There are a number of different situations in which a mortgage applicant may not be able to provide full and verifiable proof of their income. This includes applicants who are self-employed, company directors, freelance workers, or workers who receive their income on an irregular basis through commissions and bonuses.

Once in the self-employed bracket, most people don’t return to being employed. A Self-Employed Index was recently introduced which suggests from research that the mood among UK’s business owners is buoyant, with 60% feeling confident about business prospects for the next six months. Another third were said to be very confident about the same period. The number expecting increased turnover for the next twelve months was 47%.

The number of self certified mortgage borrowers is also influenced by people multiple jobs. The rise of house prices, the increase in mortgage rates, creeping inflation are all factors that mean that some workers are now holding two or even three jobs just to make up the income they need. For these people, proof of income can be awkward.

There are a number of others who make up the rest of the self certification marketplace. There are those on low basic salaries, but who earn large bonuses at different times throughout the year; directors who wish to keep their financial affairs private; high net worth individuals with complex income streams, for example, property developers.