Client Background:

A couple and their best friend approached us for help purchasing a property together. Two of the three applicants were self-employed, while the third had a steady but relatively low employed income. They had already spoken to several mortgage brokers, but were told that their income levels and financial circumstances would not allow them to borrow enough to purchase their dream home.

Challenges:

The case presented several complexities:

• Majority of the income was self-employed, hence latest business growth could not be fully accepted

• Requiring 100% of all three applicants’ incomes to be considered.

• One applicant had adverse credit on their record which failed credit scoring for the required borrowing.

• Most high street lenders were not suitable due to strict credit scoring policies and income restrictions.

Our Approach:

1. Searched for mortgage lenders that accepted:

   • All three applicants’ full incomes (including self-employed),

   • Manual credit checks instead of automated credit scoring,

2. Narrowed down to two specialist mortgage lenders who met all the criteria.

3. One of these lenders offered a much better interest rate, but the affordability result of the online calculator available to all the brokers came back significantly lower than expected.

Not settling for the result, we:

• Contacted the lender directly to query the affordability calculation.

• Proved that their official online calculator was incorrect, a fact the lender acknowledged.

• Were allowed to submit the application using their internal affordability calculator, which confirmed the clients qualified—subject to repaying a car loan.

The clients quickly took the required action to reduce their debt, which lead to for full mortgage approval.

Outcome:

• Secured the full mortgage amount they needed.

• Ensured the mortgage was on a more competitive rate and switched it to even better rate after the initial offer was issued.

• Guided them through the legal and surveying process, liaising with solicitors and surveyors to keep the transaction on track.

Key Takeaways:

• Applying with friends or family? You can use all incomes with the right lender.

• Minor credit issues? Manual underwriting can help when common sense approach is needed.

• Always seek a mortgage broker who will challenge results, not just accept them.

If you’re self-employed, applying with multiple people, or have credit issues, we’re here to help. Get in touch today for expert, tailored mortgage advice.

Client Background:
A British expat reached out to us in a state of frustration after his previous mortgage broker failed to act in time. As a result, his mortgage rolled onto the standard variable rate (SVR). Although the client was eligible for a product transfer, the lender he was with was no longer competitive.

Challenges:

• The client’s existing broker had missed key deadlines, leading to a costly SVR transition, so we needed to act quickly

• The client had foreign income, making underwriting more complex and requiring extra documents.

• There were multiple international bank accounts and credit profiles to consider.

• Foreign income is always subject to income tax rate ambiguities and foreign exchange risks. 

Our Approach:

Using our deep experience in foreign income and expat mortgages, we:

1. Identified a specialist lender known for supporting expat applicants and have market leading rates.

2. Ensured the mortgage application was fully packaged from day one to avoid unnecessary delays.

3. Advised the client on preparing all necessary documentation, including:

   • Bank statements across all jurisdictions

   • Credit reports from all countries involved

   • Explanatory notes on any transactions that could raise red flags

4.       When the lender applied a marginal tax rate to the foreign income, we disputed the calculation with supporting evidence

• Successfully demonstrated that the actual tax burden was significantly lower

• Secured a revision that almost halved the tax assumption and secured desired affordability.

Outcome:

• The client was able to remortgage within just 1.5 months of contacting us.

• The new mortgage product was far more competitive than the SVR or product transfer would have been.

• The client felt that he was a priority

Key Takeaways:

·        If you earn income abroad, you need a broker with specific expat mortgage experience.

·        Don’t settle for a product transfer without comparing wider mortgage solutions.

·        Expert guidance can resolve affordability issues related to foreign income or tax assumptions.

Client Background:

A determined mother of three came to us hoping to buy her own home for her and her three children. While she had a strong income, she assumed that buying a property wouldn’t be possible for another few years due to her childcare costs and a background property which she was paying a mortgage for and would not be able to sell any time soon.

During our initial conversation, she just wanted to understand where she stood.

Challenges:

 ·        The client already owned a background property with the mortgage which was not for sale

·        She had significant monthly childcare expenses, with two young children still in nursery

·        The client wanted to minimise her monthly mortgage payments to maintain financial flexibility

Our Approach:

We created a solution based on long-term flexibility and short-term affordability:

1.  Proposed an interest-only mortgage, which would:

a.        Lower her monthly repayments

b. Provide the option to overpay later when finances improve or the property is sold

2. Used the equity with her existing properties as the repayment vehicle (exit strategy) for the interest-only mortgage

3. Identified a lender willing to:

a.   Accept the planned rental of the background property to remove mortgage costs from affordability.

b.    Not apply a discount to the current market values of the property, therefore maximising the equity that could be used as a repayment vehicle.

c.     Exclude childcare costs from affordability calculations up to 6 months ahead of them starting school.

