What Lenders Need & How to Get Approved
Being self-employed doesn’t make getting a mortgage harder — it just means lenders assess your income differently. Whether you’re a sole trader, limited company director, contractor or freelancer, the right documentation and structure can make the process just as straightforward as for employed applicants.
This guide explains how lenders assess self-employed income, what documents you need, how affordability works, common mistakes, and how to improve your chances of securing a mortgage.
Who Counts as Self-Employed for Mortgage Purposes?
Lenders usually class you as self-employed if:
- You own 25%+ of a business (Ltd company director)
- You operate as a sole trader
- You are in a partnership
- You work as a contractor or freelancer
Your business structure determines how your income is assessed.
How Self-Employed Income Is Assessed
1. Sole Traders Lenders assess net profit as shown on SA302s. While 2 years of accounts are preferred, some lenders accept 1 year.
2. Limited Company Directors Lenders typically assess either:
- Salary + dividends
- OR salary + net profit (for lenders who use full business performance)
3. Partnerships Lenders assess your share of the net profit.
4. Contractors Many lenders use a “day-rate x 46 weeks” formula:
Day rate × 5 × 46 = annualised income
Documents You’ll Need
Typically lenders require:
- SA302s (last 2–3 years)
- Tax Year Overviews
- Business accounts (1–3 years)
- 3–6 months bank statements
- Company accounts for Ltd directors
- Contract (for contractors)
For affordability basics, see: How Much Can I Borrow?
How Lenders Treat Fluctuating Income
If your income varies year to year:
- Some lenders average the last 2–3 years.
- Others use the latest year if trending upward.
- If income is falling, lenders may use the lower figure.
What About Ltd Company Retained Profits?
This is a key advantage for directors. Many lenders only consider salary + dividends, but others consider your share of retained profits, which can significantly boost affordability and borrowing power.
Self-Employed Deposit Requirements
Deposit rules are the same as employed applicants, depending on credit:
- 5% minimum deposit (standard cases)
- 10–15% if income varies heavily
- 15–25% if you also have adverse credit
Learn more in: Deposit Requirements Guide
Common Reasons Self-Employed Mortgages Are Declined
- Recently self-employed (less than 12 months)
- Irregular or declining income
- Missing tax returns
- Large expenses reducing net profit
- Adverse credit (see Defaults Guide and CCJs Guide)
How to Improve Your Chances
- File tax returns early.
- Keep accounts consistent and clean.
- Reduce personal debts before applying.
- Avoid large changes in dividend strategy.
- Use an accountant familiar with mortgage lending requirements.
Remortgaging When Self-Employed
Remortgaging follows similar rules to new purchases. Lenders will check latest SA302s and business performance stability. For full remortgage steps, see our Remortgage Timeline Guide.
Next Steps
Getting a mortgage while self-employed is absolutely possible. Understanding how lenders interpret your accounts can dramatically change what you can borrow.
You can explore related guides such as How Much Can I Borrow?, Contractor Mortgages, and use our mortgage calculators to check borrowing estimates.
All mortgage advice is provided by FCA-regulated advisers. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.
FAQs
Can I get a mortgage with just 1 year of accounts? Yes — some lenders accept 1 year, especially with strong trading performance.
Does being a company director count as self-employed? Yes — if you own more than 25% of the business.
Do lenders look at retained profits? Some do — which can significantly increase borrowing.
Do I need an accountant? Strongly recommended — lenders prefer professionally prepared accounts.
Can first-time buyers be self-employed? Absolutely — lender choice depends on how long you’ve been trading.