Self-Employed Mortgages: You Earn It, We Prove It

Being your own boss shouldn't stop you from owning your own home.

If you are self-employed, a contractor, or a company director, you might have been told that getting a mortgage is "difficult." You might even have been turned down by your own bank because your tax returns don't tell the full story.

At I J Mortgage Solutions, we specialize in complex income. We know that a savvy accountant minimizes your tax bill, but that can sometimes hurt your borrowing power with traditional lenders. We dig deeper than the computer algorithm, presenting your full financial picture to lenders who understand business owners.

Who We Help

Sole Traders

Usually, banks look at your "Net Profit" averaged over the last 2-3 years.

The I J Solution: If your profit has jumped up recently, we have access to lenders who will use just your latest year's figures rather than an average. This may increase how much you can borrow subject to lenders criteria .

Limited Company Directors

Most banks only look at your "Salary + Dividends." If you leave profit in the business to be tax-efficient, high-street banks ignore it.

The I J Solution: We work with specialist lenders who look at your Salary + Net Profit (Share of Operating Profit). This "Retained Profit" calculation allows us to use the money sitting in your business account to boost your affordability.

Contractors / CIS Workers

Do you work on a day rate? Or under the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS)?

The I J Solution: Instead of looking at your payslips (which might look low after deductions), we use your Day Rate x 5 days x 46 weeks. This annualized calculation reflects your true earning power, often leading to a much larger mortgage offer.

Freelancers & Short-Term Contracts

Gaps in employment? Short contracts?

The I J Solution: We use lenders who verify your industry experience and track record rather than just demanding a permanent employment contract.

Understanding How Lending Criteria Varies

The Challenge: Every lender assesses income differently, which means your borrowing capacity can vary significantly depending on which bank you approach. For example:

Lender A might calculate affordability based on a three-year average of your earnings.
Lender B might consider only your most recent tax year.
Lender C may add back specific items, such as pension contributions or car allowances, when assessing your total income.

The Result: For a company director with a specific income structure, this variation in criteria may improve how your affordability is assessed. One lender might offer a different loan amount compared to another, simply based on their internal calculations.

How We Support You: We provide an in-depth analysis of your SA302s, Tax Year Overviews, and Company Accounts before an application is submitted. By matching your specific income structure with the appropriate lender’s criteria, this may increase how much you can borrow.

What Documents Do I Need?

To give you an accurate quote, we typically need to see:

Sole Traders: Last 2 years' SA302s and Tax Year Overviews.
Company Directors: Last 2 years' Full Company Accounts and personal Tax Returns.
Contractors: Your current contract (showing day rate) and 3 months' bank statements.
CIS Workers: Your last 3-6 months' payslips / CIS vouchers.

Don't have 2 years of accounts? Don't worry. We have access to lenders who can consider applicants with just 1 year of trading history in certain professions.