Mortgage Process When Partner Works Away

Strebor123

Hi all,

My girlfriend and I are almost ready to buy our own place (Hopefully Summer 2016)

I am struggling to find some information on the issue we will probably face. My girlfriend works at sea doing ~2 months on ~2 months off in rotation.

Would I be correct in assuming we (probably) aren't going to be able to go from looking at houses to owning a house within the 2 month period she is home?

Does anybody know if there's anything we can do to keep the process going whilst she is away? I was thinking something like a legal document allowing me to sign on her behalf etc. But I don't really know the legalities of it.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks.

davidmcn

Yes, fairly simply to arrange for her to sign a Power of Attorney so you (or a solicitor) can sign other things on her behalf. Most of the process is done by phone and email these days, so working away isn't that big a deal.

TBagpuss

A power of attorney spcifically limited to allowing you to sign paperwork on her behalf might work, however she would ned to get that set up before she left.

Both for the mortgage application and forthe solicitro you instruct to do the conveyaning, there will be the normal money launfering checks where you will each need to provide proofs of your ID and address.

If you are very organised, then you may be able to time things to get the ID checks done, and applications signed while she is at home.

She will (unless you sign under a PoA) need to be able to sign the cotnracts, the TR1 (trnasferdeed) and the mortgage deed.

Does she call into port at all when she is working? It may be possible for documents to be scanned and e-mailed to her for her to check and then she could print & sign and send them back via air mail or international courier.

keep your solicitor informed - they may be able to arrange or her to sign documetns and for them to hold them until ready to exchange/compltee - this will of course depend on on the exact timing and on whether anything changes or needs amendment.

Talk to your solicitor ahead of time.

Strebor123

I just did a quick bit of googling about power of attorney and this popped up, "Furthermore, when two people are buying property jointly with the aid of a mortgage it is not permitted for one to appoint the other as his or her attorney."

So that rules that out?

G_M

Strebor123 wrote: »

I just did a quick bit of googling about power of attorney and this popped up, "Furthermore, when two people are buying property jointly with the aid of a mortgage it is not permitted for one to appoint the other as his or her attorney."

So that rules that out?

Grant POA to the solicitor who is doing the conveyancing. Or another relative.

As long as you discuss this all in advance with the solicitor he'll ensure that everything is set up in advance eg

* ID checks on partner
* POA
etc

Thrugelmir

Strebor123 wrote: »

Would I be correct in assuming we (probably) aren't going to be able to go from looking at houses to owning a house within the 2 month period she is home?

I would say that the whole process taking 8 weeks is unlikely. I've spent longer than that finding a property. Let alone completing the transaction.

Strebor123

G_M wrote: »

Grant POA to the solicitor who is doing the conveyancing. Or another relative.

As long as you discuss this all in advance with the solicitor he'll ensure that everything is set up in advance eg

* ID checks on partner
* POA
etc

Thanks to everyone who's responded and thank you for this. One more thing we can add to the long list of things we need doing haha.

sheramber

A friend was moving to NZ. Her husband was already working out there but she stayed to sell the house..

Her husband signed a POA for the solicitor to sign the necessary documents on his behalf.

dgtazzman

I'm a sailor myself, on a 3 months away - 2 months home rotation and zI have over the last few years bought 2 houses, without having anybody to rely on on the home front, so it us all quite doable.

Just get a good local solicitor and mortgage adviser and explain the situation to them. They can function as middle men. Get as much of the legal papers done beforehand, so they can be signed by your gf while she is home. Nearly all other paperwork can be sent to her over email to print, sign and mail back. If something can't be emailed, documents can be sent to the shipping company to forward to her on board and she can ask local agents to mail them back once signed. Most will also be happy to send by courier if you give them the money to do so.

Good luck...

dgtazzman

Also, if your gf self assesses for HMRC, try to do the 2015 return asap and request 3 years of SA302's a few weeks later and take them to the mortgage adviser. Not many people understand our income tax exemption status, so in both cases my MA have worked round this by using the system as if I was self employed, it will give you a more generous mortgage amount.