divorce & separation
Mortgage Capacity Reports for a fair settlement.
Divorce and separation are hard enough without the mortgage maths. When a relationship ends, one of the biggest questions is almost always the home — who can keep it, who can buy somewhere new, and how much each of you can realistically borrow on your own. A Mortgage Capacity Report can help take one worry off your plate.
Award-winning
Paula Bingham
Director & Senior Mortgage & Protection Adviser
“We speak human, not jargon — calmly and clearly.”
Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.
take one worry off your plate
Going through a separation? We’re here to help.
A Mortgage Capacity Report is an independent assessment of how much someone could borrow as a sole applicant — the kind of evidence a family court or a solicitor often needs to reach a fair financial settlement.
We’re Belle Maison Mortgages — a small, friendly team of named advisers working with clients across the UK, with hundreds of five-star reviews from people we’ve guided through some of life’s most stressful money moments. We’ll always explain things clearly and calmly.
in plain english
What is a Mortgage Capacity Report?
An MCR (sometimes called a mortgage capacity assessment) sets out how much a person could borrow on a mortgage in their own name, based on their income, outgoings, credit profile and personal circumstances. In a divorce, the family home is usually the largest asset — so a clear, independent answer to “how much could each of us borrow to rehouse ourselves?” helps everyone negotiate on a realistic basis rather than guesswork.
Income
Employed salary, self-employed profits, pensions, benefits and maintenance — where these can be evidenced.
Affordability
Your regular commitments and how lenders assess what you can comfortably repay.
Deposit & equity
What you might have available from a settlement or savings to put towards a property.
Term & age
How long you could borrow over, taking your age and retirement plans into account.
Lending criteria
The broad, current approach lenders take — which changes over time and varies by individual circumstances.
remember
It’s an indicative, point-in-time view — not an offer of finance.
Borrowing capacity depends on your circumstances when you actually apply, and lender criteria change.
An MCR is not a mortgage offer. It estimates what might be possible. It does not guarantee that a mortgage will be approved or that any particular amount will be available — any eventual borrowing is always subject to a full application and the lender’s assessment at that time.
when it comes up
When does the court or a solicitor need one?
An MCR is most often requested during financial remedy proceedings — the part of a divorce or civil-partnership dissolution where money and property are sorted out.
Staying in the family home
One person hopes to stay and needs to show whether they could afford to buy out the other’s share.
Rehousing separately
Both people need to understand what they could each borrow to rehouse themselves on their own.
Supporting a settlement
A solicitor or the court wants an independent figure to support negotiation, mediation, or a consent order.
Resolving a dispute
Borrowing capacity is disputed between the parties and a neutral assessment would help move things forward.
About expert reports for court. Where a report is prepared specifically as evidence for family-court proceedings, it may fall under the rules for expert evidence (Part 25 of the Family Procedure Rules), which carry particular duties and formatting requirements. If you need a report that will be put before the court, the best first step is to talk to us about exactly what you need, so we can tell you how we can help.
why it matters
How an MCR helps in a financial settlement.
When emotions are running high and the numbers feel overwhelming, an independent, written view of borrowing capacity does three useful things.
It brings clarity
Instead of “I think I could get a mortgage”, you have a considered, written estimate to work from.
It speeds things up
Solicitors and mediators can negotiate on a shared, realistic basis — which can reduce back-and-forth, delay and cost.
It reduces conflict
A neutral assessment takes some of the heat out of the “who can afford what” argument, because it isn’t coming from either side.
For many separating couples, the goal is simply to reach a fair outcome and move on. A clear picture of what each of you could borrow is a big part of getting there.
who it’s for
Whether it’s for you, or your clients.
individuals separating
Going through a separation
If you’re divorcing or ending a civil partnership and you need to understand your borrowing position — whether to keep the home or to buy somewhere new — we can sit down with you, look at your situation properly, and explain your options in plain English. We know this is a stressful, emotional time, and we’ll treat you accordingly.
solicitors & mediators
Family-law professionals
If you’re a solicitor, mediator or family-law professional whose clients regularly need clarity on borrowing capacity, we’d welcome a conversation about working together. We’re a local, approachable firm with a strong track record and hundreds of five-star reviews — the kind of trusted, named adviser you can comfortably refer clients to.
