SELF-EMPLOYED MORTGAGES

Being self-employed
shouldn’t make getting
a mortgage harder.

Whether you’re a sole trader, company director, contractor or

partner in a business, we’ll help you find lenders who

understand self-employed income and explain the options

available based on your individual circumstances.

✔ Whole of Market Mortgage Advice
✔ Lenders Who Understand Self-Employed Income
✔ Free Consultation

Book Your Free Consultation

Self-Employed Essentials

Everyone’s circumstances are different. Here are some of the most common reasons homeowners choose to review their mortgage.

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Sole Traders

We’ll explain how lenders assess your income and identify those who offer the most suitable options based on your trading history.

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Limited Company Directors

Many lenders assess salary and dividends, while others may also consider your share of net profit or retained profits where appropriate.

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Your Documents

We’ll guide you through exactly what you’ll need, whether that’s SA302s, Tax Year Overviews, company accounts or an accountant’s reference.

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Finding the Right Lender

Every lender assesses self-employed applicants differently. We’ll compare the market to find the lenders best suited to your circumstances.

Every self-employed business is different

Sole Traders

Lenders will usually look at your net profit, often over the latest two or three years, although some may consider a shorter trading history.

Limited Company Directors

Depending on the lender, income may be assessed using salary and dividends, or in some cases salary plus your share of company net profit.

Contractors

Some lenders may use your contract rate rather than relying solely on accounts, depending on your experience, contract history and circumstances.

Partners

For partnerships, lenders will typically consider your share of the business profits, alongside the overall strength and history of the business.

How lenders look at your income

There isn’t one single way lenders assess self-employed applicants.

Different lenders may look at:

Latest year’s income
Two year averages
Salary and dividends
Salary plus share of net profit
Contractor day rates
Retained profits in certain circumstances

That’s why choosing the right lender can make such a difference.

What will you usually need?

To assess your options, lenders may ask for documents such as:

SA302s and Tax Year Overviews
Business accounts
Company accounts for limited company directors
Bank statements
Current contracts for contractors
Proof of deposit
Identification and proof of address

We’ll let you know exactly what’s needed based on your circumstances, so you’re not gathering unnecessary paperwork.

Only been self-employed for a short time?

Having less than two or three years’ accounts doesn’t automatically mean you can’t get a mortgage.

Some lenders will consider applicants with a shorter trading history, particularly where there is previous experience in the same industry or a strong track record of income.

We can review your circumstances and identify which lenders may be worth considering.

Why specialist advice can help

Self-employed mortgage applications can sometimes look more complicated on paper than they really are.

The key is understanding how different lenders interpret income and matching your circumstances to the right criteria.

At Liberty Money, we’ll take the time to understand how your business works and present your application in the strongest possible way.

Why Choose Liberty Money?

Being self-employed doesn’t mean your mortgage options are limited—it simply means choosing the right lender is even more important.

We’ll take the time to understand how your business operates, explain how different lenders assess self-employed income and recommend the mortgage that’s best suited to your circumstances.

Independent mortgage advice

Clear comparison of your options

Support from review to completion

Advice tailored to your plans

Costs to Consider When Applying for a Self-Employed Mortgage

The costs involved are usually the same as any other mortgage application, but understanding them in advance can help you budget with confidence.

Adviser Fees

We’ll explain our fees clearly before you proceed, so you’ll always know exactly what to expect.

Valuation Fees

Many lenders include a free mortgage valuation, although some products may charge depending on the lender selected.

Legal Fees

Your solicitor or conveyancer will handle the legal work required to complete your purchase or remortgage.

Mortgage Product Fees

Some mortgage products include arrangement fees, while others are fee-free. We’ll compare the overall cost to help you find the right solution.

Accountant’s Information

Some lenders require additional information from your accountant. We’ll let you know exactly what’s needed before your application is submitted.

Business Considerations

We’ll discuss how your trading structure, recent accounts and future plans could influence the lenders available to you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Many lenders are happy to lend to self-employed applicants provided you can demonstrate a sustainable income.

Some lenders will consider applicants with just one year’s accounts, while others prefer two or more years. We’ll recommend lenders based on your trading history.

This may include SA302s, Tax Year Overviews, company accounts, business bank statements or information from your accountant. We’ll tell you exactly what’s required.

Many lenders use salary and dividends, while others may also consider your share of net profit or retained profits where appropriate.

Yes. Many lenders assess contractors using contract rates rather than traditional accounts, depending on your circumstances.

Every lender has different affordability calculations. We’ll compare the market to maximise your borrowing potential where appropriate.

Possibly. Some lenders consider applicants with only one year’s trading history. We’ll explain your options.

Absolutely. Whether you’re looking to reduce your monthly payments or release equity, we’ll compare the available options.

Not always, but having accurate accounts prepared by a qualified accountant can make the mortgage process smoother.

Self-employed lending criteria vary significantly between lenders. We’ll compare the market, explain your options and recommend lenders who understand how your income is earned.

Ready to Find the Right Self-Employed Mortgage?

Whether you’ve been self-employed for one year or twenty, we’ll help you compare mortgage options and guide you through every stage of the application.