Girlfriend pregnant mortgage application

[Needtokno]

girlfriend is 4 months pregnant and I have already applied for a mortgage for shared ownership. I didn’t disclose the pregnancy. Should I declare the pregnancy? Has anyone been convicted for fraud for not disclosing pregnancy on future change and circumstances applying for a mortgage? Please help

Nah. You might not even ‘know’ yet 🤣

No you don’t have to declare a pregnancy. My mortgage broker knew I was pregnant and made clear isn’t an issue. You do need to declare if you are expecting a drop in income, but if she’s planning to stay in work you won’t be.

It’s only me that has applied for the mortgage through a broker in my name only, which the mortgage application has been submitted without disclosing the pregnancy and any future change. I will be still working and be able to cover the costs, my partner will take time off work and she has savings to pay for herself and contribute towards living expenses

I'm very skeptical because so many people say you could be committing fraud, but also on the other hand people are saying they didn’t say anything at all and nothing ever come of it

Mortgage application aside, I think that financial arrangement you describe is incredibly unfair to your partner.

Why does she have to use up all her savings to cover the cost of a having a joint child?

It’s tricky, but she really shouldn’t end up using her savings if you’re still keeping yours and also, you have an asset (the new house) and she does not.

The child is a joint expense. Her staying home enables you to work without contributing to childcare costs. She should not end up using all her savings to do this. She should contribute something, but you need to as well. And you can’t say that you’re paying for the mortgage as your part, because that’s just for you. She won’t have any claim in the house. She’ll be paying out of savings to stay home and take care of a joint child, and she won’t have anything to show for it, whilst you’re paying into a mortgage and building up an asset. So it is not equal.

my partner currently can’t be on the mortgage because of legal reasons on her part which I won’t disclose on here. Otherwise she would be definitely included as she is a very good person and the mother to my child. Also I will contribute all my spare money and pay for all the bills/Expenses as she won’t be working for months. But she will use her savings to top up the living expenses where needed. We are a partnership and will both do what we can to give the child the best we can. Later when we can legally, she will be added to the equity of the property. but I’m only concerned about The application at this time as I haven’t added the pregnancy as a future change in circumstances.

I should have said more clearly, that only her savings would be used as a back up also she has her own money to not rely on my money as she likes to be independent. I don’t mind paying anything I have to keep her and my child, I was just purely stating that we could afford the costs of the mortgage and outgoings and expenses.

Also I will add she doesn’t get maternity leave for her job so she saved enough money to cover the time off until she returns to work

if you have been truthful with the broker by declaring that she will be living in the property but not party to the mortgage then her pregnancy is irrelevant

the lender is concerned only with whether they can obtain vacant possession if you bounce the mortgage. For that they need to be sure she can be evicted without drama and so they need to know she exists and will probably make her sign a declaration confirmed she has no claim to residency in the event of repossession..

Are you in the UK? She gets maternity leave and pay if you are in the UK. If she hasn’t been there long enough to get statutory maternity pay, then she can apply for maternity allowance from the government. It’s a benefit for those in work/where in work during pregnant/self employed who don’t qualify for SMP. Make sure she claims this.

Thank you, I appreciate the advice, as I haven’t experienced being in this position before. I haven’t told the broker. What would you advise? I tell the Housing association/broker prior or after I receive the property that I have my girlfriend coming to live with me?

The most important thing you can do is get married. Doesn’t have to be a big expensive affair. Registry office at lunchtime would be fine.

She hasn’t lived In the uk for a long enough period to claim statutory maternity pay. I am a born British citizen.

thank you for the advice, I appreciate it.

I would second this, straight away. Partly for protection of parental rights too. That way you will be on the birth certificate and it won't be as easy for her to take the child away with no contact if you separate.

We thought about getting a council/housing association accommodation, but the chances of getting that in 5 months is not good for the situation, so I used to savings to apply for shared ownership so we have a good start with the new born, I have savings left to furnish the property and buy baby essentials. So I told my partner to keep her savings as a back up. Later when she has indefinite leave to remain in the uk, we will get a conveyor to add her to the equity. Possibly marriage in the future as we have plans of that anyway.

There are requirements for this fyi, even for maternity allowance you need to have earned a certain amount each week for 12 weeks. It’s not available to everyone!

I wouldn't be declaring a pregnancy in this situation.

You're not committing fraud - the mortgage is in your name and you are the one being financially assessed not your girlfriend.

(as an aside I do know people who applied for mortgages in their joint name while pregnant and it was all fine anyway - they didn't declare their pregnancies)

If you were buying the property together and your DP was pregnant you wouldn't have to declare it.

The fact that you are buying a property and someone you know, who isn't buying the property, is pregnant is completely irrelevant.

At most your DP might need fo sign a declaration to the mortgage company that she has no financial interest in the property. That has nothing to do with a pregnancy.

the pregnancy is irrelevant, end of discussion on that

but it is a condition of most mortgages that where someone else lives in the property who is not party to the mortgage the lender must be informed and give "permission" - which means the lender will require your girlfriend to sign a declaration that she has no financial interest in the property

obviously if you later marry then the situation changes and she would have a claim on the property as part of a divorce, especially with a child by then

(if you don't tell the lender that would be mortgage fraud, but they would only discover it if they needed to prepossess and thus find they need to throw her out)

Would you recommend I inform the lender now whilst the process of the application is waiting for decision? Or can I do this once I have the property?

your mortgage application will answer that, either it will have the question or it won't

Ok thank you for the advice, most appreciated. I will inform my mortgage broker to say she will be living with me, but not disclose the pregnancy