How Maternity Leave Can Affect Your Mortgage Application
Article Summary
Being on maternity leave does not automatically prevent you from getting a mortgage. However, lenders may assess your current maternity income, expected return-to-work income and future household costs when considering the affordability of a mortgage on maternity leave.
Because criteria vary between lenders, getting advice from a mortgage broker can help you understand your mortgage options and identify lenders suited to your circumstances.
Buying or moving home while preparing for a new baby can involve some big financial decisions. If your income has temporarily reduced because you are on maternity leave, you may understandably wonder whether this could affect your chances of securing a mortgage.
The good news is that being on maternity leave does not necessarily mean putting your plans on hold.
Mortgage providers have different ways of assessing maternity pay and your expected income when you return to work. The important part is finding a lender whose criteria suit your financial position and being able to demonstrate how your finances are likely to look once your leave ends.
Whether you’re a first time buyer, moving home or looking to remortgage, Greenacre Financial Services can help you understand how lenders approach maternity leave and can help you prepare for your mortgage application.
Can You Get a Mortgage While on Maternity Leave?
Yes, it can be possible to get a mortgage while you are on maternity leave.
A mortgage lender will usually want to establish whether the mortgage will remain affordable, both now and once your circumstances change. Your income during maternity leave may therefore be considered alongside your normal salary and plans to return to work.
There isn’t one approach followed by every lender. Some may be prepared to consider your expected work income when assessing your application, subject to their criteria and the evidence available. Others may take a different approach when assessing a mortgage on maternity leave.
This difference between lenders is one reason speaking to a mortgage broker can be particularly useful when your circumstances do not fit neatly into a standard application.
Does Maternity Leave Affect Mortgage Affordability?
Potentially, but the impact will depend on your individual circumstances.
When assessing affordability, lenders need to establish whether you can comfortably manage your mortgage repayments alongside your other financial commitments.
Your assessment could therefore take account of factors such as:
- your usual salary and current maternity pay
- your partner’s income, where you are applying jointly
- your expected date of return to work
- whether your working hours or salary will change
- regular household expenditure
- existing credit commitments
- anticipated childcare costs and other changes to household spending
Having a temporary reduction in household income does not necessarily mean your application will be declined. The lender will consider the wider financial picture according to its own affordability rules.
Worried Maternity Leave Could Affect Your Mortgage Plans?
You don’t necessarily need to wait until you’re back at work to explore your options. Greenacre Financial Services can assess your circumstances, explain how different lenders may approach your income and help you find the right mortgage for your needs.
Speak to Greenacre Financial Services about your mortgage options.
What Income Will a Mortgage Lender Consider?
This is where lender criteria can make a significant difference.
If your normal salary has temporarily reduced while you receive maternity pay, a lender may want to understand what you expect to earn when you return to work.
Depending on the lender and your circumstances, you may be asked to provide evidence confirming your employment, normal salary and intended return-to-work arrangements.
If you’re planning to return on reduced hours, for example, the income used for the affordability assessment may need to reflect that change rather than your previous full-time salary.
Providing accurate information is important. Your mortgage application should reflect your genuine expected financial position rather than relying on income that you do not expect to receive.
What If You’re Receiving Statutory Maternity Pay?
Receiving Statutory Maternity Pay does not in itself mean that you cannot apply for a mortgage.
However, because maternity pay can be lower than your usual earnings, relying solely on the amount currently entering your bank account may not provide a complete picture of your longer-term finances.
Different mortgage providers have their own criteria for assessing applicants whose income has temporarily changed. This means the lender you approach can be particularly important.
Rather than assuming you need to delay your plans, it can be worth seeking advice before making an application.
What Will You Need for a Mortgage Application on Maternity Leave?
The exact documents required will depend on the lender and your circumstances. As with other mortgage applications, you are likely to need evidence relating to your income, expenditure and financial commitments.
Where maternity leave is involved, additional information may be requested about your return to work and expected earnings.
Being prepared can make the process easier. It also gives your broker a clearer understanding of your circumstances before recommending suitable lenders.
This is particularly important because making multiple applications without first understanding lender criteria can be counterproductive. Finding a lender whose approach matches your circumstances should come before submitting an application.
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Do Childcare Costs Affect Your Mortgage Application?
They can.
Your income may return to its previous level after maternity leave, but your household expenditure may also change after having a child. Childcare is one of the costs that could form part of a lender’s affordability assessment.
This doesn’t mean childcare automatically prevents mortgage approval. It simply means lenders need to consider whether the proposed mortgage payments remain manageable alongside your expected expenditure and other commitments.
Thinking beyond your immediate maternity leave period can also help you choose a mortgage that remains manageable as your family circumstances develop.
Can You Remortgage While on Maternity Leave?
You may also be able to remortgage while on maternity leave.
If your existing mortgage deal is approaching its end, it is worth exploring your options rather than assuming you have to wait until you return to work.
As with a new mortgage, the lender may consider your current circumstances, expected future income and affordability. Your available options will depend on factors including your income, existing mortgage, property and wider financial commitments.
Planning a remortgage early gives you more time to understand what is available before your existing deal ends.
What About Shared Parental Leave?
Similar considerations can apply if you or your partner take parental leave.
Where either applicant’s income changes temporarily, a lender may need additional information to understand the household’s current and future financial position.
If both incomes are changing, getting advice before applying can be particularly valuable. It allows you to establish how different lenders are likely to assess your circumstances and whether there are any issues you should address before progressing.
Should You Wait Until You Return to Work Before Applying?
Not necessarily.
Waiting until you have returned to work may make sense in some circumstances, but it should not be assumed to be your only option.
If you’ve found a property you want to buy, need to move because your family is growing or have a mortgage deal coming to an end, delaying could have other financial or practical consequences.
The better starting point is to establish what is possible based on your actual circumstances.
A mortgage broker can review your income, expenditure, future working arrangements and mortgage needs before looking for suitable products. This can give you a clearer idea of your position without automatically putting your plans on hold.
Mortgage on Maternity FAQs
Can I get a joint mortgage if one of us is on maternity leave?
Yes, it may be possible to apply jointly while one applicant is on maternity leave. The lender will assess your combined financial position and may consider the applicant’s expected return-to-work income, depending on its criteria.
Will maternity leave affect my mortgage Agreement in Principle?
It could affect the amount a lender is prepared to offer in principle, particularly if your current income differs from your usual salary. Providing accurate information about your maternity leave and expected future income can help ensure the figure reflects your circumstances.
Finding the Right Mortgage During Maternity Leave
Applying for a mortgage at the same time as your family and finances are changing can feel complicated, but maternity leave does not automatically stand between you and your next home.
The key is understanding how your temporary income change fits into the longer-term affordability picture.
At Greenacre Financial Services, we provide independent mortgage advice and can compare options from across the market. We’ll take the time to understand your current maternity income, plans for returning to work and wider financial circumstances before identifying lenders and products that may be suitable.
Rather than trying to fit your circumstances around one lender’s criteria, we’ll help you explore the mortgage options available and find the right mortgage for your needs.
For more information about any of our services, including arranging a mortgage while on maternity leave, please do not hesitate to get in touch by calling us on 0203 3939 222 or email info@greenacrefs.co.uk.
Written By: Sasha Stanworth
Author Bio: Sasha co-founded Greenacre Financial Services in 2018 after over a decade in public sector PR and communications. A fully qualified mortgage advisor, she’s passionate about helping first-time buyers achieve homeownership. Sasha also oversees Greenacre’s daily operations and team, ensuring clients receive consistent, high-quality service.