saying what my return to date salary and hours would be, three months payslips plus they factored childcare into the affordability calculator. All seemed very straightforward.

SickAndTiredAgain · 14/03/2022 20:21

We got one while I was pregnant. We just didn’t mention it and never saw anyone face to face (and this was pre-covid) so didn’t need to hide it. They didn’t specifically ask, so we didn’t volunteer the information.

Cotswoldmama · 14/03/2022 20:24

I got one I just got a letter from work saying what my salary was as my maternity pay was 50% of my salary at that point so payslips wouldn't say the actual amount I'd be earning. It was fine.

mermaidgiraffe · 14/03/2022 20:28

I just had to get a letter from my work confirming that I'd be returning to work the same number of hours after my maternity leave.

MaggieFS · 14/03/2022 20:31

We remortgaged to a new provider whilst I was pregnant with DC2. There was a question along the lines of 'if we expected any change in financial circumstances' so we thought we should declare that I was pregnant.

It was very straightforward, we had to have some questions asked of us by a broker rather than getting an automatic approval but didn't have any problems. We had to show:

  1. Proof of savings to cover mortgage during maternity leave
  2. Confirm I was returning to work on the same pay, terms and conditions (proof not required, I just had to say so)
  3. Show the future childcare costs
mummabubs · 14/03/2022 20:33

We got a mortgage when I was 39 weeks pregnant, like others no one asked so we didn't volunteer that information. I'm lucky to be in a permanent NHS role so felt my job was pretty secure and I knew I'd be going back to it after mat leave.

FTEngineerM · 14/03/2022 20:35

Didn’t mention it when we remortgaged, everything was online.

This time around I had to because it had smp on my payslip which ain’t no body getting a mortgage on 😂

RedRobin100 · 14/03/2022 20:35

We got one last year when I was on Mat leave.

I think we mentioned it as I remember them including childcare costs in our assessment. But I think they just wanted to know what my income
Was and that/when I was going back to work.

Original poster
RedTangerine · 14/03/2022 21:25

Thanks everyone. I'm hoping to move before maternity leave starts - just worried if it takes longer - market here is crazy. Was thinking of not mentioning it.

I don't want to commit going back to work at a certain date if it turns out I can afford to wait or cut my hours... which might be possible.

Childcare costs aren't an issue because my partner does the childcare. I suppose if he gets a job that pays enough to make him working worthwhile we might change plan. We also have family support and my older son will get free nursery hours after summer.

OP posts:
WlNDMlLL · 14/03/2022 21:30

My friend just changed her return to work date on her work system but told her boss she didn't intend to actually return then. Even if you told your boss when you 'hoped' to return, they can't do anything if you change your mind with sufficient notice. By the time my friend's mortgage went through, she was still on mat leave and just changed her return date to her original idea - it's only when it's going through the system that it matters, after that as long as you're paying they won't ever know.

Moancup · 14/03/2022 21:31

I’ve just applied while pregnant. It doesn’t even come up in the application.

SW1amp · 14/03/2022 21:33

We remortgaged while I was about 6 months pregnant

One of the questions we had to answer was something like ‘are you aware of anything in the future that might impact your ability to make payments?’
I answered no, because we had enough saved fo cover my mat leave

Otherwise, there was nothing in the process that would have been at all affected by being pregnant

Don’t tell your broker though, because they can’t lie on your behalf..!

iwantcurry · 14/03/2022 21:33

I was on mat leave, just had to have three months payslips and a letter from my employer saying I was planning on returning ( which I had to beg for, since they said they didn't know for sure I was! )

PragmaticWench · 14/03/2022 22:15

I didn't get asked so didn't say anything. In fact, they didn't even ask if I worked, just spoke to DH and arranged it all on his salary. Hmm I was furious.

cafedesreves · 14/03/2022 22:53

We moved when I was into my unpaid leave. It was fine as long as I had a letter from HR stating my return date and that I would be on full pay.

Halllyup17 · 15/03/2022 11:50

Did it all online and over the phone whilst pregnant (pre covid). Never mentioned it. Moved when baby was a week old.

Starseeking · 15/03/2022 12:01

Send in your application before you go on maternity leave. If you don't, the payslips you provide as proof of salary will disclose you pay as SMP, rather than gross salary, as it's a different category for HR purposes.

I wouldn't mention the pregnancy to the mortgage person, as long as you are able to afford the repayments on your DH salary and your maternity leave payments.

Hisea · 15/03/2022 12:09

We moved when my baby was 6 months old, so applied for the mortgage when he was 3 months old - had no issues at all

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