Many people do get a mortgage in their own name after a divorce or separation. The difference is that a lender now looks only at your income, your commitments and your deposit or share of the equity, rather than at two of you together. This guide explains what lenders usually look at, the main options for the family home, and where a mortgage capacity report fits in.

This article is general information for UK consumers who are separating or divorcing, whether you were married, in a civil partnership or living together. Where legal steps are mentioned, they are described in outline only and the details differ across the UK. It is not personal advice, and nothing here recommends a particular route or product.

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

Can I get a mortgage on my own after divorce or separation?

Often, yes. Applying on your own is called a sole application. The lender looks at whether the mortgage is affordable for you alone, using the same affordability checks it would use for anyone else.

That can feel like a big change if you have always borrowed as a couple. Two incomes usually supported the old mortgage. Now one income needs to cover the new one, alongside your other costs.

Being separated does not, on its own, stop you getting a mortgage. Equally, no one can promise a lender will accept an application before it has been assessed. What counts is your own figures, and how a lender views them.

What do lenders look at when you apply on your own?

Lenders differ in the detail, but most look at the same broad areas.

Your income. If you are employed, this usually means payslips and bank statements. If you are self-employed, lenders normally ask for accounts or tax calculations covering a period of time. Other regular income may be considered too.
Your regular commitments. Loans, credit cards, car finance, childcare costs and any maintenance you pay all reduce what is left each month.
Dependants. If children live with you, lenders allow for the cost of supporting them.
Your credit history. Missed payments, defaults or high balances can affect which lenders will consider you. Joint accounts with your ex-partner can still show on your credit file until they are closed or separated.
Your deposit or equity. This might be savings, or your share of the money from the family home once the settlement is agreed.
Your age and the mortgage term. The length of the mortgage affects the monthly payment, and lenders look at how the term fits with your expected working life.

Lenders also ask how settled things are. If the financial settlement is not yet agreed, a lender may want to see it before it makes a final decision.

Does maintenance affect how much I can borrow?

It can, in both directions. This applies whether you are the parent who pays maintenance or the parent who receives it.

If you pay maintenance, lenders usually treat it as a regular commitment, like a loan payment. That means it comes off the money a lender thinks you have available each month, which can reduce how much you could borrow.

If you receive maintenance, some lenders may count it as income. How much of it they count, if any, varies. It often depends on:

how it is arranged, for example a court order, the Child Maintenance Service, or a private agreement between you
how long it has been paid, and whether you can show regular payments on your bank statements
how long it is likely to continue, which usually links to the age of the children

Some lenders are more flexible than others here, so the same maintenance income could be treated quite differently from one lender to the next. If maintenance is a big part of your budget, it is worth knowing this before you assume a figure.

Can I keep the family home?

Sometimes. There are three broad routes people look at.

Take the existing mortgage into your sole name. The lender has to agree to remove the other person. It will check that you can afford the mortgage on your own before it does.
Remortgage to buy out the other person. You take out a new mortgage, possibly with a different lender, which may release money to pay your ex-partner their share. You can read more about remortgaging.
Sell and each buy again. The home is sold, any mortgage is repaid, and each of you uses your share towards your next step.

It is worth knowing that while a mortgage stays in joint names, both of you remain responsible for the whole debt, not half each. That stays true until the lender agrees to change it, even if you have agreed something different between you.

Changing who legally owns the home is a separate step from changing the mortgage. It is called a transfer of equity and is handled by a solicitor. Your solicitor or mediator is the right person for questions about ownership, the settlement and any court process.

How does buying out a partner work?

In outline, it tends to follow these steps:

Agree the value and the share. You and your ex-partner agree what the home is worth and how much each of you should receive. This is usually done with a solicitor or mediator.
Find out what you could borrow. Before you commit, it helps to know what a lender might lend you on your own.
Apply to the lender. This could be a remortgage, or an application to your current lender to remove the other person and take on the mortgage in your name.
Complete the legal work. A solicitor deals with the transfer of equity so that ownership matches the new mortgage.

Timings vary, and the steps can overlap. The main thing is not to assume a buy-out is affordable until you have a realistic idea of the borrowing figure. More on remortgaging and mortgages generally.

What if we're still on a joint mortgage?

Keep the payments going if you can. If a payment is missed, it can show on both of your credit files, whoever was meant to pay it. That can make it harder for either of you to borrow later.

If payments are becoming a struggle, talk to your lender early. Lenders generally prefer to hear from you before a problem builds, and they may be able to discuss options. MoneyHelper has free, impartial guidance on dividing the family home and dealing with a joint mortgage during divorce or separation.

Who pays what while things are being sorted out is something to agree between you, with help from a solicitor or mediator if needed.

Where does a mortgage capacity report fit?

During a divorce or separation, your solicitor, mediator or the court may want evidence of what each person could realistically borrow. This helps when deciding what is fair, for example whether one person could buy out the other or buy a new home.

A mortgage capacity report sets out an estimate of what you could borrow, along with the assumptions behind it, such as income, commitments and term. It is not a mortgage offer, and it does not mean a lender has agreed to lend.

If your solicitor or the court needs figures, read about my mortgage capacity reports. The report is a paid service with a fee of £295 per person, and each person needs their own report.

When is it worth getting mortgage advice?

Usually once the settlement is clearer and you know what income, debts and deposit or equity you will have. At that point, an adviser can look at your options in full, including keeping the home, buying out the other person or buying somewhere new.

I offer mortgage advice in Fareham and remotely across the UK. Your first meeting for mortgage advice is free, and there is no obligation to go further.

Separation can also be a good time to review any life cover you have and who it is set up to protect. More on protection.

Questions to ask yourself before you apply

A short checklist can help you get your thoughts in order before you speak to anyone.

What income will I have once maintenance is settled, whether I pay it or receive it?
Which debts will remain in my name after the settlement?
What deposit or share of the equity will I have?
When is the settlement likely to be final?
Is my name still on a joint mortgage, and has the lender agreed to any change?

You do not need every answer before you start. Knowing which ones are still open helps you see what to expect.