If you own less than 25% of a limited company, many UK mortgage lenders won’t class you as self-employed. That means your income may be assessed like a standard PAYE employee using payslips and a P60, not two years of company accounts. In the right circumstances, this can unlock earlier mortgage approval, more lender choice, and better rates. A real MBNM case study below shows how a 1% difference in shareholding made all the difference.
Jan 7, 2026
Buying a home as a business owner can feel like you’re constantly being told to wait.
Wait for two years’ accounts.
Wait for your income to “settle”.
Wait until a lender takes you seriously.
In many cases, that advice is correct.
But in some cases, it’s flat-out wrong.
And sometimes, the difference comes down to a detail as small as 1% of company ownership.
We regularly speak to directors and shareholders who’ve been told the same thing by banks or brokers:
“You’re self-employed, so you’ll need at least two years’ accounts before you can apply.”
That guidance usually comes from a good place. Most lenders do require this when someone is genuinely self-employed or controls the business.
The problem is that not all company directors are treated the same way by lenders.
And many people are being put into the wrong box.
When mortgage lenders assess company directors, they don’t just look at job title.
They look at control.
In simple terms:
That one distinction can completely change how your income is assessed.
If you fall under the 25% threshold, many lenders will allow your income to be assessed using:
No two years’ accounts.
No averaging of profits.
No unnecessary delays.
We recently worked with a business owner who owned 24% of the shares in his limited company.
He had already spoken to another broker who told him he would need to wait until he had two full years of company accounts before even being considered for a mortgage.
On paper, it sounded sensible.
In reality, it missed a critical detail.
Because his shareholding was under 25%, we were able to:
The result?
Owning 1% less of the business completely changed his mortgage timeline.
This isn’t just about buying sooner. Being assessed as employed can have wider benefits:
In short, the process becomes faster, cleaner, and less fragile.
No, and this part matters.
Not every director with under 25% shareholding will qualify to be treated as employed.
Lenders will still look at things like:
This is why generic advice often falls short. Two directors can look similar on the surface and be assessed completely differently once the details are understood properly.
This case wasn’t about bending rules.
It was about understanding lender criteria properly and structuring the application the right way from the start.
At Mortgage Brokers Near Me, this is exactly where we help:
For clients with complex income or business involvement, the difference between a yes and a no often comes down to how well the case is presented.
This was a unique situation, but the takeaway is a wider one.
Mortgage outcomes aren’t just about income levels.
They’re about classification, structure, and detail.
If you’re a company director or shareholder and you’ve been told you need to wait years before buying, it’s worth checking whether that advice actually applies to you.
Sometimes, the difference between renting and owning sooner is as small as understanding how lenders really work.
If you’re a company director or shareholder and you’ve been told you need to wait for accounts, it’s worth checking whether that advice actually fits your situation.
A quick conversation can confirm how lenders would assess your income and whether you could be mortgage-ready sooner than you’ve been led to believe.
Speak to a mortgage adviser and get clear, no-pressure guidance based on your exact circumstances.
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Mortgage Brokers Near Me LTD is an Appointed Representative of The Right Mortgage LTD which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. The guidance and/or information contained within this website is subject to the UK regulatory regime and is therefore targeted at consumers based in the UK. The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate Will Writing and some forms of Trusts and Buy to Lets. A fee may be charged for mortgage advice. The exact amount will depend on your circumstances.
Your Home (or property) may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage or any other debts secured on it.
Mortgage Brokers Near Me LTD are registered in England and Wales with company number 15189091.
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