Debt before remortgage query

Inapickle80

I have a mortgage with my ex-partner on the house I currently live in. He moved out about eight years and I have paid the mortgage since. We are amicable, and next year he is coming off the mortgage, and I’ll be applying for a sole ownership with the current lender (HSBC). 

I have six months to get my accounts looking good as we have a target date of April/May time for the change to happen. This is due to the fact HSBC won’t accept my second job’s wage until I’ve been there a year because it’s zero hours. So I am working consistent hours to make a regular extra wage. I’ve taken on the second job specifically for the mortgage application as my main job is as a teaching assistant is so lowly paid. 

I have approx £7000 of credit card debt which I am trying to clear, but realistically I know it won’t be paid off in the next six months. Quite a lot of my wage goes on the repayments. I’m reluctant to get a loan to consolidate the debt so close the sole application, so my question is this;
Would it be better to pay off as much as possible each month, leaving my bank account near empty, OR should I make the minimum payments so my bank account looks healthier each month and go back to paying more once complete? Which option would the bank view more favourably when going through my accounts? 

Thanks in advance. 

ACG

I would personally avoid running your account down to zero - just in case you forget about something and it takes you into an overdraft. But I would try to make as big a dent as possible in the dent. 

If the underwriter has an issue, your argument would be that you had been overpaying the debt and you could drop to the minimum payments if necessary and you always ensured your account had money in it. 

Although with 6 months, arguably you have enough time to make an application and your credit report recover. If you are paying a silly rate of interest and can get a 0% card, it could be well worth doing. But I appreciate your priority is ensuring you get the mortgage. 

lozenlady

I know that my lender (the big S bank) doesn't undertake a credit check if you are already with them for a mortgage and want to remortgage.

Given this might be be different if you are looking to change the mortgage details by removing your ex and it might vary between banks. But its def worth checking!

Consolidating CC debt into a loan is very rarely the right answer, so I would stay clear of this even if you weren't close to remortgaging.