Self-employed · 8 min read · 10 September 2026
Self-employed mortgages: how to package income so lenders say yes
Banks assess contractors, company directors and sole traders differently. Here's the document checklist and what usually blocks approval.
If you're self-employed, a contractor, or a company director, your income often doesn't fit a tidy PAYE box. That's why one bank can decline you while another says yes — they use different policies for how much of your income counts.
Most lenders want to see a sustainable picture of earnings, not just a single strong year. Common requests include two years of financial statements (sometimes one year with some lenders), IRD summaries or IR3/IR4 returns, GST returns if registered, and recent bank statements. Directors may also need shareholder salary details and company accounts.
What usually blocks approval isn't 'you don't earn enough' — it's incomplete paperwork, fluctuating income without explanation, large personal drawings that look like lifestyle spend, or applying to a lender whose policy doesn't fit your structure. Packaging the story clearly matters as much as the numbers.
An adviser who works complex income regularly will match you to lenders comfortable with your situation, help your accountant prepare the right supporting pack, and avoid shotgun applications that leave footprints on your credit file. This is general information only — book a chat and we'll assess your actual position.
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