Can i get a sole mortgage even though i'm married?

samba

If the OP is receiving tax credits for children, wouldn't that affect their affordability? OK, so they get extra income, but wouldn't their outgoings would also be so much higher compared to a childless couple?

Bufger

Then heres a question. if ive been working since the age of 16 and have never had any benefits, JSA, or used the Police or Hospitals time and im paying £900 pcm in Tax. What percentage of the OP's house am i entitled to?

This country is such a joke. I'm all for helping people in need but using benefits to buy a house is crossing the line. Which political party is against this? i'll vote for that one.

[Deleted User]

I agree. I think the moral of the story is: if you need to factor in allowances and benefits in order to afford the house you want, then you can't afford it.

Conrad

Lenders often decline on the basis the married spouse with bad credit history has a negative influence on household bugeting.

gaylet_2

Hi,

Just want to put my opinion in here. Tax credits are not necessarily for people with children. Anyone with a joint income less than £55k (I think it is at the moment) can apply for them. This is above the average so most people are probably entitled but just don't know.

I get tax credits and yes I have applied for a mortgage and yes they are considered. Without going into too much detail I am a widow with two very young children and at the moment I am not on a huge salary (about £20k) because I have to work part-time as my children are very young. I also receive a widows pension from the government which is only paid for another 15 years but my mortgage will be for 25 years and again this is included in my overall income.

I, however, have planned to borrow as much as I can afford on my salary and if my tax credits stopped for whatever reason then I would still be able to afford the mortgage. However, I don't think you can criticise people for wanting to better themselves. If the OP thinks that she can afford a mortgage on her wages and benefits then why shouldn't she buy instead of paying money for rent that won't give you any end benefit! I am guessing but circumstances change and yes her benefits will decrease / stop in time but many women opt to work part time when their children are very young as they don't have an option. I too plan to return to full time employment in around 2 years time when both my children will be in full time education and then my salary will double and I can more than afford my mortgage. So for all those on their high horses about paying taxes for helping others stop and think for a moment before being judgemental - walk a day in anothers shoes!

And for the person that claims their tax on their salary isn't used by them then I think they maybe need to think a bit harder. They maybe don't phone the police but who do they think keeps order so that they go about their little sheltered lifes? Who pays for their GP or hospital treatments? etc, etc. I could go on with all the other things they pay tax for. I think that you all need to think a bit harder before attacking someone for claiming benefits and then wanting to better themselves.

And also, yes you can have a sole mortgage even though you are married. The first property I lived in with my late husband was owned solely by him as I did temping at the time so would not have got a mortgage. It is simply a case of signing a letter in front of a solictor advising that you have no claim on the property in the case of repossession. Very common.

G

[Deleted User]

But that's not what they were intended for.

I've just visited http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxcredits/start/who-qualifies/overview/quick-questionnaire.htm and actually it seems that you need to earn below £13,100 a year, which is a relatively low threshold.

If I found out that a couple earning £55k a year were receiving support from the state I would actually feel a little bit aggrieved, because surely £55k is a decent salary?

Tax Credits were designed to help hard-working families, often with children, 'get by'. They were not designed to help them get on the property ladder.

getmore4less

Deleted_User wrote: »

But that's not what they were intended for.

I've just visited http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxcredits/start/who-qualifies/overview/quick-questionnaire.htm and actually it seems that you need to earn below £13,100 a year, which is a relatively low threshold.

If I found out that a couple earning £55k a year were receiving support from the state I would actually feel a little bit aggrieved, because surely £55k is a decent salary?

Tax Credits were designed to help hard-working families, often with children, 'get by'. They were not designed to help them get on the property ladder.

Looks like it has gone up to £58k
http://www.newcastle.gov.uk/core.nsf/a/wr_tc_ataggc

[Deleted User]

getmore4less wrote: »

Looks like it has gone up to £58k
http://www.newcastle.gov.uk/core.nsf/a/wr_tc_ataggc

Yes, that's if you have children. I.e. it's designed to help families (which is what the previous poster was suggesting as not always true).

If you're single and work less than 30 hours a week, you don't qualify. If you work more than 30 hours then the more you work (and less you earn), the more you qualify; e.g. it's designed to help people on low incomes top up their money.

It's not designed to help people get on the property ladder: tax credits are aimed at the poorer members of society.

gaylet_2

Why are they not for buying a property? You have no justification to say that. They (like all benefits) are for you to keep your family and pay your household bills. So why not pay it on a mortgage instead of wasting it on rent? I would understand if someone was getting benefits and using it to go on shopping sprees or something but if it is for living expenses then I don't see why you say it can't be used for a mortgage. Often that is a much cheaper option than renting so financially prudent for them to have a mortgage instead of paying a landlord.

Emmzi

op - have you taken into account the maintenance costs of the property? if the boiler explodes or you need to replace the windows, who pays for that at the moment?

just a thought! might be wise to wait until your partner is in a better financial position.