Specialist Mortgages

Self-employed borrowers, company directors, contractors and those with multiple income streams often find that mainstream lenders don’t assess their income in a way that reflects their true borrowing potential.

Limited company mortgages, development finance, bridging loans, commercial mortgages, auction finance and high-net-worth lending all have different criteria and lender requirements. Presenting the application correctly can make a significant difference to the outcome. We work with specialist lenders across all of these areas.

For those with adverse credit, we have access to lenders who consider applicants with historic missed payments, defaults, or CCJs, and we’ll give you an honest assessment of what’s achievable before you apply. We have access to lenders who consider applicants with historic missed payments, defaults, or CCJs.

Not every buyer fits the standard model. Alternative mortgage structures exist for situations where the straightforward route isn’t available or isn’t the most efficient option. We advise across all of these and will tell you which makes sense for your situation.

Guarantor mortgages

If your income alone isn’t enough to borrow what you need, a guarantor – typically a parent or close family member – can support the application. The guarantor provides additional support to the application and may be asked to take responsibility for repayments if the borrower is unable to meet them. This can make the difference between buying now or waiting years to save a larger deposit.

Offset mortgages

An offset mortgage links your savings to your mortgage balance. Rather than earning interest on your savings, you reduce the interest charged on your mortgage – which can be more tax-efficient, particularly for higher-rate taxpayers. The savings remain accessible.

Interest-only mortgages

Available to buyers who can demonstrate a credible repayment strategy for the capital at the end of the term. The monthly payments are lower, but the full loan remains outstanding. Lenders are stricter on affordability and loan-to-value for interest-only than they used to be.

Some of the most desirable properties in Oxfordshire and the Cotswolds don’t fit neatly into a standard lender’s criteria. Listed buildings, thatched cottages and non-standard construction properties often require a more specialist approach to financing. We know the right lenders who can support you.

Listed buildings

Grade I and Grade II listed properties can be mortgaged, but the pool of lenders is smaller and some will require specialist buildings insurance as a condition. We know which lenders are comfortable with listed stock and can structure the application accordingly.

Thatched properties

Thatching affects both the mortgage and the buildings insurance. Some lenders won’t consider thatched properties at all; others will at a lower loan-to-value. We work alongside specialist insurers and lenders who understand thatched properties and can handle both sides.

Non-standard construction

Concrete frame, steel frame, timber frame, prefabricated properties, and those with spray foam insulation in the roof all require specialist lenders. In some cases – particularly spray foam – remediation may be needed before a lender will proceed. We’ll give you an honest assessment before you commit.

Other non-standard situations

Flats above commercial premises, high-rise flats, ex-local authority properties, properties with short leases, and homes with annexes or significant agricultural ties all have their own lending considerations. We deal with these regularly and will tell you what’s achievable.

If you’re buying or remortgaging property through a limited company, whether that’s a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) set up purely to hold buy-to-let property, or a trading company you already run, you’ll find that many high street lenders simply won’t consider the application. The ones that do often apply tighter criteria, higher rates, or want a personal guarantee that isn’t always explained clearly.

As whole-of-market brokers, we work with the specialist lenders who understand company structures, from single-property SPVs to established portfolio landlords with multiple companies. We’ll help you weigh up whether buying personally or through a company makes sense for your situation, and guide you through the personal guarantee and underwriting requirements most first-time company borrowers aren’t expecting.

We can help with:

Book a free consultation and we’ll talk through whether a limited company mortgage is the right route for you.

Buying a property that needs work, or renovating one you already own, doesn’t always fit a standard mortgage. Properties that are currently uninhabitable (no kitchen, no working bathroom, structural issues) are usually unmortgageable in their current state on a normal residential or buy-to-let product, and most lenders won’t release funds in stages as building work progresses.

We work with lenders who specialise in refurbishment and renovation finance, from light cosmetic work through to major structural projects, including bridge-to-let and bridge-to-term options that let you buy now on a short-term basis and move onto a standard mortgage once the work is finished.

We can help with:

Buying at auction usually means completing within 28 days of the hammer falling, which is rarely enough time to arrange a standard mortgage. Turning up without funding already lined up is one of the most common reasons buyers lose their deposit or miss out altogether.

We work with lenders who specialise in fast-turnaround auction finance, and we can help you get an Agreement in Principle in place before you bid, so you know exactly what you can afford and aren’t caught out by the completion deadline. Once the purchase completes, we can also help you refinance onto a standard mortgage if that was always the plan.

We can help with:

Talk to us before auction day. We’ll help you go in with a clear budget and funding already arranged.

A joint borrower sole proprietor (JBSP) mortgage lets a family member add their income to your mortgage application to help you borrow more, without them becoming a joint owner of the property. It’s commonly used by parents helping a son or daughter get onto the property ladder, without the additional Stamp Duty surcharge or ownership complications that come with being named on the title.

Not every lender offers JBSP products, and the ones that do assess the helper’s income, existing mortgage, and other commitments in different ways. As whole-of-market brokers, we know which lenders are the best fit for your circumstances and can talk both you and your family member through exactly what they’re signing up to.

We can help with:

If a JBSP mortgage sounds like it could help, book a free consultation and we’ll explain how it would work for your situation.