Self-Employed Mortgage With 1 Year's Accounts

Can I get a mortgage with one year’s accounts?

Yes, it’s possible to get a mortgage with just one year’s accounts. However, you’ll have fewer options available to you compared to someone with three or more years. Most mainstream lenders will probably turn you down, but there are specialist lenders who’ll be willing to consider your application.

There’s more than five million people in the UK who work for themselves – freelancers, contractors, company directors and sole traders. Lots of them have been told they can’t get a mortgage until they have three years’ worth of accounts proving their income. It’s not fair because it’s definitely possible, they just need the right guidance.

Mortgage lenders have a responsibility to make sure they’re lending to people who can pay the money back. That means you need to give proof that you can afford your monthly repayments. If you only have one year’s accounts so far, lenders might ask to see extra documentation to prove your income. For example; projections for income and information on your employment history or industry experience. 

Read our guide: What Mortgage Lenders look for In Applicants.

Working with a specialist mortgage broker makes all the difference. That’s where we come in! Our Mortgage Experts have plenty of experience getting mortgages for people who are self-employed, and will make your application look as strong as possible to lenders. Get in touch and a member of our mortgage team will contact you to get started.

Why is it difficult to get a mortgage if you’ve only just gone self-employed?

Getting a mortgage when you’re newly self-employed can be difficult because lenders want as much proof of your income as possible. Most lenders like to see at least your first year’s tax return so they can decide if you’ll be able to pay back the money you borrow from them. 

Once you’ve been self-employed for three years and have certified accounts to prove it, most lenders will be happy to offer you a mortgage if they look healthy and your income is stable. But with less than that, the big lenders won’t be as sure about your ability to pay them back.

That’s why you’ll probably need to apply to a specialist lender. Specialist lenders don’t usually deal directly with the public - you’ll have to work with a mortgage broker (like us!) to find one and help you put together a strong application.

How long do I need to have been self-employed to get a mortgage?

Many lenders will want to see three years’  accounts from you to prove your income, or at least they’ll ask for your first year’s tax return. They do this because they need to work out how much you can afford to borrow based on your current income.

Generally, the more accounts you have, the better. If you have one year’s accounts or less, it’s a great idea to have your accounts prepared by a qualified accountant. If they can do a year-to-date overview of your income, that’ll help your case when your mortgage broker approaches lenders. So while your chances do improve with the more accounts you have, you can get a mortgage even if you’ve been self-employed for as little as nine months.

What income evidence will a lender want to see when I apply for a mortgage?

Once you’ve found a lender that’ll consider you for a mortgage with one year’s accounts, you’ll usually have to provide two things:

1. Finalised accounts from a qualified accountant to prove your income

2. An SA302 tax calculation or tax year overview* from HMRC

There’s a list of other documentation you’ll need too, so it’s best to be prepared in advance of submitting your application. Read more in our Guide: How to Get Mortgage-Ready.

What type of self-employed trade do I need to be to get a mortgage?

Lenders generally don’t mind what sector you’re in or how you’re registered for self-employment, as long as you can prove your income is stable and your business is viable.

The amount you need to earn to afford a mortgage completely depends on factors such as:

• The price of the property you want to buy

• The size of your deposit

• Whether you have any credit issues

If you’re self-employed and are registered as a sole trader or you’re a freelancer, a lender will analyse your earnings by looking at the net profit of your business over recent years. 

If you’re set up as a limited company, a lender will look at your salary and dividends or share of net profit. If you’re a contractor, then your annualised day rate will be taken into consideration.

What’s the most I can borrow on a mortgage if I’ve only been self-employed for a year?

This will depend on your income and credit history. It’s the same if you were applying for a mortgage full-time employed by a company. Usually, the most you can borrow is the equivalent of 4.5x your annual income. But some lenders can potentially stretch to more than that. 

In some circumstances, a lender could consider an income projection. This is an estimate based on accounts that aren’t ready yet because the business year hasn’t finished. For example, if you’ve been trading for a year and half, you’d have a full year’s worth of accounts, plus six months of records. 

If the most recent six months of your second year are on track to show you’ve increased your income, then a lender might consider using an income projection. If a qualified accountant calculates that they expect trading to continue like the recent six months, you could be allowed to borrow more for your mortgage.

What else will affect my ability to get a mortgage with one year’s worth of accounts?

There are lots of other things lenders will look at when they’re deciding whether to offer you a mortgage. Lenders will look at:

• Your credit report: If you have any bad credit issues on your file, this could affect the rates you can get and the amount you can borrow. 

• Your deposit: the larger a deposit you have, the more attractive you’ll be as an applicant to more mortgage lenders. If you’re borrowing less, the risk to the lender also lowers.  

• The property type: A property that’s non-standard construction or a renovation project might need a specialist lender, which limits your options a bit more.