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We are Strive, Mortgage Brokers for Limited Company Directors
There’s no one-size-fits-all mortgage for company directors — which is why expert guidance can make all the difference. At Strive, we specialise in helping self-employed directors secure the right mortgage by matching you with lenders who understand your unique financial situation.
With in-depth industry knowledge and a strong track record, we’re a trusted choice for many business owners. From exploring your options to managing the full application process, we’re here to make securing a mortgage as smooth and stress-free as possible — so you can stay focused on running your business.
Whether you’re navigating fluctuating income, retained profits, or limited trading history, we can help you through every step of the mortgage process. We understand that every limited company director has a unique financial background that needs careful consideration.
Looking for 5 star mortgage advise? We’re ready to help.
Whatever stage you’re at, it’s never too early to reach out.
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We Understand Director Income and How It’s Set Up
There’s a lot that goes into assessing a director’s income for mortgage purposes — but ultimately, it comes down to a few key points. Let’s cover them now.
How Your Income Is Treated
Lenders assess director income in different ways. Some look at your salary and dividends, while others use salary plus net profit (which can significantly increase your borrowing potential if you retain profits in the business).
Many directors keep money in the business for tax efficiency, meaning their salary and dividends don’t always reflect their true earning potential.
Some lenders will only look at those figures — while others take your share of net profit into account, which can dramatically increase how much you’re able to borrow.
Here’s an Example of How Using Profits vs Salary Can Make a Huge Difference
They’ll also decide whether to base their figures on your latest year or the average of the last two years, depending on your trading history and consistency of income.
| Lender Assessment Method | Income Considered | Potential Borrowing (5× income) |
|---|---|---|
| Salary + Dividends | £50,000 (e.g. £10,000 salary + £40,000 dividends) | £250,000 |
| Salary + Net Profit | £110,000 (e.g. £10,000 salary + £100,000 company profit) | £550,000 |
As you can see, the difference in how income is assessed can more than double your potential borrowing.
Using Your Latest Year’s Income vs an Average
Another key difference between lenders is how they assess your income over time. Some use your latest year’s figures, while others take an average of the last two years.
If your business is growing quickly, lenders who use the latest year’s income can offer a noticeably higher borrowing amount.
Here’s a simple example:
| Year | Income | How Lender Assesses | Income Used | Potential Borrowing (5x income) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Latest year | £100,000 | Uses latest year | £100,000 | £500,000 |
| Previous year | £50,000 | Averages last 2 years | £75,000 | £375,000 |
As you can see, choosing a lender that uses your latest year’s income could increase your borrowing power by as much as £125,000.
How Long You’ve Been Trading
Lenders have different requirements for how long you must have been trading before they’ll consider a mortgage application.
Some are open to directors with just 12 months of accounts, while others want two or three years of trading history.
- Less than a year: Only a few specialist lenders will consider this, often with strong future projections or contracts.
- 1–2 years: Possible with the right lender and documentation, especially if your income is stable.
- 2+ years: You’ll have access to most mainstream lenders, particularly with consistent performance and clean credit.
| Minimum Time Self-Employed | Lenders |
|---|---|
| 12 months | HSBC, LendInvest, Halifax, Scottish Building Society, Foundation Home Loans, Precise Mortgages, Swansea Building Society, Norton Home Loans, Together, Pepper Money, Dudley Building Society, Hinckley & Rugby Building Society, Vida Homeloans, Earl Shilton Building Society, Cumberland Building Society, Gatehouse Bank, Beverley Building Society, Kent Reliance, Harpenden Building Society, Gen H, Mansfield Building Society, Aldermore, The Loughborough Building Society, West One Loans, The Mortgage Lender, Marsden Building Society, Bluestone Mortgages, Kensington Mortgages |
| 18 months | Market Harborough Building Society, Chorley Building Society |
| 24 months | Accord Mortgages, Suffolk Building Society, Principality Building Society, TSB, The Co-operative for Intermediaries, Progressive Building Society, Nottingham Building Society, Newcastle for Intermediaries, Virgin Money, Hanley Economic Building Society, Santander, Leek Building Society, MPowered Mortgages, Metro Bank, Perenna, Coventry Building Society, Barclays, West Brom Building Society, Buckinghamshire Building Society, United Trust Bank, Nationwide Building Society, Leeds Building Society, Atom Bank, Monmouthshire Building Society, Melton Building Society, Tipton Building Society, Clydesdale Bank, Family Building Society, April Mortgages, Hodge, Penrith Building Society, Cambridge Building Society, Bath Building Society, Stafford Building Society, Darlington Intermediaries, Teachers Building Society, Skipton Building Society, NatWest, Vernon Building Society, Furness Building Society |
| 36 months | Ecology Building Society, Bank of Ireland, Tandem Bank, Newbury Building Society |
What Income Multiple Is Applied
Most lenders work on around 4.5 to 5 times your income, but this can vary depending on your credit history, deposit size, and how your income is structured. Some high-income professionals or low-debt applicants may qualify for a higher multiple.
