Do I need life insurance for a mortgage?
deadhappy
October 11, 2021
The word mortgage literally means ‘dead pledge’ – from the Latin mort meaning ‘dead’ + gage meaning ‘pledge’. It’s a commitment that finishes either when the debt is paid or the payment fails. NOT when the person with the debt dies. That fiddly detail is an important one when it comes to looking at mortgages and life insurance.
You can take a lot of things to the grave
But mortgages aren’t one of them. Despite what some might think, your mortgage debt doesn’t shuffle off with you when you die. The truth is, if no one inherits the property to pick up the mortgage bills, the deceased’s estate or the property itself will be sold off to cover the outstanding debt.
No family needs that stress when a loved one dies, which is why many people choose to cover their mortgage debt with life insurance.
But do you actually need life insurance to get a mortgage? Will mortgage providers refuse to cough up the cash if you’re not insured? Nope.
The vast majority of banks, building societies, and other mortgage providers will gladly lend to you if don’t have life insurance cover as long as you meet all the other financial requirements. No insurance required.
That said, mortgage providers are likely to encourage you to take out mortgage payment protection insurance, or even life insurance, when discussing your mortgage.
Let’s face it, the bank, building society or provider already has your property as collateral if you die or are unable to repay the debt for whatever reason.
So they’ll be sitting pretty if you die without life insurance. Your dependents, on the other hand, probably won’t be so chuffed.
So that’s the lenders covered, but what does the law have to say on the matter?
Looking lawless
The UK actually has no laws, codes or decrees compelling you to get life insurance before you can be approved for a mortgage or any other type of loan.
Unlike with cars, where you have to insure it before you start burning rubber, with mortgages, you just need to prove to the lender that you have the income to meet the repayments each month.
So, as well as no mortgage policy requirement, there’s also no legal obligation either.
The sensible choice
Sensible isn’t cool. Sensible doesn’t take you on adventures. But while there’s nothing compelling you to take out life insurance – for a mortgage or for any other reason – it makes a lot of sense to get some financial protection in place.
A mortgage is likely to be the biggest debt you’ll ever owe. In fact, data from the online address change company SlothMove shows that the average homeowner owes £140,000 on the mortgage. Which means it could also be the biggest debt you leave behind if you die before paying off the last doorknob.
If you have children, a partner or anyone else who depends on you, it’s a no brainer.
Even if your mortgage boasts your name and your partner’s name, chances are it was granted based on your joint income. So if one of you dies, the other would probably end up in a financial pickle if the mortgage wasn’t covered.
Having life insurance in place can give you and your loved ones peace of mind knowing your debts will be covered when you’re gone.
A word to the wise
Top tip: you might struggle to find anyone who won’t recommend you take out life insurance to cover your mortgage. So make sure you don’t rush into anything.
Some cheeky mortgage providers may even twist your arm into purchasing their or their partner’s life insurance when you take out a mortgage. This can end up in people paying extortionate life insurance costs, and it may even constitute as mis-selling.
If you’re worried that you’ve been mis-sold life insurance with your mortgage, talk to the kind folk over at the Financial Ombudsman Service.
A deathwish come true
If you want to protect your mortgage, don’t get stitched up with expensive life insurance. At DeadHappy, we offer cheaper, quicker and better life insurance plans. With our unique deathwishes, you can make sure you’ve covered your mortgage, your funeral, charity donations or a luxury holiday for your friends and family.
Take a look at our deathwishes here. Nothing quite to your taste? Go get stuck in and create your own.
Originally published: September 23, 2019 | Updated: October 11 2021