Self-employed? You don’t need a bigger deposit. You need the right broker.
Sole trader, limited company director, contractor, or a bit of everything - lenders read each one differently, and the difference decides what you can borrow. Describe your situation anonymously and FCA-regulated specialists in self-employed income put themselves forward.
The self-employed mortgage myth
The myth says self-employed people can’t get mortgages, or only bad ones. The truth is less dramatic: you apply for the same products as everyone else, what differs is how lenders assess your income. And there, the gap between lenders is enormous.
- Sole traders, usually assessed on net profit, often averaged over two years; some lenders will work from the latest year if it’s stronger.
- Limited company directors, commonly salary plus dividends, but some lenders will consider retained profits left in the company, which can transform the numbers.
- Contractors, some lenders annualise a day rate rather than demanding years of accounts, which often works out far better.
- Mixed income, employment plus a side business, multiple companies, seasonal work: some lenders handle it gracefully, many don’t.
Pick the wrong lender and you can be offered tens of thousands less, or declined, for income another lender would welcome. A broker who specialises in self-employed cases knows which door to knock on first.
Why anonymity helps here
Self-employed buyers get the worst of directory sites: your number marks you as a “complex case” and gets passed around accordingly. On Broker Finder you’re “Buyer #4821”, the questionnaire asks how you earn (in plain categories, no accounts uploaded, no credit check) and only brokers who genuinely handle self-employed income put themselves forward. You compare them, pick one, and only that broker ever gets your details. Or pick nobody, and nothing follows you.
Every broker on the panel is authorised and regulated by the FCA and vetted before joining. Broker Finder is an introducer, the advice comes from the regulated broker you choose.
Two minutes, no accounts, no credit check.
See which self-employed specialists put themselves forward for your case.
Free to use · anonymous until you choose · your broker sets their own fees, disclosed upfront
Self-employed questions, answered straight
How many years of accounts do I need?
Commonly two, but it’s not universal, some lenders will consider one year’s figures, particularly with a solid track record in the same line of work. If you’re newly self-employed, say so in the questionnaire notes: it’s exactly the detail that helps the right specialist put themselves forward.
I’m a director, my company earns more than I pay myself. Does that count?
With some lenders, yes: they’ll consider retained profits alongside salary and dividends. Many others won’t. It’s one of the starkest examples of lender-to-lender difference, and precisely the kind of knowledge you’re hiring a specialist broker for.
Do the self-employed pay more?
Not by category, there’s no “self-employed surcharge” on mainstream products. The real risk is borrowing less than you could, or being declined, because a lender read your income narrowly. Matching income shape to lender is the game.
What will the questionnaire ask me?
Rough bands only: what you need, property value and deposit as ranges, timing, how you earn, credit history in broad strokes, and your region. No documents, no exact figures, no name or contact details - those stay with you until you choose a broker.