It is estimated that around 1 in 5 workers in the UK now self-employed, or working on a zero-hour contract, the mortgage market has finally woken up to the need to rethink some previous assumptions.
Until recently it was common practice for a lender to demand a minimum of two years accounts when assessing a mortgage application from someone self-employed; and even then, they’d impose a higher rate of interest. But that is all changing.
The fact is, patterns of employment have shifted significantly and many self-employed workers now earn as much as, or more than, the average earner in the UK.
However, some banks still don’t treat self-employed mortgage applicants as they should, so if that is you, you need to be proactive.
Many of our clients come to us because, in the past, they were left feeling as though their custom doesn’t count. Even if an offer was forthcoming, they were faced with strict criteria and unfair terms and conditions, often including an additional rate of interest to pay.
But High Street banks have woken up to the fact that the population of self-employed workers now offers a huge market – some 4.6 million people in the UK in 2015, and growing year by year (Office for National Statistics). Specialist self-employed mortgage providers offer an alternative solution, and the good news is that 120,000 self-employed borrowers did secure a mortgage in 2017.
Whether you are looking for a mortgage as a first-time buyer, or you want to move house, the whole process doesn’t have to be as difficult as it was.
We understand your working status, and through our panel of specialist lenders we can provide more choice and greater flexibility. A number of specialist lenders will now offer a mortgage based on trading records for just 12 months, and with our understanding of this market, we have even had loans approved based on invoicing for just 3 months as a self-employed trader.
There are also some High Street banks and lending institutions that have moved to using gross income to calculate the amount they offer, rather than historic tax accounts.
Thankfully, the days of a flat refusal to lend to the self-employed have gone. But it is still worth spending some time researching and shopping around for the best deals. Over a 25 year period, a mortgage with a higher interest rate could cost you thousands of pounds, so take the best deal you’re offered, not just the first deal.
The right place to start is with CISMortgages.co.uk
We have a long track record in securing mortgages for the self-employed, including those who have set up as a limited company. Our team of experts know lenders that will factor in profits retained within your limited company when calculating the maximum mortgage you can be permitted. And more income generally means a higher loan value, taking you a step closer to the home you want.