Self-Employed and Applying for a Mortgage?

Buying a home when you're self-employed can feel daunting — but it doesn't have to be. Whether you're a contractor, sole trader, or run a limited company, there are mortgage options out there for you.

At Cambs Ely Mortgages, we work with over 200 lenders — many of whom specialise in self-employed borrowers. Here’s what you need to know.

What Lenders Look At:

• 1–2 years of SA302s or tax calculations

• Business accounts (profit/loss)

• Evidence of sustained income

Tips to Improve Your Approval Odds:

• Keep your accounts up to date

• Use an accountant who understands mortgages

• Reduce debt before applying

• Work with a broker who gets your income structure

How a Self-Employed NHS Contractor Bought Her Dream Home (and How You Can Too)

When Sarah, a self-employed NHS contractor in Cambridge, came to us, she was nervous. She had been renting for years, and after a messy divorce, her credit wasn’t perfect. She told me, “I don’t think any lender would touch me.”

But she had one thing working in her favour: determination.

Like many self-employed people, Sarah’s income was real — and consistent — but it didn’t fit neatly into a bank’s tick-box system. Her pays varied, and she claimed expenses like any smart sole trader would. The high street said no. One even told her, “Come back when you’ve had three years of perfect accounts.”

Luckily, that’s not where the story ends.

We worked closely with Sarah to gather her documents — SA302s, tax calculations, bank statements — and matched her with a lender who specialised in self-employed borrowers. One who understood that being self-employed doesn’t make you risky — it just makes you different.

Two months later, she was holding the keys to a 3-bed semi near Ely with a garden for her kids and a smile that said, “I did it.”

📲 Ready to explore your options? Contact us today