Call 01977 802605 to discuss referralsstep by step
How the process would work.
A calm, clear path — at your pace, with a named adviser beside you.
- 1
Get in touch
Book a meeting or call us. Tell us a little about your situation and what you — or your solicitor — need.
- 2
A proper conversation
A named adviser would talk through your income, circumstances and what you’re trying to achieve, at your pace.
- 3
Gathering the details
We’d ask for the documents needed to assess borrowing capacity fairly and accurately — for example, proof of income.
- 4
Your assessment
We’d prepare a clear, written view of your indicative borrowing capacity, explained in plain English.
- 5
Next steps
If and when you’re ready to apply for a mortgage, we’d be right beside you — searching the market and holding your hand through the process.
clear, upfront pricing
What does it cost?
We believe in being transparent about money — so here are our fees, agreed with you upfront before any work begins.
standard report
£399
per report
A full Mortgage Capacity Report for one party — your maximum borrowing across a variety of lenders, example illustrations, and confirmation of affordability.
expanded report
+£50
per additional scenario
Need more than one scenario assessed — different deposit levels, property values or settlement outcomes? Each additional scenario adds £50 to the standard report fee.
no-capacity assessment
£200
per report
Where the assessment shows there’s no borrowing capacity, we provide a formal report confirming that position — often exactly what a solicitor or mediator needs to see.
Turnaround: 5 working days. Your report is normally delivered within five working days. Need it sooner? An urgent service is available for an additional £75.
Broker-fee discount. If you go on to arrange your mortgage through Belle Maison, we’ll discount our broker fee.
Prefer to pick up the phone? Call 01977 802605 and we’ll talk it through.
frequently asked
Your questions, answered.
What is a Mortgage Capacity Report?
It’s an independent, written assessment — sometimes called a mortgage capacity assessment — of how much someone could borrow on a mortgage in their own name, based on their income, outgoings and circumstances. In a divorce, it helps everyone understand what each person could realistically afford — which supports a fair financial settlement. It is an indicative estimate, not a mortgage offer.
Do I need a mortgage capacity report for my divorce?
If you’re dividing assets — especially the family home — the court, your solicitor or your mediator often needs to know what each of you could borrow on your own. A clear, independent figure helps you negotiate fairly, can speed up the process, and takes some of the conflict out of the “who can afford what” question.
Is a Mortgage Capacity Report a guarantee that I’ll get a mortgage?
No. It’s an indicative, point-in-time view of what might be possible. It does not guarantee approval or any specific amount. Lender criteria change over time and depend on your individual circumstances, so any eventual borrowing is always subject to a full application and the lender’s own assessment.
How much does a Mortgage Capacity Report cost?
A standard Mortgage Capacity Report costs £399 per report for one party — covering your maximum borrowing across a variety of lenders, example illustrations and confirmation of affordability. If you need additional scenarios assessed, each one adds £50. A no-capacity assessment — a formal report confirming that there is no borrowing capacity — is £200 per report. Reports are normally delivered within 5 working days, with an urgent service available for an additional £75. And if you go on to arrange your mortgage through Belle Maison, we’ll discount our broker fee.
Can you provide a report for the family court?
The best first step is to talk to us about exactly what you need. Reports prepared as evidence for court proceedings can fall under specific rules for expert evidence, so we’ll explain clearly how we can help with your particular situation.
More questions? Read our full Mortgage Capacity Report FAQs.
talk to a real, local adviser
You don’t have to work this out on your own.
We’re a warm, friendly team — real people, named advisers — here to make a stressful time a little easier. No jargon, no pressure.
A Mortgage Capacity Report provides an indicative assessment only and is not a mortgage offer or a guarantee of borrowing. Lender criteria and interest rates change over time and depend on your individual circumstances.