Mortgage Capacity Reports
A court-compliant Mortgage Capacity Report for divorce and financial remedy proceedings — showing exactly what each party can borrow, ready by the end of the next working day.
FPR Part 25 / PD25B compliant / Full Member, Expert Witness Institute / CeMAP qualified · Resolution Associate / England & Wales · Scotland · Northern Ireland
What a mortgage capacity report is
A Mortgage Capacity Report is an independent expert report that sets out the maximum mortgage a party could realistically obtain, based on their income and circumstances. It gives the court and both parties an objective figure for how each person could rehouse — a common requirement in financial remedy proceedings.
What it contains
- The maximum mortgage the party could secure
- Monthly repayments on both a repayment and interest-only basis
- The basis and calculations used, including lending assumptions
- A summary of the financial information relied upon
- The term available, and any factors affecting capacity
- The expert’s declaration of duty to the court and statement of truth
When you need one
Whenever borrowing capacity is in question in a divorce or separation — deciding who keeps the family home, whether either party can rehouse, or how assets are fairly divided. Requested by solicitors and mediators, and equally suitable for clients representing themselves.
Why Chapman
Your report is written by Byrne Harris — the only MCR writer in the UK to hold full membership of the Expert Witness Institute, CeMAP-qualified and a Resolution Associate. All reports are court-compliant across England & Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. A fixed £122.50, usually ready by the end of the next working day, and you can see the full report before you pay.
What your solicitor has asked for
A Chapman Mortgage Capacity Report provides exactly what a solicitor’s letter of instruction requests, with an inbuilt knowledge of how to turn it from yet another annoying bit of expensive paperwork into something that truly strengthens your position:
- The maximum mortgage they believe I would be able to secure
- The repayments required on that mortgage on both a repayment and interest-only basis
- The basis/calculations used to reach those figures
- A summary of the financial information relied upon
A mortgage capacity report is an independent expert report showing the maximum mortgage a person could realistically borrow. It is used in divorce and separation cases so the court can better assess how each party could rehouse.
A full mortgage capacity report from Chapman Expert Reports costs a fixed £122.50. Many providers charge £225 or more. Additional scenarios or significant re-writes are £31.50 each, and no VAT is charged.
Yes, but only for mediation. Our free online estimate gives an instant indicative figure, which is useful for mediation, early negotiations and checking the other party’s figures. It is not a court-ready report. For court, you need the full report.
Your report is delivered by the end of the next working day after you complete our 12-minute online questionnaire. No paperwork or uploads are needed.
Yes. Every report complies with Family Procedure Rules Part 25 and Practice Direction 25B and includes the expert’s declaration and statement of truth. We have written over 200 reports with no court query and have done reports for Solicitors and Barristers in their own divorces.
Usually, if the home or housing needs are in dispute. Before a Financial Dispute Resolution (FDR) hearing, courts expect each party to show what they can borrow.
Yes. Anyone can order directly online, including people representing themselves.
Yes. Solicitors, McKenzie friends and mediators can order on a client’s behalf. We email the client a pre-filled form, and the solicitor receives a copy of the report.
Yes. We cover proceedings in England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, adhering to the laws and wordings of each.
You receive your report first, then an invoice you can pay online by card or bank transfer.
Minor corrections are free, before or after payment. If your circumstances change, a rewrite costs £31.50.
Yes. It is often one of the most important documents you hold, and has a huge bearing on how the judge will divide the joint assets.
Generally a lower figure is preferred but it MUST be honest and realistic. Mortgage brokers know many ways to inflate your profile with lenders, but a good mortgage capacity report does not do that; rather it fully assesses and balances every positive and negative impact of age, type of employment, credit situation, family commitments and more. The NET effect is often to bring down an optimistic figure to a realistic one, clearly showing the court what you actually need from the settlement in order to set up a new home.
An online or basic broker affordability asks about 5 simple questions and assumes the answers to 50 more. A good mortgage capacity report is an 11 page analytical breakdown designed to be understood by the court. It is the difference between kicking the tires and doing a full M.O.T.
Instruct Chapman on your next report
Start with a free online estimate — no cost, no obligation.