Mortgage Application Timing

PennysIntoPounds

Hi all, my partner and I will be needing to get a build mortgage for building a property, which we hope will start in the next few months but given the council's slowness, we don't actually know when

It will be our only property and mortgage.

We have planning permission but don't know how long it will take for council to sign off on the necessary consents we need before we can put the tender out for building

My partner, who has the income our mortgage will be based on (I'm self employed with a very low income due to chronic pain condition) is currently renting from a private owner at market rates.

We have been offered mates rates to rent at family friends flat, if their buying a place goes through- should be in a couple of months

Is it better for us to apply for the building mortgage while my partner is still paying much higher rent as it would show he can meet that level of outgoing money?

Or is it better to apply if we're paying lower rent as it would show there's more disposable income to pay the mortgage and any associated building costs?

Plus...

Is it important to apply only when we get the go-ahead from the council that we can start work? Will it make anything more difficult if we get a mortgage offer but don't use it in a designated timeframe and have to reapply?

Or is it more desirable to get a mortgage offer in place now with him paying higher rent and hope that the council pull their finger out in the next month or two so the mortgage offer still stands?

Apologies for long post, any insight appreciated!

EssexHebridean

Bumping this one to see if anyone might be able to give PiP some insight? 

kingstreet

Not a self-build specialist.

Renting or not - probably irrelevant. Will make no difference.

Consents etc - don't know. Intuition says they will be releasing funds at different stages so it probably makes no difference as nothing will be released until first stage (footings?) reached.