CLIENT

The client was an experienced homeowner with a £3 million property in North London. He had initially secured a 5-year fixed mortgage at a competitive rate of 1.8% when he purchased the home in 2018. At the time, his income was straightforward, comprised mainly of salary and some bonus structure. However, by 2025, when the fixed term expired, his financial situation had changed significantly.

Over the years, the client had developed multiple income streams, including consultancy, dividends from a limited company, rental income from investment properties, and freelance work. While this increased his overall income substantially, it also made his case more complex in the eyes of traditional lenders. When he approached his existing lender for a product transfer, the only rate available to him was 6.1%—a significant jump from his original 1.8% and unaffordable based on his stress-tested affordability profile.

To make matters worse, several high street lenders stress tested his income at rates as high as 9% due to the perceived irregularity of his income streams, despite his strong financial standing and excellent credit history.

The client approached us after a referral from a fellow business owner, looking for a mortgage adviser in London who could navigate complex income scenarios and find an affordable deal in a rising interest rate market.

SOLUTION

We began with a detailed fact-find, breaking down each of the client’s income streams with supporting documentation: SA302s for his self-employment, accountant's certificates for his company dividends, rental agreements for his buy-to-lets, and bank statements for freelance income. It was clear that while the income was varied, it was consistent and well-documented.

Using our whole-of-market access, we reached out to specialist lenders who had more flexible underwriting criteria. Rather than just focusing on basic PAYE income, these lenders assessed overall affordability by reviewing the client's full financial portfolio.

After extensive negotiations and presenting a strong case, we were able to secure a 2-year fixed mortgage at 5.4% with a specialist lender who was comfortable with complex income profiles. This rate was significantly better than the 6.1% offered by his current bank and well below the 9% stress-tested rates others were quoting.

The lender also allowed interest-only payments for the term, with a review at the end of the fixed period—giving the client flexibility while maintaining cash flow for his business ventures.

RESULT
The client was able to avoid the expensive 6.1% product transfer and the higher repayments it would have involved. Instead, he secured a manageable 5.4% rate fixed for 2 years, giving him both peace of mind and breathing room in a volatile rate environment. His new lender recognised his strong financial management and business acumen, enabling a custom-tailored solution that high street banks couldn’t offer.

The client scenario was as:

• Client: Existing homeowner refinancing a high-value London property
• Income: Multiple income streams – self-employed, dividends, rental, freelance
• Property Value: £3,000,000
• Property Location: North London
• LTV Required: 60%
• Mortgage Type: Remortgage with complex income
• Previous Rate: 1.8% fixed (expired)
• Bank’s Product Transfer Offer: 6.1%
• Secured Rate: 5.4% fixed over 2 years
• Mortgage Adviser: London (complex income specialist)

We continue to work with this client on future portfolio expansion and will assist in refinancing or moving to a new product when his 2-year fix ends in 2027.

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