Sole trader, director or contractor — we’ll help you get the right mortgage first time.

Many lenders prefer two years of trading history, as it gives them a more reliable view of your income. Some lenders will consider one year, but the choice of lenders and deal options can be more limited.

If you’re close to having two years available, it can sometimes be worth planning the timing carefully. We’re also happy to liaise with your accountant where needed, so your income evidence is presented clearly and consistently.

Potentially, yes — but it depends on your situation and the lender. Lenders will want to see that the income is sustainable, and they may look more closely at your industry, contract history (if relevant), and the strength of your figures.

The practical approach is to get an early sense-check before you fall in love with a property, so you know what’s realistic. We’ll also make sure you’ve got the right documents in the right format, as that’s often what slows self-employed cases down.

Different lenders assess limited company income in different ways. Many will use salary plus dividends. Some will consider salary plus net profit instead, and some may take account of retained profit as part of the wider picture.

This is why self-employed mortgages aren’t “harder” — they just need to be matched to the right lender. We’ll identify which income figure is most favourable for you and package the application accordingly.

Most lenders will ask for proof of ID and address, bank statements, and self-employed income evidence such as SA302s, tax year overviews, and/or your business accounts (depending on whether you’re a sole trader, partnership, or limited company).

We’ve built practical guides and checklists here:
Read more: mortgage application documents Read more: mortgage application documents

If you need help downloading the right format (not screenshots), start here:
Read more: bank statement guides

It can. Changing from sole trader to limited company (or vice versa) can affect how lenders view your income history, because the “evidence clock” may effectively reset depending on the lender and the structure.

If you’re planning a change, it’s worth discussing it before you do it — sometimes a small timing decision can make the mortgage side much smoother.

Not necessarily — but it can be more detailed. Lenders don’t see self-employment as “riskier” by default, but they do need clearer evidence of income. Instead of payslips, they’ll look at accounts, SA302s, tax overviews, or company figures depending on how your business is structured.

The key difference isn’t difficulty — it’s preparation. When income is presented clearly and matched to the right lender’s criteria, self-employed applications can be just as straightforward as employed ones.