Mortgage and drink driving

craig790

I recently got caught drinking whilst over the limit, I know what I did was stupid and I feel awful for making this mistake so please go easy on me here.

I have a mortgage application with Barclays and a completion date for the end of this week. My court case isn't until the 2nd of October. My questions are:

Do I need to inform the mortgage provider? Technically I wont have any criminal convictions until after I have the mortgage.

If I do inform them, is it likely they will refuse to offer me the mortgage? I was over the limit by a pint (roughly), nobody was injured and the police didn't pull me over, they tested me after I had already parked up. I understand this is a criminal conviction but it is not one that will affect my ability to pay my mortgage.

In regards to home insurance, again, whilst technically I won't have a criminal conviction when I take the insurance out, I am aware that I have to inform them. Would it be best to take out the insurance without declaring my convictions until after my court date and then informing the company, or would it be better for me to come clean and I form them beforehand.

Any help would be appreciated, I know what I did was stupid and I deserve to be punished for it but I would just like to get some solid information in regards on what would be the best approach.

MovingForwards

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5875218/mortgage-with-a-criminal-record

Speak with a whole of market mortgage broker as they can give you direct answers and know who not to place you with if there are any lenders that wouldn't lend to you.

davidmcn

I can't see it being an issue, except to the extent that losing your licence is relevant for your employment.

craig790

Thanks for he replies so far.
Quick point to note, I will not lose my employment. I'm currently in the millitary and whilst I will be punished by them and civilian court, I wont be losing my job. There are (as far as I can see) no reason for me to encounter financial issues.

pastafo

craig790 wrote: »

I recently got caught drinking whilst over the limit, I know what I did was stupid and I feel awful for making this mistake so please go easy on me here.

I have a mortgage application with Barclays and a completion date for the end of this week. My court case isn't until the 2nd of October. My questions are:

Do I need to inform the mortgage provider? Technically I wont have any criminal convictions until after I have the mortgage.

If I do inform them, is it likely they will refuse to offer me the mortgage? I was over the limit by a pint (roughly), nobody was injured and the police didn't pull me over, they tested me after I had already parked up. I understand this is a criminal conviction but it is not one that will affect my ability to pay my mortgage.

In regards to home insurance, again, whilst technically I won't have a criminal conviction when I take the insurance out, I am aware that I have to inform them. Would it be best to take out the insurance without declaring my convictions until after my court date and then informing the company, or would it be better for me to come clean and I form them beforehand.

Any help would be appreciated, I know what I did was stupid and I deserve to be punished for it but I would just like to get some solid information in regards on what would be the best approach.

You say court case isn't until the 2nd of October. What is that for?
To enter your plea? A trial ? For sentencing? Something else?

craig790

The court date will be for a charge of drink driving. My solicitor has told me to expect a twelve month ban and a few hundred pounds in terms of a fine.

pastafo

craig790 wrote: »

The court date will be for a charge of drink driving. My solicitor has told me to expect a twelve month ban and a few hundred pounds in terms of a fine.

Drink driving? i.e. Driving or attempting to drive while above the legal limit or unfit through drink.

Or being in charge of a vehicle while above the legal limit or unfit through drink? (as you suggested you were parked up at the time)

kingstreet

MovingForwards wrote: »

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5875218/mortgage-with-a-criminal-record

Speak with a whole of market mortgage broker as they can give you direct answers and know who not to place you with if there are any lenders that wouldn't lend to you.

There's already a Barclays application in progress.

craig790

Drink driving. I had been driving and as I parked up I was collared by the police.

pastafo

craig790 wrote: »

Drink driving. I had been driving and as I parked up I was collared by the police.

Presumably you will be pleading guilty? At least you will get credit for that:)

You will be convicted based on your concentration of alcohol either in your breath sample or blood sample or possibly urine.
Not sure what a pint over the limit means, as everyone is different, but hopefully no more than 2-3 times the limit

Sentencing guidelines (based on conviction after trial) suggest a starting point of 150% of you weekly wage +/-25%

Less than twice the limit, you may get a fine as little as 1 weeks wages; 2-3 times the limit, it may he higher and could go to a low level comunity order.

You'll get disgualified for at least 12 months, possibly up to 16 months (17-22 months if over twice the limit)

As I said, you will get credit for a guilty plea, and then it will be down to mitigation put foward by your solicitor (and any aggravating factors the prosecution may seek to rely upon)

Back to the original questions you posed.

You need to read the questions carefully. This is a criminal offence. You may be asked if you have any criminal convictions (usually over the past 5 years), but may also be asked to include those pending, etc.

If it doesn't ask about pending, then you don't need to disclose until convicted. But if, as I suspect, it will include pending, then you must disclose.

I can't see it affecting the mortgage application; they tend to look for convictions involving fraud, dishonesty, etc (so pleading guilty at the first opporunity is also helpful)

Buildings insurance may be affected, as they look at overall risk, but again they are primarily looking at fraud, dishonesty, and criminal damge, etc.

You'll probably need a specialist adviser regarding car insurance if you plan to drive again after disqualification. You will probably need another mortage to pay that too, but you probably are aware of that already.