Self employed mortgages

The employment landscape in Britain has altered dramatically in the last 20 years and the current culture would be almost unrecognisable to previous generations. People change companies and careers on a regular basis now, making the concept of a job for life practically redundant.

The number of people working for themselves has also risen and figures from the Office of National Statistics show that at the end of 2010, 10.8 million people in the UK either worked part time or were self-employed.

But while changing attitudes to employment afford the individual more flexibility and choice, there are some potential difficulties for self-employed people and proving your income can be one such problem.

Very few mortgage lenders will offer credit to self-employed people as a result.

Helping hands

If you are self employed and looking for a homeloan, it may be wise to seek some assistance. A mortgage broker may be able to help you arrange finance via a specialist mortgage lender. If you work for yourself, you may need to enlist the services of an accountant to not only ensure that all your finances are in order, but to verify your claims when you apply for a mortgage. And be aware that you will need a large deposit.