Hi Alan,
Lenders arn't stupid! The offer price is not really that important. If they thought/know the property is worth 210k and your offer price would not be enough to clear the secured charges (2nd charge), they would reject the offer and tell the vendor/you as much.
You can use the hardship approach with lenders, however more times than not they are only interested in the econmics of the deal.
For instance I recently had the following case.
1st charge 55k
2nd charge 33k
3rd charge 9k
Total £97,000.
The property was worth 100-110k. My offer price was £82,000. I had an 'independent' survey done to show a value of £82,000. Upshot was 3rd charge accepted 1k of 9k, 2nd charge accepted 28k of 33k. And 1st charge agreed to waiver early redpemption charge which was due to come of shortly.
In this example I showed the 2nd and 3rd charge lenders that if the property was repossessed they would come out with less money in the end. I made a business case, based on realistic projected figures ie how money 1st charge lender would be owed after 6 months etc.
You are absultely wasting your time if you think lenders are easily fooled and will accept what you say via a phone call. As Johnny says, they lay the rules down, the trick is knowing how to massuage the figures. Certainly mileage in this strategy in my opinion, especially as I now have a 'friendly' surveyor on board
Jon
PM me to find out about clearing credit card debt and getting £5k compensation on your mortgage. Do you want the money?