Outcome:

• The client was approved for an interest-only mortgage

• She moved into her new home within six months of our first meeting

• The client was shocked and delighted that something she thought was “years away” became a reality in just a matter of months

Key Takeaways:

• Always speak to a mortgage broker - homeownership may be possible sooner than you think

• Childcare costs don’t always need to block affordability if there’s a clear plan in place

• Interest-only mortgages can offer flexibility if paired with a strong exit strategy

Client Background:

A 28-year-old first-time buyer was ready to leave shared accommodation and step onto the property ladder. He had saved a solid 10% deposit and was motivated to buy, but quickly hit a roadblock: the properties he wanted were outside his affordability range based on standard income multiples.

After speaking to a broker, he was introduced to the idea of using a Joint Borrower Sole Proprietor (JBSP) mortgage, with his 58-year-old father acting as an income booster. However, when they looked closer at the numbers, the shorter mortgage term, due to his father’s age, made the monthly repayments far too high - exceeding £1,200/month budget.

Challenges:

• Client’s income alone wasn’t sufficient to purchase the home he wanted.

• His dad, although willing to help, was 58 years old, which significantly shortened the available mortgage term.

• A shorter term meant higher monthly repayments—pushing affordability beyond Client’s comfort zone.

• The JBSP concept was right, but it needed tailoring to fit both Client’s needs

Our Approach:

The Client contacted The Surrey Mortgage Broker after hearing about our success helping first-time buyers access affordability-boosting mortgage strategies.

Here’s how we approached his case:

1. Conducted a deep dive into both Client’s and his father’s finances.

2. Leveraged our representative of the whole-of-market lender access to identify products that would accept a longer mortgage term, despite the older parent’s age, bringing the monthly repayment down within budget.

 Outcome:

• We secured a mortgage on a JBSP basis, keeping monthly payments within the £1,200 target.

• The mortgage offer was issued within two weeks of the application and the client felt that it all happened much faster than he could have imagined.

Key Takeaways for First-Time Buyers:

• If you’re struggling with income multiples, a Joint Borrower Sole Proprietor mortgage can be a powerful solution—if structured correctly.

• Older family members can still help boost affordability with the right lender and strategy.

• Mortgage term flexibility plays a huge role in managing monthly affordability.

• Specialist brokers can often access solutions not offered by high street lenders.

Need help buying your first home?

We specialise in helping first-time buyers, especially those needing income boosters, JBSP mortgages, or affordability stretch solutions. Reach out today to find out what’s possible for you.

Client Background:

At the start of the year, a client came to us with a dream: to move into her own small property now that her children had flown the nest. With a salary just under £30,000 and only a limited deposit, she worried her chances of buying in her preferred area were slim.

During our initial review, we also discovered she had unknowingly picked up a County Court Judgment (CCJ) the year before. Although she immediately satisfied it, the damage to her credit score added yet another challenge.

Initially, it seemed she might need to wait until the end of the year—giving time for her credit score to improve and her affordability to grow. But we kept her on our radar in case new opportunities arose sooner.

Challenges:

• Salary just under £30,000, limiting borrowing capacity.

• Small deposit, requiring high LTV.

• A recent CCJ on her credit profile, impacting credit scoring.

• Desired location had higher property prices, stretching affordability.

Our Approach:

1. Strategic planning – We mapped out a plan for improving her position, including monitoring her credit profile. 

2. Proactive monitoring of the market – Within two months, lender criteria changes meant higher income multiples were available for first-time buyers at a lower level of income.

3. Credit improvement – After two months, her credit score had improved enough that we felt confident in re-approaching a high street lender.

4. Decision in Principle success – We ran a new DIP, and this time, she was approved. This motivated her to start actively searching for properties and finding the way to get her pay over the required threshold. 

5. Employer engagement – The client found the property she fell in love with; but her salary was just below the lender’s new threshold. This gave her the courage to speak to her employer, and after successfully negotiating a small pay rise (confirmed by letter), she now met the required criteria.

Outcome:

• Approved by a mainstream high street lender despite her initial credit issues.

• Found a studio property in the heart of her dream location, fully within her budget.

• Secured a mortgage offer with affordable repayments.

• Timeline reduced dramatically: from an initial plan of 12 months, she became a homeowner in just 6–7 months from our first meeting.

The client was overjoyed—not only had she achieved what she thought might take over a year, but she did it in the exact location she had hoped for.

Key Takeaways for First-Time Buyers with Credit Issues:

• A recent CCJ or poor credit doesn’t mean homeownership is out of reach.

• Market changes all the time and lender criteria shifts can create new opportunities sooner than expected.

• Even a modest salary increase can unlock the borrowing amount needed—£30,000 and £75,000 tend to be most common threshold's that can boost affordability

• With the right broker support, buying a home can happen much faster than you think.

Need help buying your first home?

First-time buyer facing income or affordability challenges? Reach out and let's see what we can achieve together.

Client Background:

A couple, both first-time buyers, was looking to purchase a larger multigenerational home together with one parent. The arrangement would allow them to pool resources, buy a more spacious property, and provide the parent with a separate living space within the same home.

On their own, the couple’s income allowed for a good level of borrowing, but the purchase relied on the parent selling their existing property and using equity to help fund the deposit. 

Challenges:

• Needed to make sure that parent's interest is protected.

