Self Cert Mortgage Resources

Guardian - Self-certification mortgages

About 14% of the UK population is self-employed and Alodis, an organisation that offers advice to people who are self-employed, predicts that, over the next 10 years, there will be about 3.2m in this position.

Guardian - Don't take risks with your future

Getting a mortgage is now a relatively simple procedure for people who own their own business provided they have accounts dating back more than a couple of years. However, if the business has not been trading for very long, it is likely that the accounts will not go back far enough to satisfy potential lenders. It is also likely that company accounts will be audited so as to reduce the tax liability rather than reflect the real amount of cash available to a borrower.

Guardian - Can I get a postgraduate mortgage?

The only alternative would be a self-certification mortgage, which doesn't require you to provide proof of your income or say what its source is. However, self-certification mortgages tend to be expensive, you'll typically need to use a broker to find a suitable lender (which usually involves a fee) and you'll need a minimum deposit of around 15% of the valuation of the property.

This is Money - Loans for the self-employed

If you work on a contract you can get a loan, but it may not be as easy as for traditionally employed people. Some lenders may be happy if you can prove that your contract has been renewed by the same employer. Others may want to see a pattern of renewals over a one or even a two-year period.

FSA - Self-certification mortgages - Summary of research

Summary of FSA research into the advisory and sales practices of smaller brokers on self-certification mortgages.

MoneyFacts - Best Buys Self Certification Mortgages

MoneyFacts - Self Certification Mortgage Guide

Self-certification mortgages are available if you cannot verify your income. This could be for a number of reasons.