Being self-employed shouldn’t make it harder to get a mortgage, but many traditional lenders still favour the simplicity of PAYE applicants. If your income comes from your own business, through dividends, day rates, or freelance work, you may have already hit roadblocks trying to borrow what you’re truly eligible for.
At Mortgage Knight, we specialise in mortgages for self-employed people, using your real income and financial structure to secure the mortgage you deserve — with honest advice and flexible lending.
We secure mortgages for:
Whether you’re buying, remortgaging, or investing, we help you borrow with confidence.
Traditional lenders often:
We work with lenders who understand how self-employed income works — and assess it fairly.
Depending on your setup, lenders may accept:
| Business Structure | Accepted Income |
|---|---|
| Sole trader | Net profit (avg. of 1–3 years) |
| Ltd company director | Salary + dividends — or full retained profit |
| Contractor | Day rate x 5 days x 46–48 weeks |
| Freelancer | Invoiced income averaged over recent months |
| New business (1 year) | Latest year’s SA302 and bank statements |
We match you to lenders who suit your specific structure and history, not a one-size-fits-all approach.
Salary: £12,000
Dividends: £30,000
Retained profit: £20,000
Some lenders will only assess £42,000 — but others will use the full £62,000 to improve borrowing potential.
Status: Maria had just completed her first full year as a self-employed marketing consultant
Challenge: Her bank declined due to lack of two-year trading history.
Solution: We used her latest SA302, accountant reference, and 12 months of bank statements.
Outcome: Maria secured a £240,000 mortgage with a 10% deposit.
Status: Darren owned a limited company and paid himself tax-efficiently: £9,000 salary + £35,000 dividends.
Challenge: Lenders undervalued his earnings and ignored company profits.
Solution: We matched him with a lender who used retained profit + drawings to boost affordability.
Outcome: Darren secured a £320,000 mortgage at a market-leading rate.
Status: Sam freelanced for agencies and direct clients, with income varying each month.
Challenge: Standard lenders didn’t like the inconsistency.
Solution: We averaged his last 12 months of income using SA302s and bank statements.
Outcome: Sam bought his first flat with a £200,000 mortgage at 85% LTV.
Running your own business should be a strength, not a setback. At Mortgage Knight, we’ll help you unlock the right mortgage based on your real earnings and professional profile.
Speak to a specialist today and let’s turn your income into a mortgage that works.
Speak to Mortgage Knight today for tailored, fast and expert support on your next project.
A: Not always. Some lenders accept just 1 year of trading, especially with strong income or previous experience.
A: Yes. Some lenders consider retained profit + salary, rather than just salary and dividends.
A: Typically:
SA302s or tax calculations
Tax year overviews (HMRC)
Business and personal bank statements
Accounts (if available)
Accountant reference (if required)
A: Usually up to 4.5–5.5x income, depending on your credit, outgoings, and how income is assessed.
A: That’s fine. We’ll use an average over 6–12 months to show stability — especially common for freelancers and contractors.
