Mortgage application with Belgian national in UK

Jayjayokocha

Hello

My wife and I will be applying for a joint mortgage soon. I am a UK citizen and my wife is Belgian. She moved to the UK and has been living here just over 2.5 years, has a uk bank account and permanent job here. Will the fact it hasn't been 3 years in the UK for her be an issue to the mortgage application? Technically she won't have 3 years UK address history...

Thanks!

LRmortgage

No it shouldn’t be a problem, there are Lenders who don’t have a minimum amount of time living in the UK. Especially as she is European.

If you’re not confident which lenders can help, see a broker.

ACG

I slightly disagree.
You will not have a problem, but some lenders do need 3 years UK address history. Getting a Mortgage should be fine, getting decent rates should be possible, but there will probably be some lenders it does not quite fit with.

Jayjayokocha

Hello

Thanks for your replies!

How does the bank work out when someone moved to the UK as there is no paperwork or visa required to move and settle in another Euro country for EU citizens? Do they just go on what you tell them?

My wife just tried to check her credit history online and it asked for 3 years uk address history, she entered a date 3 years ago instead of 2.5 years ago and her credit file came up with no issues...

Bermonia

What you tell them needs to be factual as you will both be signing declarations that information provided is correct.

Whether you’ve been in the UK a few months or a few years you would still have a credit file - the credit file should be an accurate reflection of one’s history as such it will reflect that that someone has no history prior to their arrival and subsequent activity in the UK.

ACG

That would be Mortgage fraud.

There might be no documents, but there could be... An underwriter may request bank statements from 3 years ago and see transactions in Belgium.

Could you imagine getting added to a fraud list for a pointless lie. I would suggest either waiting, or finding a lender who is happy with less than 3 years.

Thrugelmir

Jayjayokocha wrote: »

How does the bank work out when someone moved to the UK as there is no paperwork or visa required to move and settle in another Euro country for EU citizens? Do they just go on what you tell them?

With no credit reference history prior to a given month. Questions may well be asked. If there's an obvious discrepancy between the application form and the data returned from enquiries.

Little point in playing games. As the consequences could be life changing. Do you consider committing fraud worth the risk?

ritc

We have been / are in the same situation. EU citizen with slightly less than 3 years address history in the UK and UK citizen. It wasn’t a problem to get a competitive rate, but our broker made sure the lender was OK with out circumstances. Our mortgage offer came through last week. I doubt that things have changed since. Go see a broker and stick to the facts.

Leggitte

How does the bank know when someone moved to the UK?

When the system is in place for her to register for permanent residency, they accept het National Insurance number as date that she entered the UK. I assume a National Insurance number is also accepted at this moment as date someone came to the UK.

ACG

Why are you so concerned about how a bank will know?
If you lie and it gets found out you risk going on a fraud watch list, your mortgage offer being pulled or mortgage recalled.

Just do it right, you are not stressing then about it getting found out. It should not cost you more or even if it does, it will be an insignificant amount compared to what you risk losing if found out.