Help with mortgage application - maternity leave

Canary_Yellow

upoiupou wrote: »

Just because you don't like a decision and your wife is on maternity leave, that doesn't make it discrimination. There's no evidence of that. You'd have to know that someone got a mortgage when they weren't pregnant and did a similar thing - ie submitted an application saying they wanted to change to part time working in a couple of months but hadn't sorted it out yet. I suspect the bank would equally assume they'd be unikely to stay in that job if refused - but unless you have an example then neither of us knows.

Citing discrimination is focusing on the wrong thing - the fact that in any circumstances you need to present a lender with certainty rather than unconfirmed plans.

You'd be better off turning your attention to your wife asking her employer to change her contract to three days a week from November and getting that in writing. In many places they could turn this around in a couple of days, but if it takes longer then the sooner she starts the better.

We were just being prudent, as I said above, shouldn't have bothered mentioning that she might submit a flexible working request.

Annoying and unfair in my opinion, but not a big problem. We'll get a mortgage with a different lender no bother.

Canary_Yellow

kingstreet wrote: »

Correct lender and appropriate paperwork for this would have been straightforward.

Enlighten me?

Canary_Yellow

amnblog wrote: »

I would not preserve with Santander. They are not big on changing their mind.

I have little interest in making jam with them. Not sure how your comment is relevant.

kingstreet

Canary_Yellow wrote: »

I have little interest in making jam with them. Not sure how your comment is relevant.

Autotext typo for persevere, perhaps?

kingstreet

Canary_Yellow wrote: »

Enlighten me?

Picking the right lender for the circumstances and having the required documentation (pre-leave payslip and return to work letter confirming hours and salary) would have resulted in prompt progress to a mortgage offer.

Canary_Yellow

With regard to paper work, it's too early for my wife to submit her flexible working request. So we provided paperwork stating her return to work terms as they are now - so full time salary and noted she might apply for part time in due course.

We should have just done what we needed to do to get the mortgage through in a straightforward manner rather than what we thought was right. I think that's a shame - the system hasnt rewarded honesty and prudence in this case.

And finally, we didn't have a choice over lender as we're tied into a fixed rate on our current house so that's being ported and borrowing the additional therefore has to be with Santander.

Canary_Yellow

Thankfully, this decision has been overturned.


The initial appeal was declined, but fortunately we were able to get my wife's employer to add an additional line to their letter stating that she is expected back on a part time basis.


Although following submission of this letter our appeal was again declined by the underwrite, following escalation by our broker it has now been overturned and sent to the mortgage centre for approval.


Phew. A relief indeed.