Case Study: £750,000 Mortgage for a London Company Director with Just 1 Year’s Accounts

The Challenge

Our client was a recruitment consultant with 11 years’ steady employment and excellent earnings. He left his employer to launch his own limited company, trading for just one year when he sought to buy a home in London.

When he approached his bank, they declined to consider him because of the short trading history. The only offers he saw were from expensive specialist lenders with high rates and restrictive terms.

Despite his strong track record and clear business prospects, mainstream lenders were unwilling to back him — leaving him stuck in a tough position.

How Strive Closed the Gap

At Strive Mortgages, we specialise in helping business owners in London (and beyond) with complex income profiles. You can see our London coverage here: Strive London Mortgage Services.

We reviewed the client’s full profile:

• His 11-year career in recruitment, consistent earnings pre-self-employment.
• His first year’s accounts showing solid profit.
• A future income projection from his accountant.
• Strong contracts in hand and growth potential.

Using that evidence, we positioned his case to a mainstream lender — not just a specialist. We emphasised continuity of income, sector experience, and business forecasts to minimise perceived risk.

The Result

We secured a £750,000 mortgage from a high-street lender at competitive rates.

• The lender accepted his salary + retained profit model, rather than just dividends.
• They gave weight to his employment history and his business outlook.
• He obtained terms far superior to what specialist lenders were offering him.

This enabled him to buy his ideal London home without overpaying in interest or compromising on flexibility.

Client Feedback

“After 11 years in a stable career, I felt penalised when starting my own company. Strive saw what others dismissed — they turned my 1-year accounts into a strength. Now I’m in London on terms I’m proud of.”

Why This Case Worked

• We leveraged past employment continuity to bolster credibility.
• We used accountant-backed projections to indicate growth.
• We matched him to a lender with appetite for smart, growth-oriented self-employed borrowers.
• And we did all this within the London market, where competition is fierce.
  

Strive: London’s Self-Employed Mortgage Specialists

We’ve helped numerous London-based professionals — contractors, directors, consultants — secure mortgages with limited trading history. Whether you’re buying your first London property or upgrading in the capital, we can tailor your case and find the right lender.

👉 Ready to make your London move? Speak to our London mortgage team today: Strive London Mortgage Services.

Many business owners believe they’ll need at least two or three years of trading history before they can get a mortgage. That’s not always true — as this case shows. If you’d like to understand the full picture of how lenders approach one year’s accounts, see our in-depth guide: Can You Get a Self-Employed Mortgage with One Year’s Accounts?