At Strive, we take all of this into account — understanding how you pay yourself, how long you’ve been trading, and which lenders will assess your income in the most favourable way.
What Deposit Is Needed?
Mortgages for limited company directors are available with deposits from as little as 5%, depending on your circumstances.
The exact amount required will depend on factors like your credit history, income stability, property type, and overall affordability.
While some lenders are comfortable with 5% deposits, others may ask for 10–20%, especially if your income is complex or your business has a shorter trading history.
Outstanding service and clear communication are at the core of what we do. But don’t just take our word for it—read firsthand experiences from our clients and discover why they rate us a 5-star mortgage broker.
How much can Limited Company Directors borrow?
The mortgage amount available varies by lender. Some will use salary and dividends, while others will assess retained profits, net profit, or even a mix. This distinction is crucial for limited company directors who optimise income through profit retained in the company.
Most mortgage lenders use income multiples of 4.5 to 5 times income, though this can vary depending on credit history and overall financial strength. Higher earners can potentially unlock multiples of 5.5 or even 6 x income.
Speak to a Company Director Mortgage Expert
Best Limited Company Director Mortgage Rates
Mortgage rates depend on the deposit, product, income setup, and credit history.
While there aren’t products exclusive to limited company directors, some mortgage options are better suited to the self-employed. If you’re a limited company director with a stable record and well-structured income, competitive rates are definitely within reach.
Who Are the Best Lenders for Limited Company Directors?
There isn’t one “best” lender for every limited company director — it really depends on what you want to achieve.
Some directors aim to maximise borrowing, so the best fit may be a lender that considers salary plus net profit or bases affordability on the latest year’s income rather than averaging two.
Others may not need to borrow to the maximum and instead prioritise lower rates, flexibility, or a more generous approach to things like trading history and retained profits.
To help you get a clearer picture, we’ve put together a few tables showing where certain lenders are strong — and where others are a little more restrictive.
Lenders and How They Assess Director Income
| Lend on Salary + Net Profit | Salary + Dividends Only |
|---|---|
| Kensington Mortgages, Barclays, Bath Building Society, The Loughborough Building Society, Bespoke BOI, Virgin Money, Metro Bank, Atom Bank, Family Building Society, Gen H, Central Trust Limited, Hinckley & Rugby Building Society, Newbury Building Society, Beverley Building Society, HSBC, Skipton Building Society, Swansea Building Society, Chorley Building Society, Accord Mortgages, Perenna, Marsden Building Society, Aldermore, The Mortgage Lender, Cumberland Building Society, Saffron for Intermediaries, Pepper Money, Harpenden Building Society, Darlington Intermediaries, Cambridge Building Society, Buckinghamshire Building Society, Clydesdale Bank, Scottish Building Society, Vernon Building Society, Vida Homeloans, Gatehouse Bank, Coventry Building Society | Halifax, Nottingham Building Society, Teachers Building Society, Tipton Building Society, Foundation Home Loans, Bank of Ireland, Kent Reliance, Melton Building Society, Dudley Building Society, Progressive Building Society, Leeds Building Society, Santander, Hodge, NatWest, West Brom Building Society, Hanley Economic Building Society, Nationwide Building Society, The Co-operative for Intermediaries, Leek Building Society, Principality Building Society, TSB, West One Loans, MPowered Mortgages, Monmouthshire Building Society, Precise Mortgages, Market Harborough Building Society |
Lenders That Consider Latest Year vs Average
Some lenders base affordability on your most recent year’s income (useful if profits have grown). Others average the last two years.
