Self-employed mortgage guide

Getting a mortgage when you’re self-employed doesn’t need to be tricky. Find out what you’ll need to do here.

Getting a mortgage when you're self-employed

If you’re self-employed you might feel a little anxious about getting a mortgage. Don’t worry, it’s perfectly possible to be your own boss and get a mortgage for a new home.

You may just need to provide a little more information to your mortgage lender to show that you can keep up your monthly repayments.

It’s important to note that there’s no such thing as a ‘self-employed mortgage’ – you’ll be applying for the same mortgage as anyone else.

If you apply with someone who’s not self-employed, it could help your chances of being accepted for a mortgage.

Am I self-employed?

If you work for yourself, you’re a business owner, or you work as a freelancer, then you may be self-employed.

You’re likely to be self-employed if you are:

  • A sole trader. You work on your own, keep your profits and are responsible for your work and business
  • A freelancer. You’re hired to work for different companies on specific jobs
  • An independent business owner. You own and are responsible for the day-to-day running of a business that you own
  • An independent contractor. You work for one client, sometimes for months at a time 

Self-employed mortgage criteria

As with any mortgage application, you’ll need to provide some documents to the lender. These include:

  • ID – such as a passport
  • Proof of address
  • Bank details

If you’re self-employed, you might also need to provide:

  • Two years’ evidence of a regular income and account statements
  • SA302 forms or a tax-year overview for the past three years
  • Evidence of profits or dividends if you own a business
  • Evidence of upcoming work or business if you work as a trader or contractor

You may also be asked to provide proof of accounts certified by a registered accountant.

Getting a mortgage as a small business owner

If you’re self-employed and own a small business, you may need to provide some more information about it. Including: 

  • Operating costs
  • Travel and commuting costs
  • Office or equipment rental costs
  • Business insurance information
  • Credit card and loan statements
  • Car or other vehicle leases

Getting a mortgage with a self-employed partner

If you’re applying for a mortgage with a partner who’s self-employed, you may be worried about being accepted.
 
A joint mortgage works much the same as a regular mortgage. However, both of your names are on the mortgage agreement. You’re responsible for making the repayments together.
 
If your self-employed partner is out of work or can’t make their share of the repayments, you would be responsible for making the full payment yourself. It’s worth making sure you’ll be able to make monthly repayments before you apply.

The content on this page is for reference and does not constitute financial advice. For impartial financial advice, we recommend government bodies like MoneyHelper.

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First Time Buyers
Mortgage deposits explained
What is a mortgage Agreement in Principle?

Calculators and tools

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  • Find out how much you could borrow from Halifax
  • See how much you could save if you make overpayments on your mortgage
  • Get an idea how a change to the Bank of England Base Rate could affect your monthly payments
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