A practical preparation guide
A self-employed remortgage starts with two questions: what happens to your current mortgage if you do nothing, and what income evidence can you provide now? Work through these checks before comparing products or starting an application.
This guide is for homeowners preparing to remortgage. For advice on your options, read our self-employed remortgage service page.
Before you apply
Six steps to prepare for a self-employed remortgage
The order matters. Your existing deal and timing shape the options worth exploring; your business records then help an adviser understand what a lender may be able to assess.
Check your current deal
Find the end date of any fixed or introductory rate, the outstanding balance, remaining term and any early repayment charge. Note the rate that follows your deal. Your latest mortgage statement and offer are useful starting points. Do not assume a lower advertised rate means a cheaper switch once fees and charges are included.
Decide what needs to change
Are you replacing your current deal, borrowing more, changing the term or changing who is on the mortgage? These are different requests. Extra borrowing, for example, can mean further affordability checks and different costs. Write down the purpose and approximate amount so the comparison reflects your actual need.
Map your income to your trading structure
If you are a sole trader or partner, identify the tax returns and business figures that explain your share of profit. If you are a limited company director, separate salary, dividends and company profit; money retained in the company is not the same as personal income, though some lenders may consider it under their criteria. Contractors should note how they are paid, contract dates and gaps. If your trading history or income has changed, record when and why. For document-by-document guidance, see our self-employed proof of earnings guide.
Gather the records you already have
Keep completed tax calculations and matching tax year overviews, accounts where available, and relevant contract or business records together. HMRC explains how to obtain a SA302 tax calculation. A lender may ask for further evidence, such as bank statements or an accountant’s reference; the precise documents and periods vary. Check the request before sending sensitive records.
Review commitments and compare the full cost
List regular credit commitments and household spending. Check your credit files for errors before an application; this is preparation, not a promise of approval. Compare an available deal with your current lender against a move to another lender, including product fees, valuation or legal costs where applicable, and any charge for leaving your current deal. Our product transfer guide explains the current-lender route.
Agree the application route and evidence request
Give an adviser a concise account of your business, the income change if any, your mortgage purpose and the deal deadline. Ask which lender criteria are being considered, what evidence is still missing and how to provide it securely. If a lender has already declined an application, share the reason given so the next discussion starts from the facts rather than another speculative application.
Keep it to one page
A short record to bring to your first discussion
- Mortgage: lender, balance, deal end date, remaining term and known charges.
- Goal: replace the deal, change term, borrow more or change applicants.
- Work: sole trader, partnership, director or contractor; date trading began.
- Income: completed tax years or accounts available, recent changes and any contract gaps.
- Timing: when you need a decision and whether another lender has declined you.
These notes are enough to start a conversation. Keep tax records, bank statements and other sensitive documents for a secure evidence request. If you have recently started trading, our newly self-employed mortgage page explains why the timing of available evidence matters.
Quick answers
Questions before you remortgage
Do I need an SA302 to remortgage?
A lender may ask for a tax calculation, often called an SA302, and the matching tax year overview if you file Self Assessment. The evidence depends on how you trade and the lender. Check what is needed before ordering or uploading documents.
What if my latest tax year is not finished?
Tell an adviser which tax years are complete, when the next return is due and whether your income has changed since the latest filed return. Current accounts, contracts or other records may help explain the position, but a lender decides what evidence it will accept.
How should I explain a drop in profit?
Set out when the change happened, why it happened and whether it is continuing. Keep the explanation factual and have the accounts or other records that support it. A lender will assess income and affordability under its own criteria.
Should I send bank statements with my first enquiry?
Usually begin with a short description of your trading structure, income pattern and mortgage timing. Ask how to send any statements or tax records securely if they are needed. Avoid attaching sensitive financial documents to an open enquiry message.
What if my current mortgage deal ends soon?
Check the end date, any early repayment charge and what rate follows the deal. A current-lender product transfer may be an option alongside a new-lender remortgage. The right next step depends on the available products, costs, your circumstances and the time needed for checks.
When you are ready
Talk through the options with an adviser
Count Ready can discuss your income evidence, timing and mortgage purpose, then explain the next steps for your circumstances. Any product recommendation and lender decision depend on a full assessment. If you only need a general overview first, start with our remortgage information.
Source and review notes
General preparation guidance. Mortgage criteria, costs and evidence requirements can change; check current lender terms and seek advice for your own circumstances.