Hi Brendan,
I've been paying the same amount (inflation linked) for the past six years as an annual payment as I've always been wary about the credit rating impact of missing direct debits (I've been paying it while also paying my mortgage).
Nevertheless, as I'm also going through a divorce I was thinking it might make my true net income clearer to the judge if they see the monthly deduction for the AVC. That's my principal motivation in making this change. However, as I will have to buy some place new when the divorce is over, I'm thinking will that monthly deduction reduce the money a bank will lend me? (I could pause the AVC payment, of course, but I'm trying to maximise my tax benefits). Could the fact that I can pause the payment mean the bank would lend me more if I did so or would they just reduce the money available without discussion?