Waiting for Halifax approval please share experiences during covid

Firsthomehope

First of I'm very very nervous I'm sure everyone in this position is or has been.
My broker believes we will be okay despite historic adverse issues however I am more nervous about how lenders are tighter with their criteria and lending due to covid. I have read many articles (I know I'm driving myself mad, I know) about how Halifax is turning down a large majority of applications through brokers at the moment and this makes me anxious.

The house is 250 and we are submitting a deposit of 15%, we had the DIP really quickly and the broker said, as I had told her everything about past credit issues that if Halifax saw any red flags then they most likely would have flagged them by now. Of course I haven't had a hard search done yet, just soft but I'm sure this will change in a few days when the application starts to be processed.

My question is, has anyone been offered a Halifax mortgage in the last few weeks-months, how long did you wait? any bumps along the way? Did you have to submit more evidence? these next few weeks are going to kill me, I am absolutely terrified to open my emails.

Thanks

Gem_M90

First time buyer as well... Broker applied 13/08, passed to underwriters a week later. 8 working days after that it came back with a credit discrepancy.. worked out what it was and sent evidence (experian hadn't updated for 3 months) and resubmitted the application. 6 working days later (10/09) it was declined for affordability. My broker can't understand why as it passed all affordability checks on initial application and there's absolutely no discrepancies now, and they didn't decline for affordability the 1st time. He's taking it to an appeal although he isn't confident that an appeal will overturn the decision, more that he wants a more indepth answer as to why they've declined as if they've changed lending criteria he wants to know for other clients benefit as well. Appeal was submitted on Friday 11/09 so a long wait to hear from that and then no doubt have to start this process all over again elsewhere... I could cry!

shakAFC

This is my time line 

August 20th DIP
September 4th application submitted - hard search straight away and application + valuation fee taken
September 5th - soft affordability check
September 7th - valuation booked
September 11th - valuation took place (I hope)

So now just waiting! I would hope my case is pretty straight forward. No adverse, no debt. Employed. Nerve racking all the same.. but I know my broker doesn’t earn unless I get the mortgage so I trust them.

Gem_M90

shakAFC said:

.. but I know my broker doesn’t earn unless I get the mortgage so I trust them.

This is what I keep trying to tell myself now I've had a decline and my broker is appealing it. They wouldn't have put it through if there was a chance it would be rejected! 
Also I've used 2 different brokers...the 1st one had initial approval for me as well but I had to change when I decided to go for a new build and use help to buy as my 1st broker didn't deal with it. So I'm sure 2 different brokers wouldn't have made a mistake!

jenks48

I bought a new build...had to clear a few things up with credit history but it was because Experian hadn't updated itself. Then application failed on affordability which it didnt in the start like yourselves. Broker demanded an underwriter get intouch I we was going around in circles...affordability had failed due to them changing things this is Barclays so ended up putting an extra £3k down. Soon went through now am in my new property. Hope this helps and good luck.
 

Gem_M90

jenks48 said:

I bought a new build...had to clear a few things up with credit history but it was because Experian hadn't updated itself. Then application failed on affordability which it didnt in the start like yourselves. Broker demanded an underwriter get intouch I we was going around in circles...affordability had failed due to them changing things this is Barclays so ended up putting an extra £3k down. Soon went through now am in my new property. Hope this helps and good luck.
 

This is really interesting and exactly what is happening to me so its good to know its not the end of the road

HummingBird76

I applied with Halifax and got my offer within a couple of weeks. It was fairly straightforward, no adverse credit or anything. I did it direct. I have heard (although I don't know how true it is) that Halifax are one of the better lenders for people with adverse credit.

LMon1

AIP - 1st Aug
Full application- 7th Aug
Submitted docs - 7th aug
(Had issues verifying income as works for a family business on a salary / paid via faster payments weekly / mislaid HMRC employment history letter by Halifax to prove employment sinve 2018)
Passed to underwriter- 28th aug
Underwriter asked questions about furlough & back to work letter - 11th September. 
WAITING GAME for so long now- seller getting anxious too as everything done apart from our mortgage offer. 
Is a complex case as my husband has got the mortgage with my mum - we both sold our houses and have combined to buy a very large house with separate living spaces. 

shakAFC

Well my mortgage has been offered. I can’t believe it’s happened so quick!!

Graeme1978uk

Excellent news

Gem_M90

Gem_M90 said:

First time buyer as well... Broker applied 13/08, passed to underwriters a week later. 8 working days after that it came back with a credit discrepancy.. worked out what it was and sent evidence (experian hadn't updated for 3 months) and resubmitted the application. 6 working days later (10/09) it was declined for affordability. My broker can't understand why as it passed all affordability checks on initial application and there's absolutely no discrepancies now, and they didn't decline for affordability the 1st time. He's taking it to an appeal although he isn't confident that an appeal will overturn the decision, more that he wants a more indepth answer as to why they've declined as if they've changed lending criteria he wants to know for other clients benefit as well. Appeal was submitted on Friday 11/09 so a long wait to hear from that and then no doubt have to start this process all over again elsewhere... I could cry!

Broker just called... mortgage is approved! It didn't need to go to an appeal, my broker pushed it through to the business development manager with Halifax and she managed to get it approved! Approved pending valuation survey but I'm buying a new build and the foundations haven't even been laid so I'm assuming that will go through fine