Mortgage after renting

volvo1

Myself and partner are completing a mature gap year and sold our home and moved to a new area and rented. We paid our rent a year upfront, cleared all outstanding debts and we took our one year allowance from our pension pots. We will return to work in April as if before we will pay 40% tax for this year and we both work in shortage industries. We are both 59 years and in the area we want to move we have guarantees of work for April. Do we move and rent again in the area we want to live and work however will have to rent for at least 6 month costing approx. £5,400 excluding deposits etc. however not sure how long we will need to be working for in our new jobs before the application. Considered talking to our previous mortgage company Santander who we had been with 10 years and no arrears etc. explain our situation and that we would like a house costing approx. £18000 and we have 60% deposit and expect to pay over 10 years or below. We have mortgage insurance which currently lasts until 2022 so could be extended. How difficult is this going to be and would it make more sense to rent again in our new area although this money is reducing our deposit. Any advice/ideas will be most welcome.