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Are Self-Cert Mortgages Still Available?

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Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on a mortgage or other debt secured on it. 

Are Self-Cert Mortgages Still Available? 

Perhaps you have heard of self-certified mortgages but are unsure what they are or if they are still available – if so, read on. Total Home Loans explains self-cert mortgages and how they work.

What are self-cert mortgages?

With most mortgages you have to provide evidence of your annual income to a lender – but not with self-cert mortgages. 

Rather than providing payslips or tax documents to prove your income, a self-cert mortgage simply involves signing a document to ‘certify’ that you earn the amount stated in your mortgage application.

At one time, self-cert mortgages were the only option for the self-employed to buy a home.

Why aren’t they available?

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) banned self-cert mortgages over a decade ago following the credit crunch, as there were no checks on whether applicants really had the means to repay their mortgage loans. 

Poor mortgage practices were a major cause of the financial crisis in 2007-2008, and regulators have since introduced strict guidelines for mortgage lenders. They now have to assess every customer’s affordability – which is why we must all prove our incomes to get a mortgage. 

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Total Home Loans are a national mortgage broker with whole of market access. Their combined experience of over 50 years in the mortgage and financial services industry means they have an enviable reputation and one which makes them well-placed to find the most suitable mortgage solution for you.

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Getting a self-cert mortgage from overseas 

You may find certain overseas lenders offering ‘self-certification mortgages’, where you can get a mortgage with no proof of income. This is a risky approach and the FCA has warned British residents against such loans. Interest rates tend to be higher than average and there are often hidden fees and costs. 

Speak to a UK Mortgage Broker before exploring risky options like this. Some mortgage lenders are surprisingly flexible and offer loans to the self-employed, people in older age, those with poor credit and many other situations. A broker like Total Home Loans can explain all the options and recommend a suitable way to achieve your property plans.

What are the alternatives?

The main alternative to a self-cert mortgage is to look at ‘traditional’ mortgage products. UK lenders are quite adaptable and even the main high street brands lend to the self-employed all the time. 

Mortgage lenders will accept all kinds of income as part of the affordability assessment, including:

  • Rental income

  • Pension income

  • Investment income

  • Small business salary and dividends

  • Share of net profit

  • Contractor day rates

The self-employed usually need to submit two to three years’ accounts, or recent self-assessment forms plus bank statements. Some lenders will allow just a single year’s accounts.

How can Total Home Loans help?

Mortgage Brokers like the team at Total Home Loans are here to help you find a suitable mortgage product for your situation. We compare hundreds of products across dozens of lenders to find the most appropriate options for every client – including self-employed mortgages, Interest Only mortgages and borrowing for small business owners.

Our mortgage advisors will support you every step of the way, contact us today to start your journey.

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

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What our clients say..

Fantastic service and top communication, they helped me get a mortgage when others didn't want to know, can't speak high enough of them
P Wiggin
Great service from mark and team. I needed a mortgage incorporating forces help to buy and government help to buy. He made this all very easy. Would recommend to all those needing help with their mortgage.
J Williams
As first time buyers, my husband and I were amateurs during the buying process. Mark and colleagues at total home loans made the whole mortgage process easy and quick. I will be recommending total home loans to all those requiring a mortgage.
S Williams
Excellent service to obtain a mortgage when other firms and banks refused to help. Truly grateful for such a friendly and great professional service.
G Jones
The customer service from the THL team was exceptional, kept me fully informed throughout. Professional!
J Odwyer
Outstanding service from the THL team! They are all very friendly, professional, honest and helpful! Tangy and Mark have made the entire process a breeze and we couldn't have asked for a better experience. We cannot recommend them enough!
A
Got in touch with Mark & Tangy at Total Home Loans in early 2019 to ask about mortgages, after so many false starts with the buyer of our home and the place we wanted to purchase (took nearly a year in the end) Mark & Tangy always gave excellent advice and nothing was to much trouble for them. Our fixed rate is going to be ending toward the end of this year (2021) and I will have no hesitation in getting in touch with them to help us out again. No Drama, No Hassles, Just straight forward advice and help.
C Dowding
Me and my wife have used total home loans on 2 separate occasions and both went without fault. Very impressive service always communicating on a regular basis to make you feel completely in control of the process. We highly recommend you put your trust in the company especially mark and tangy. Top team.
C Eggs
We have been using Total Home Loans for many many years now and always go back every year to Mark and Tangy they are professional, friendly, easy to talk to and always find us the best rates. Most recently with our house move, the advice from them was perfect and they made it happen for us. Nothing seems to be a problem for them and they made the mortgage side of our move smooth and stress free. Thank you and we will be back in February for our new rate ;)
K Cox

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We do NOT charge any upfront cost. We may charge a typical fee of up to 2% of the amount of the loan for arranging a mortgage.

Think carefully before securing debts against your home. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

Total Home Loans Limited is an appointed representative of Quilter Mortgage Planning Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Approver Quilter Mortgage Planning Limited. 12/04/2022

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