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Can I get a mortgage while I’m on maternity leave?

While getting a mortgage whilst you’re on maternity leave can be tricky, it’s by no means impossible. Read on to find out more!

For those of you who are wondering how getting a mortgage during maternity leave can prove a tricky task, it’s simple. Maternity leave can impact your mortgage application due to the fact that your income will decrease during this period. But, it’s by no means the final end of your mortgage hopes. Read on to find out what your options are! 

What steps should I take for a mortgage on maternity leave?

If you are about to go on maternity leave or are on maternity leave already, make sure that you explain this to your adviser or lender. This is vital because they are going to want to see any payslips that would show your maternity pay (if you are getting any at all). It’s also going to be seriously important for you to show that you’ve had a serious change in your life which has affected your ability to pay your mortgage. And for those of you who are still wondering, maternity leave and a resultant reduction in income definitely fall into this category!

While you might be thinking you could be better off not telling your lender about your pregnancy or your desire to get a mortgage during maternity leave, you will need to make sure you do! Due to the adverse effect that your maternity leave may have on your ability to make mortgage repayments, if you don’t speak to your mortgage lender about this it may be deemed as fraud. We know this sounds scary but it’s all under control. Ultimately, if your maternity leave doesn’t permit you to get a mortgage with a certain lender then don’t worry. The property market is going to be teeming with deals to help you find a mortgage on maternity leave.

From a practical point, many lenders will request the most recent three months payslips from before you go on maternity leave accompanied by a letter from yourself confirming that you intend to return to work following your maternity leave. If you can get a letter from your employer confirming that it is their understanding that you will be returning to work & your standard salary will continue unaffected.

What if I’m self-employed?

This is going to largely depend on your everyday involvement with your business or company. If your business is not reliant on you spending time in the workplace on a consistent basis then this should mean that the impact on your income is minimal. However, if the business does require you to be there throughout the working week & as a result of your maternity leave your profits have fallen then this can be more problematic.

We suggest that if you have other workers who may be able to fill in for you during your maternity leave, try and arrange this. This can go a long way to help reduce the burden of running a business on yourself and make sure that it runs efficiently in your absence. This means that the effect this will have on your income will be far less and improve the chances of you getting a mortgage on maternity leave.

What will I be able to borrow?

Like most mortgage deals, the amount that you can borrow via a mortgage on maternity leave is going to vary from lender to lender. We recommend that you find a mortgage lender that looks to lend sums of money that revolve around the full amount of your normal annual salary.

While lenders like this might sound hard to come across don’t be fooled! Some lenders on the market can appear very generous when they’re conducting their affordability assessment and will look into the specifics of your situation before they decide on how much to lend. Though, to ensure you get a good deal make sure that your credit rating is up to scratch and that your recent expenditure doesn’t exceed its means. This can be a great way to show that you are a responsible borrower!

LauraWaller

Laura Waller

Laura Waller has been working in the mortgages industry since 2013, joining an independent brokerage in Essex. Laura has CeMAP 2 & 3 – Certificates in Mortgages Advice and Practice. Since then Laura oversees marketing for Mortgages Online, using her experience and expertise to write articles and blogs about mortgages and related topics.

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