| Use latest year’s income | Average over two years |
|---|---|
| Precise Mortgages, Kent Reliance, Hinckley & Rugby Building Society, Stafford Building Society, Coventry Building Society, Dudley Building Society, Swansea Building Society, Kensington Mortgages, West One Loans, Aldermore, Nottingham Building Society, Bespoke BOI, Saffron for Intermediaries, Foundation Home Loans, Vida Homeloans, Marsden Building Society, Bluestone Mortgages, Cumberland Building Society, Family Building Society, Building Society, Market Harborough Building Society, Chorley Building Society, Furness Building Society, Pepper Money, Beverley Building Society, Suffolk Building Society, Hodge, Bath Building Society, Halifax, Tipton Building Society, Mansfield Building Society, Together, Gen H, The Loughborough Building Society, The Mortgage Lender, Cambridge Building Society | NatWest, The Co-operative for Intermediaries, Metro Bank, Perenna, Teachers Building Society, West Brom Building Society, Virgin Money, HSBC, Penrith Building Society, Scottish Building Society, Hanley Economic Building Society, Vernon Building Society, Newcastle for Intermediaries, Melton Building Society, Barclays, Monmouthshire Building Society, Clydesdale Bank, Principality Building Society, Leek Building Society, MPowered Mortgages, Newbury Building Society, Santander, Leeds Building Society, Skipton Building Society, Buckinghamshire Building Society, Accord Mortgages, Atom Bank, TSB, Darlington Intermediaries, Bank of Ireland, Nationwide Building Society |
What to expect from the mortgage process as a Limited Company Director
Navigating the mortgage process as a limited company director can feel daunting, especially if you’re unsure how your income setup affects your eligibility. While most lenders look for consistent income, being a business owner adds extra layers that not all high street lenders fully understand.
Some lenders only consider PAYE income, which can disadvantage directors who keep salaries low for tax efficiency. Others, however, take a broader view — factoring in salary, dividends, and even retained profits — giving you a much fairer assessment.
That’s why applying as a company director works best with clear accounts, a solid understanding of your income, and expert guidance. With the right support and lender, even those with fluctuating earnings can unlock their full borrowing potential and secure a mortgage that fits their goals.
Case Study: £750,000 Mortgage for a Company Director with One Year of Accounts
Check out how we secured a £750,000 mortgage in London for a limited company director with just one year of accounts — showing that with the right approach, strong documentation, and the right lender, it’s absolutely possible to achieve a great outcome.
Documents required for Limited Company Directors
To support your mortgage application, lenders will want to see clear evidence of your income and financial stability. Typically, you’ll need to provide:
- SA302s or tax calculations – showing your declared income to HMRC
- Limited company accounts – usually the last one or two years
- Business and personal bank statements – normally three months’ worth
- Proof of ID and address – such as a passport, driving licence, or utility bill
- Contracts or invoices – helpful if you have a shorter trading history or upcoming work
- Tax year overviews and income verification – to confirm figures match your tax returns
Having these documents ready helps your application move faster and shows lenders a complete picture of your financial position.
Our Limited Company Director mortgage Service, Why choose Strive?
At Strive, we make limited company director mortgages easier.
We understand how mortgage lenders approach income verification, limited company finances, and challenging income structures. Whether you’re an established or first-time limited company director, we guide you through the process with clarity and expertise.
We provide:
- Personalised support through the mortgage application process
- Expert help with documentation and eligibility criteria
- Access to both specialist lenders and mainstream lenders
- Advice on securing the best mortgage options and manageable monthly repayments
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FAQs – Limited Company Director Mortgages
If it’s in your company’s name, not always. But mortgage providers will review how well your business handles repayments.
Yes, specialist lenders cater to directors with bad credit, though more paperwork is needed.
Many lenders focus on dividend income, but others allow borrowing based on retained profits or profit retained within the business.
Yes, though there’s more scrutiny around company accounts, trading history, and income breakdown.
Yes, but you’ll likely need at least a year or more of limited company finances and a solid explanation. A mortgage broker can help you navigate the transition.
You’ll usually need two years’ company accounts or SA302s and tax year overviews, business bank statements, proof of salary and dividends, and ID and proof of deposit. Some lenders will accept one year’s accounts if your business is stable or growing.
Some do, but not all. A few specialist lenders assess salary, dividends, and retained profits, which can improve affordability for directors who keep income in the business. A mortgage broker familiar with these lenders can help you access this option.
Jamie Elvin
Jamie is an expert in all things mortgages, and our most experienced broker. Connect with Jamie and get started to see how Strive Mortgages can help you.
