When should I start looking at a mortgage?

James-may

Ive had a bit of a turbulent 10 years, but I now want to own my own home rather than renting, here's my (and partners) circumstances.
I started a new job around 6 months ago(passed my probation), I earn approx 23k basic and approx 5-10k ote on top.
I have car finance for £4k which will be paid off from my next bonus next month, then will be debt free.
I had a dro 5 years ago which will drop off my file April next year
I had a type of cancer in 2015, but have since 2016 been all clear.
I have saved approx £2500 in my bank, and am will have saved approx £7k by July  next year.
I'm due a payout of between 10-20k in damages for a incident that happened years ago, I should get that July aug.
My current landlord (been here 10 years) has said if I move out he will be selling as he has no interest in renting and taking the chance of non payment/nightmare Tennant's but that he is happy for me to rent as long as I want to but said if I wanted to buy, he'd give me 10% deposit, then add it into the price I pay.
The house is worth around 90-110k
I can get a similar house around here for around that price., So the price of 90k seems good.
My partner earns around 10k per year and has no debt, but had a dro 5 years ago, so won't come off her credit file til 2022.
Given my circumstances, what's my best options for getting a mortgage?
Wait til July with all money in and apply on my own?
Apply with my partner on there?
Wait til her dro drops off?
Wait till I've been with employer 2 years?
And would the landlord giving me 10k not raise questions with the lenders?
I'm completely blind with all of this so know nothing about mortgages, I'm not forgetting of course that this covid business is going to make borrowing a riskier afair.
Thanks for any advice.

Sistergold

Speak to a mortgage adviser. 

James-may

Thanks for that

ACG

That doesnt make sense...
He will give you 10% deposit and then charge 10% more? What happens when a surveyor comes round and values it 10% lower? 

Most lenders will not accept a gifted deposit from a landlord, but there are a couple. 

Many lenders will only consider the DRO once it has been discharged for 6 years. Some lenders will go off the start date and some only need 3 years discharged so you will have options but if you are relying on a gift from the landlord then I think your chances are slim at best. So I would probably exclude your partner.

I think you definitely need a broker as you are probably looking at maybe a handful of lenders at best, it wont be for the majority of lenders. 

James-may

ACG said:

That doesnt make sense...
He will give you 10% deposit and then charge 10% more? What happens when a surveyor comes round and values it 10% lower? 

Most lenders will not accept a gifted deposit from a landlord, but there are a couple. 

Many lenders will only consider the DRO once it has been discharged for 6 years. Some lenders will go off the start date and some only need 3 years discharged so you will have options but if you are relying on a gift from the landlord then I think your chances are slim at best. So I would probably exclude your partner.

I think you definitely need a broker as you are probably looking at maybe a handful of lenders at best, it wont be for the majority of lenders. 

Thanks for the reply, judging by the prices of the houses nearby, I'd say the house is worth 100k, starting prices are 90k on my street but I'm a semi detached so have a bigger garden and land at the side of house.
But the landlord said as I'd been there 10 year, and for a quick sale he'd do me a favour and give me it for 90k, which does seem a genuinely good price, so I am fairly confident any valuation would be 100k or more.
I also have a payout of between £10k-£20k next year that would go towards it, and also a few grand I'm saving from bonuses I'm getting.
So only a part of the money is a gift from landlord.
But you are right, I really should speak to someone, but until I know how much my payout is and it's in my hand, I don't want to waste folks time doing searches and stuff looking for lenders when in 8 -12 months  months time when I'm actually ready tobuy, the whole market could be different with the virus impact etc.
I was just puting the feelers out to see what my options are and what's acceptable deposit amounts and sources wise, and with relation to my and my wife's dro on wether to include her income but have her bankruptcy on there or leave her off and leave only my income, that looks safer, but obviously will reduce my affordability.
Thanks for the responses though, much appreciated.
Edit just to add, that potentially if all goes well I might have 25k sitting there next year with no help from my landlord, with the view to spending 90k-110k for a house.
So will potentially have around 25% deposit anyway.