Yes, you can apply for a mortgage on maternity leave. If your latest payslip shows maternity pay, a lender may also consider the salary you expect to earn when you return. What matters is whether you can manage the payments during the rest of your leave and once you’re back at work. Lenders differ in what income they accept and what evidence they need.
Which income will the lender use?
Start with your employer’s pay schedule. Write down when enhanced maternity pay ends, when your income drops again and whether you plan to take any unpaid leave. If you receive Statutory Maternity Pay, the GOV.UK guide to maternity pay explains how the payments change over time. Your employer can confirm what you personally will receive.
Next, check your expected return date, hours and salary. If you are returning on fewer days, use the salary for those hours. Some lenders will consider confirmed return-to-work pay. Others may want further evidence or take a different view of a long gap before your first salary payment. An adviser can check this before you submit an application.
What a four-day return means in practice
Suppose you earned £40,000 a year for five equal working days a week. Your employer confirms a four-day return at the same daily rate. Your expected gross annual salary would be £32,000. Now suppose nursery costs will be £600 a month. Use your estimated take-home pay on £32,000 for the household budget, then include the £600 alongside travel, bills and the proposed mortgage payment.
There is also the period before that salary starts. If your mortgage would complete two months before you return, work out how you would meet those first payments on maternity pay. If you plan to use savings, set aside the money already needed for your deposit, fees and moving costs. These figures illustrate a budget. The lender will make its own affordability assessment.
What evidence should you prepare?
Ask your adviser what the proposed lender needs before requesting a letter from HR. For example, an employer might confirm your return date but still be considering your request for reduced hours. Tell the adviser which details are agreed and which are provisional.
- Income before and during leave. Have a pre-leave payslip, recent payslips and your maternity pay schedule available.
- Return-to-work arrangements. Gather any written confirmation of your expected date, weekly hours and pay.
- Household spending. Include childcare, travel, existing debts and regular bills. A nursery quote is a useful starting point if care has yet to begin.
- Money available during leave. Show how you plan to cover any lower-pay or unpaid months, including a partner’s income if you’re applying jointly.
If you and your partner are taking shared parental leave, put both pay schedules on one calendar. The month when the two reduced incomes overlap may look quite different from the month when you both return.
Should you apply now or wait until you return?
If your return date, pay and childcare arrangements are confirmed, you may already have enough information for an adviser to check your options. If your hours are still being agreed, ask what difference the employer’s confirmation or first payslip back would make. That gives you a specific reason to apply now or wait.
If you’re buying your first home, decide how much of your savings you want to keep for the remaining months of leave before you settle on a deposit. If you’re moving, add the cost of the move and any change in your commute or childcare arrangements to the comparison.
Can you remortgage on maternity leave?
If your fixed rate ends while you’re on leave, check when your existing deal finishes and what payment would follow. Ask your current lender about switching to a new deal on the same mortgage. If you also want to move lender, borrow more or change the term, tell your adviser. The checks and evidence can differ between those routes.
Bring your lender’s renewal offer and your pay schedule so you can compare the monthly cost during leave as well as after your return. Greenacre’s remortgage advisers can help you compare the options.
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Frequently asked questions about mortgages on maternity leave
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.
Talk through your plans with Greenacre
You can start with four details: when you hope to buy or switch, your current pay, your expected return date and any change in hours. If a figure is still uncertain, tell us. We can explain which details a lender is likely to need next. Discuss your mortgage with Greenacre, call 020 3393 9222 or email info@greenacrefs.co.uk.
Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.
Written by Sasha Stanworth. Sasha co-founded Greenacre Financial Services in 2018. A qualified mortgage adviser, she works with first-time buyers and oversees Greenacre’s day-to-day operations.