Maintenance payments part of income for mortgage app???

sjcave74

Does anybody know if maintenance payments from my husband count when it comes to applying for a mortgage?

I am going through a divorce and since my husband left I have been on income support, and I think I may get the house when the divorce is settled, but although I am on benefits, will I be able to carry on the mortgage?

Thanks!!

kingstreet

The mortgage will continue. You don't have to go back and justify why you should have it unless you apply to the lender to have your former husband removed from the mortgage and the deeds.

As to your question. If your maintenance is court-enforced it will normally be taken into account by a lender. Ignored if not.

paidinchickens

They took mine into account, but I had to get a letter from ex declaring he did pay me that amount. However this was a couple of years ago and was through my bank.

sjcave74

Oh brilliant!

My husband will be being removed from the mortgage and the deeds. My name is currently on the mortgage and deeds and I want to be able to take on the mortgage, but I am not working and only income is benefits and maintenance. I was worried I would have to sell the house and rent, which I do not want to do as it is unstable when I have four children to bring up.

So do you think, if the maintenance is court-enforced, the lender could transfer the mortgage to me?

Wh05apk

You are undertaking what is a called a "transfer of equity" taking the mortgage over in your sole name, effectively you need to reapply for the mortgage, and the lender will base affordability on your current income. Some lenders take maintenance, some will not, most need it to be through CSA or a court order, some will accept if they can see it has been paid for a minimum time, your best option would be to speak to your lender and ask them.

Do you have any earned income, or is it all benefits/maintenance, lenders usually like to see some earned income.

kingstreet

IIRC a court can have the ex-husband removed from the deeds but still liable for the mortgage, so the OP may not have to go through the TofE process and face re-underwriting for the mortgage.

There was a case on here a while ago where the OP was the son of the woman trying to sell where the ex-husband had been removed from ownership by court order but was still party to mortgage.

The daft Nationwide wouldn't let her remortgage from BMS, IIRC.

paidinchickens

Sorry I should have said I was working part time and all money was taken into account. I bought ex out of his share but instead of giving him money I paid his debts off. They took into account, wages, overtime expected with letter from job, maintenance and family tax credit. As I said this was a while ago and I know they have got stricter. Plus I had 40% equity in the house xxx