Monthly outgoings calculation

Bossworld

Hoping to move home, just currently negotiating an offer on the house we're selling.

Our current provider (Virgin Money) gave a DIP for a new mortgage of 135,000. When I look out our monthly outgoings vs. the payments, this seems fairly sensible.

However, looking at other lenders (and after speaking to an IFA we used a few years back), it appears Natwest/HSBC amongst others are willing to offer closer to 180,000. I don't think it's sensible to take all of this and end up with £700+ a month repayments, but the rates are clearly better than what Virgin are offering, even if we take the early repayment charge hit.

With the equity and savings, after fees we're looking at anything up to about a £70,000 deposit on the new one. The houses we've been looking at are up to about £230,000, with hope that we'll be able to negotiate to about £210,000 given the sold prices on the street.

The HSBC 5 year fix (1.99%) looks rather attractive as by keeping the current remaining 21 year term, the monthly repayments are approx £650 a month, which is only £100 more than our current house (£95k remaining on the mortgage at 3.15%).

But, I'm struggling to understand the boxes on the quick calculators where they're asking for outgoings.

For example, childcare. I use Kiddivouchers as a gross salary sacrifice, so the net cost to me is approx £140 for £243 of vouchers. From experience, does anyone know if the lenders looking for gross or net costs? I've also got a Cycle2Work scheme and salary sacrifice pension on the go (helps to reduce my student loan repayments), so on paper the deductions look worse than they actually are.

Also, when you're putting in joint details, is it best to put all of the monthly expenses against the higher wage only (my partner works part-time)?

Many thanks for any advice.