• The parent’s age risked restricting the mortgage term, which made the loan unaffordable on just couple's income or significantly increased monthly payments beyond the desirable budget if income from all three clients was used. 

• The clients wanted to find a property with a self-contained annex, which some lenders are cautious about.

• Applicants had a mix of employed and self-employed income, requiring a lender generous across both income types.

• One applicant wasn’t contributing to a pension, which can cause many lenders to limit the maximum term to age 70.

• To make the purchase affordable, they needed a lender that would allow stretched income multiples while disregarding the parent’s age in affordability.

Our Approach:

We carried out detailed research and tailored the strategy to balance the family’s goals with lender requirements:

1. Focused on lenders accepting 3+ applicants on one mortgage.

2. Identified a lender able to disregard the parent’s age when the parent’s income wasn’t used, meaning the term could be set based on the younger buyers.

3. Ensured the chosen lender was comfortable with the property type, including the annex.

4. Prioritised lenders with strong policies on self-employed affordability while still offering high income multiples.

5. Found a lender that did not require pension contributions to allow terms beyond age 70, which expanded affordability further.

Outcome:

• The application was submitted, and the offer was issued within normal service times—with no extra questions raised.

Key Takeaways for Multigenerational Buyers:

• Some lenders will allow more than two people on one mortgage.

• Having an older parent on a mortgage doesn’t have to restrict the term.

• Annex properties can be acceptable with the right lender.

• Even with mixed employed and self-employed income, generous affordability can be achieved.

• Lack of pension contributions isn’t always a blocker—specialist lenders can still offer longer terms.

Thinking of buying a home with family?

We specialise in multigenerational mortgages, Joint Borrower Sole Proprietor (JBSP) options, and complex affordability cases. If you’re combining incomes, mixing employment types, or involving parents in a purchase, we can help

Client Background:

Our client came to us following a recent separation, needing to buy out his partner’s share of their jointly owned home. The financial settlement amount had already been agreed upon between the two parties. The main challenge was that the amount required was beyond what he could borrow on a standard repayment-only mortgage based on his current income.

Challenges:

The required buyout amount exceeded affordability limits on a repayment-only basis.

• The client had just started a new job, so there was no bonus track record to evidence future earnings.

• Needed a high income multiple, around six times salary, to make the figures work.

• Required a lender willing to assess affordability based on interest-only payments, not repayment.

• The situation was time-sensitive, as his existing mortgage deal was due to end within weeks, risking a switch to a higher standard variable rate (SVR).

Our Approach:

We approached the case with a strategy focused on maximising capacity to borrow that would still be affordable

1. Researched lenders that could:

   • Offer up to six times income multiples,

   • Allow a portion of the mortgage on interest-only, calculated using interest-only affordability criteria

2. Worked directly with the lender’s underwriting team before submission, ensuring the case met criteria and managing expectations early.

3. Created valuation scenarios “desirable” vs. “likely outcome” to help the client understand how different property valuations might affect borrowing capacity and the equity available for the buyout.

Outcome:

• The chosen lender agreed to a part interest-only structure with affordability based on interest-only payments.

• Secured six times income multiple, allowing the client to meet the agreed buyout amount.

• The application moved quickly to offer, due to the lender’s pre-submission review.

• The valuation came in at the lower end of the projected range, but because the client had been prepared for this scenario, he was able to proceed smoothly.

Key Takeaways:

• Part interest-only structures. Combined with interest-only affordability calculations, offers greater flexibility and increases your capacity to borrow.

• A tailored underwriting approach can help to make the process smoother and minimise surprises down the line

• Planning for different property valuation scenarios can help to be prepared and save time down the line

Client Background

A married couple with three young children reached out to us shortly after completing their Individual Voluntary Arrangements (IVAs). They had experienced financial difficulties three years prior, leading each of them to enter separate IVAs.

Before speaking to us, another broker had told them they would need to wait three full years after their IVA was satisfied before they could apply for a mortgage, delaying their ability to buy a home for more than two additional years.

Challenges

The case had several layers of complexity:

•  Both clients had recently satisfied IVAs, which many lenders require to have been settled for three years before application

• A 10% deposit, meant the mortgage would rely heavily on an acceptable credit score

• One of the clients had a significant share of variable income

Our Approach

To find a solution that would not delay the family’s plans.

1. Identifying high-street lenders willing to consider applicants with satisfied IVAs registered more than three years ago

2. Assessing credit scoring and maximum landing viability at 90% LTV via DIP

3. Addressing the variable-income complication by providing scenarios on affordability implications and encouraging the clients to use this information during price negotiations to maintain a safety margin.

Outcome

·       The lender accepted the application with no issues, and the case progressed quickly and smoothly

·       Most importantly, the clients secured the home their family needed around 2.5 years earlier than the previous broker told them was possible.

Key Takeaways

• You do not need to wait 3 years after IVA satisfaction — several high-street lenders will consider applicants immediately, provided it was registered more than three years ago.

• Even at 90% LTV, competitive high-street mortgage options are possible with a satisfied IVA.

• Variable income can affect affordability, but with the right guidance and scenario planning, risks can be managed effectively.