How a Specialist Mortgage Broker Can Help Contractors, Freelancers, Self-employed, and Fixed-term employment workers
If you're a contractor, self-employed, working on a day rate, or employed on a fixed-term contract, you may have already discovered that securing a mortgage through a high street lender can feel frustrating — or worse, impossible.
At Celtic Finance, we specialise in helping professionals like you navigate the mortgage market with confidence. Whether you’re a limited company director, a freelancer with fluctuating income, or a contractor on various rolling contracts, our tailored approach ensures you're not penalised for working differently.
🏡 Common Mortgage Challenges for Non-Traditional Workers
If you’ve searched any of the following, you’re not alone:
“Can contractors get a mortgage UK?”
“Mortgage for day-rate contractor”
“Self-employed mortgage with 1 year accounts”
“Mortgage on fixed term contract”
“Best mortgage lenders for limited company directors”
These are all real, everyday queries we help with at Celtic Finance. Lenders often use rigid criteria based on permanent employment, which can unfairly disadvantage people with non-traditional income structures.
✅ How a Specialist Broker Makes the Difference
Unlike traditional brokers or bank advisers, a specialist mortgage broker understands the nuances of contracting and self-employment and has experience in handling these types of cases on a daily basis.
Here's how we add value:
1. We Understand Complex Income Structures
Whether you're paid via umbrella company, operate through your own limited company, or receive a daily rate, we know how to present your income in a way lenders understand and accept.
We regularly help:
Contractors paid per day or per project
Sole traders with less than two years of accounts
Limited company directors using retained profits
Professionals on fixed-term contracts (NHS staff, IT contractors, teachers, etc.)
Freelancers and gig-economy workers
2. Access to Specialist Lenders
We work with a panel of contractor-friendly lenders who consider:
Contract value instead of salary
Day rate x number of weeks to calculate annual income, rather than tax calculations which are often a lot lower
Applicants with just 1 year of trading history
Fixed-term contractors with gaps between contracts
Use 100% of latest year’s self-employed income
Projected income
Some of these lenders aren’t available on the high street — or to the public directly.
3. Tailored Advice That Saves Time and Stress
Our job is to package your application correctly the first time — so underwriters understand your income and assess your case fairly. We help with:
Documentation requirements
Proof of income (contract letters, SA302s, tax overviews, etc.)
Navigating affordability assessments
Improving your credit file before application
🧠 Real-World Scenarios We Handle Daily
“I’m a contractor on £500 a day – how much can I borrow?”
We calculate your contractor mortgage affordability using your day rate (e.g., £500 x 5 days x 46 weeks = £115,000 annual income). Lenders we work with will use this figure, rather than outdated salary/dividend averages.
“I only have 1 year of self-employment – can I still get a mortgage?”
Yes. Some specialist lenders accept just one year’s accounts or your latest SA302, provided the income is sustainable.
“I’m on a 12-month fixed-term contract – will that affect my chances?”
Not necessarily. If you're on your second or third contract in a similar role, or have a history of continued employment, many lenders will treat you as lower risk.
🌟 Why Choose Celtic Finance?
At Celtic Finance, we take the time to understand your career path, not just your payslips. As a boutique brokerage with access to the whole of the market, we match you with lenders who respect the way you work — and offer competitive rates to match.
Whether you’re:
Switching from PAYE to contracting
Growing your business as a self-employed professional
On maternity leave from a contract role
Paid via umbrella or agency
Recently gone from sole-trader to limited
Have various fixed-term employment contracts throughout the year
…we can help you secure the right mortgage for your circumstances.
📞 Let’s Talk About Your Options
You’ve worked hard to build your career — don’t let outdated mortgage criteria hold you back.
Drop us a message and we’ll be happy to explore your circumstances and give you an idea of what’s possible - there’s no fee to speak with us, and we only charge a fee on completion of the mortgage - so if we can’t help, you pay nothing.
