Do i have to return after maternity?

[Paragon6]

Sorry if this has been asked before but i can't find an answer anywhere.

Currently on maternity leave and last month decided to apply for a mortgage, for the application i had to ask my work to write a letter explaining when i will be returning and what salary. They were happy to do it and i had no issue asking as i'd always planned to return.

I'm now having second thoughts and don't really want to return. We're moving 2 hours away which i thought would be fine to commute as i did it before children and it never bothered me, but i now realise doing that will mean i basically won't see my baby. I'll have to leave before he wakes up and will be home at his bedtime. It also doesn't make financial sense as i'll spend half my salary on train tickets.

I guess i was just too sleep deprived to think it through and got carried away after finding our dream house.

My question is, do i now have to return to work because i told them in writing that i would? Is that now a legal obligation?

Or can i just give in my notice as usual and just accept they might be a bit annoyed with me for messing them around? The alternive is returning for a week and then giving in my months notice, but i feel like that's a much worse thing to do. I do realise i've made a mistake by messing them around so want to do it in the nicest way possible, but surely it is possible for circumstances to change and people to change their minds.

I only recieved SMP so won't have to pay anything back.

Thanks for reading/ any advice!

Your entitled to change your mind just give them the relevant notice r.e work

however I do believe your obligated to notify your mortgage application on a potential change of circumstances so check that one out

You are allowed to change your mind if you want to. You need to give 4 weeks notice usually before your back to work start date.

I wouldn't worry, just tell them you didn't think it through properly.

Don't worry, it will be fine. X

I'm pretty sure you can change your mind and it's not a legal obligation, especially if you don't owe anything, that makes it simple. If you aren't going back then it's better to tell them as soon as possible.

Check your mat leave policy for the amount of notice you'd have to give, it may be 8 weeks.

It is going to look as if you've misrepresented your intentions purely to get a mortgage. Are you still intending to move? Are you going to let the mortgage company know of the change?

You will need to tell the mortgage company about your chnage in circumstances.

You really need to inform the mortgage lenders if you've declared a salary you won't actually be earning.

Don't worry about work - leaving at the end of maternity leave is totally normal and frankly, your mat leave cover will likely be delighted as they'll probably be kept on.

In terms of your mortgage though, I'd worry that unless it's literally a completed process and you are in the new house and done, I'd not leave work.

you don’t need to tell the mortgage company unless you haven’t exchanged/completed yet!

(and even then there is probably a risk assessment to be made…)

For work you can totally change your mind. Give them the minimum amount of notice you have to so you get all your leave paid. It's also better for them if you resign before you go back as they can offer your role to your cover if they've done a good job.

You will need to tell the mortgage company though.

Sorry should have said, the mortgage/sale didn't go through in the end as the seller pulled out. We're going to move to the same area but rent until we find a house we like.
Seems like i can just give in my notice- thanks for that!

obviously check contract, but I had to return after maternity leave for at least 3 months otherwise had to pay back a percentage of maternity leave pay.

If you don't return to work after maternity leave do you have to pay some of your maternity benefit back?

I'm only getting SMP so nothing to pay back 😊(i think)

you should tell the mortgage company BUT if you complete before you quit then just make dam sure you can pay the bill, and fix it for 5 years!

speaking from experience...!