Overcoming complexity to help a family secure their son’s future

Purchasing a home and securing a mortgage can be a daunting process.  

It’s a journey filled with paperwork, financial scrutiny, and nerve-wracking decisions. But for some, the hurdles are far greater. They require resilience, creativity, and an unwavering belief that the right home is worth fighting for. 

And Oliver Scott and his family fall very much into that category. Their journey was anything but straightforward. 

Avril Dugdale, a Business Development Manager at Nottingham Building Society, said: “In the 24 years I have been working in this industry, Oliver and his family’s is one of the most complex cases I have ever dealt with. But it’s one that will stay with me for a long time.” 

To understand this case, you need to understand Oliver.  

Oliver, a company director at Union Plumbing and Heating and father of two, had built a wonderful life with his partner, Louise. They adored their six-bedroom home in Elland, West Yorkshire, but when their son Edward was diagnosed with autism, their priorities shifted. The future suddenly felt uncertain. 

“Edward is an incredible little boy,” Oliver said. “He’s happy, adaptable, and full of joy. But we don’t know what the future holds. Unlike other children who grow up to be independent, there’s a real possibility he’ll always need support.” 

“To give him security, I started investing in buy-to-let properties, placing them in trust for him. If he ever needs constant support, I want to ensure he has a home and financial stability.” 

As time went on, Oliver had spent two years tentatively looking for a property that would be a perfect fit to support Edward’s needs, one where Edward could flourish. A detached house with no direct neighbours, a large garden for sensory play, and an annex for long-term care, and a place with a wealth of renovation potential. 

And then he found it, the one: “We were only window shopping,” Oliver admitted. “But then I saw this house on Rightmove. I turned to Louise and said, ‘I think I’ve found the one.’” 

Oliver and Louise loved it instantly on viewing and saw the potential. “We spoke with the estate agent about a potential offer. We floated a number, just to gauge interest. But then they rang back and said it had been accepted! Louise and I looked at each other, wondering if we had actually made a formal offer!” 

Oliver and Louise were thrilled, but also in disbelief. Had they actually just bought a house without planning to? And more importantly, how were they going to afford it? Regardless, they had a rope and were on the path to purchasing a home that would change their lives and be a long-term home. It was time to lean on the broker behind this story, Julia Barrow at Reach 4 Mortgage Solutions. 

“Julia has been instrumental in helping me secure mortgages,” Oliver explained. “Years ago, when I thought I couldn’t get a mortgage due to being self-employed with a less-than-perfect credit rating, Julia assured me she could find a way. She’s helped me, my friends, and my family over the years, so I knew she was the first person to call.” 

Speaking on that moment Oliver called, Julia said: “He called me out of the blue and said, ‘Julia, I’ve found my forever home, and my offer’s been accepted.’ But there was one problem. He hadn’t put his current house on the market yet. He had no idea how he was going to buy it.” 

Julia turned to Avril Dugdale, Business Development Manager at Nottingham Building Society, where Oliver already had a mortgage. 

Finding a solution meant exploring multiple avenues, including raising capital for a deposit, leveraging his buy-to-let properties, and even considering a financial gift from his mother. 

One by one, obstacles arose. A commercial loan wasn’t viable. A bridging loan was explored but brought complications. There were anxious-filled weeks of back and forth, moments when it felt like the dream was slipping away. 

“Every other day, we went from having a solid plan to thinking, ‘This just isn’t going to work,’” Oliver recalled. “At one point, I even asked Julia, ‘When do we draw the line?’” 

Avril Dugdale said: “There was a really complex set of issues that needed to be overcome. It wasn’t simple and required a lot of in-person dialogue with the underwriter to find a solution. It was an important case. Julia refused to give up, and we could both see the predicament the family was in and what this move meant to them.” 

The Nottingham Building Society team understood that this was more than just numbers on an application. It was about a father’s determination to secure his son’s future. Underwriters needed assurances, particularly regarding the annex, to ensure it wouldn’t be sub-let. Every document was scrutinised, every detail examined. 

It was a puzzle with countless moving parts. But one by one, those pieces began to fall into place. 

“There was a lot of back and forth,” Avril said. “The details were important, but the family context was equally so. Our underwriters needed to know the story behind all the paperwork that comes with such a complex case. We knew we needed to go the extra mile.” 

Julia added: “There absolutely were doubts. Part of me thought Nottingham Building Society would say no and we would have to explore via other lenders. I wasn’t sure. The annex was a huge concern, and we needed to put guarantees in that it wouldn’t be sub-let, that the reason the annex was necessary was for Edward’s future needs. 

“I’ve worked with Oliver for a long time and seen him build everything from the ground up. When I first helped him, he had bad credit and had to take a mortgage with a specialist lender. Since then, he’s worked incredibly hard, expanding his plumbing business, growing his property portfolio, and improving his credit to an excellent level. 

“His motivation to buy this house was his son, Edward. Seeing how much Oliver had worked for this, I wanted to make it happen for him.” 

With such complexity comes an anxious filled wait. But, finally, the deal was approved. The relief was overwhelming. 

Julia said: “In my career, this is one of those cases I’ll always remember. It was one of the most challenging but also one of the most rewarding. Seeing a hardworking family secure their dream home, especially when it means so much for their son, makes all the effort worthwhile.” 

The last word comes from Oliver: “Julia went above and beyond. Avril, who didn’t even know me personally, worked late into the night to make this happen. People have a minimum effort they put into their job, and then there’s the maximum. These two gave everything. What they did for my family is something I could never repay.” 

Now, as Oliver, Louise, and their children settle into their dream home, they do so with a profound sense of gratitude. 

“This whole experience has been a rollercoaster,” Oliver reflected. “But thanks to Julia, Avril, and Nottingham Building Society, we’ve been able to start a new chapter. And for Edward, that means everything. What Nottingham Building Society and Reach 4 Mortgage Solutions did for me, and my family is something I could never repay.”