Which Documents are Required for a Self-employed Mortgage Application?

How does a self-employed mortgage differ?

Self-employed mortgage applicants can use the same mortgage products that employed people do, Mortgage Lenders will just use a slightly different process when assessing their application.

Every Mortgage Lender will be looking for stability of income, alongside your overall affordability and credit score. In order to mitigate some of the risk perceived in self-employed income, an average figure from the past two to three years of accounts is used to determine a more stable picture of your long-term income.

Which specific documents do you need?

Alongside proof of your address and identity, the main requirement is to adequately prove your income. The documents required for this purpose will vary slightly, depending on the types of self-employed business you carry out.

Limited Company Directors

As a Limited Company Director your personal salary and dividends will be considered your annual income. In order to prove this you will need SA302 tax calculation forms and HMRC tax overviews, certified accounts and sometimes bank statements for the relevant tax years, usually the most recent two to three.

Partnerships

You will need to own more than 25% of the company for the purpose of a mortgage application.

Your owned share of the business net profits will be considered income and you will need full certified accounts and SA302s and tax year overviews in order to prove this.

Sole traders / Freelancers

A lender will use your net profit to determine your lending capacity to establish an average of your net profits and require your SA302 and tax year overview forms as proof of your income.

How to improve your chance of acceptance

For self-employed applicants, preparation is an essential consideration when applying for a mortgage, as per the below:

Financial preparation

Accounts must be signed off by a certified accountant and the most recent three SA302 forms should be available.

Limited Company Directors may benefit from drawing additional benefits in the years preceding their application, to increase affordability, but that would need to be considered with your accountant as it could increase your tax liability.

Credit score

A good credit score can be achieved if you’re on the electoral roll at your current address and all accounts also have the correct address on record. It will also be beneficial to minimise credit card spending and pay off any debts as far as possible.

Deposit

Saving higher than the minimum deposit requirement will give you access to better mortgage deals, as well as increasing your chance of acceptance.

Speak to CD Financial

Here at CD Financial, our Mortgage Brokers specialise in helping self-employed mortgage applicants and have access to the type of independent Mortgage Lenders who are more likely to consider applicants with every type of self-employed income.

We will be able to offer advice around the specific documents you will need for each lender, regardless of your circumstances and employment type.

Each Mortgage lender has their own criteria, and being well-versed in these requirements will help us to ensure you approach those lenders who will accept your available source of income and documentation.

Contact us today to see how we can help you with your mortgage application.

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.