Do I need three years of accounts?

No, some lenders are happy with just one or two years, especially if trading is strong.

Will retained profits or net profit count?

Some lenders will include them. We know who they are and how to present your case effectively.

Limited Company Director Mortgages Coventry & Warwickshire

As a company director, minimising your salary and maximising dividends is smart tax planning - but it frequently paralyses high-street bank algorithms. As independent mortgage brokers based in Coventry, we understand how to read corporate balance sheets to uncover your true borrowing capacity. You can speak with a specialist director mortgage broker today to see how we look past basic salary calculations.

As a limited company director, your income and accounts probably look very different from a traditional employee, even if you earn more than many. You might pay yourself a low salary, top up with dividends, or keep money in the business. Unfortunately, many lenders (and some advisers) don’t understand how to assess that properly, and it can lead to frustrating outcomes.

At Jigsaw, we know exactly how limited company directors are paid, because we’re limited company directors ourselves. That’s why we offer clear, specialist mortgage advice tailored for directors, and structure your application around how you really earn, not how it looks on paper.

Most limited company directors take a salary of around £12,000 per year and draw the rest of their income through dividends. But many lenders only consider your basic salary and dividend income, not your full financial picture.

Some lenders also don’t count:

Retained profits
Net profit before tax
Net profit after tax
Irregular dividend payments

This means many directors appear to “earn less” than they actually do, even though the company might be performing strongly.

We work with niche underwriters who happily base your affordability on total net profit plus director salary. To see which lenders fit your corporate structure, you can request an independent director affordability review with our West Midlands team.

Net profit before or after corporation tax

Retained earnings (in some cases)

Director’s salary + dividend history

Multi-year income trends

Accountant-prepared figures as evidence of sustainability

Minimum one or two years of accounts (depending on the lender)

SA302s and tax year overviews from HMRC

Finalised company accounts, prepared by an accountant

Proof of salary and dividends (e.g. personal bank statements)

Business bank statements and trading history

Clean credit history (ideally)

Limited company mortgages are complex. Many estate agents and high-street brokers simply don’t understand how your income works, or try to fit you into a PAYE box.

At Jigsaw, we:

Have firsthand experience as limited company directors
Know which lenders to approach for your circumstances
Work directly with your accountant to streamline documentation
Use your full financial picture — not just basic payslips or dividend sheets
Handle the paperwork, explanation, and lender communication for you
Are CeMAP-qualified and FCA-regulated, with years of experience in complex cases

Step 1

Quick phone call

We’ll confirm your situation and book you in for a full appointment.

Step 1

Step 2

Fact-find & documentation

We gather your tax records, accounts, and goals, and request anything we need from your accountant.

Step 2

Step 3

Agreement in principle (AIP)

We secure an AIP based on your true affordability, so you can begin your property search or refinance with confidence.

Step 3

Step 4

Full application & offer

We manage the full mortgage application and handle all communication with the lender.

Step 4

Step 5

Completion

Typical timeframes are 2–3 weeks, depending on lender responsiveness and documentation.

Step 5

Frequently asked questions

Yes. While mainstream banks only look at the salary and dividends you physically draw down, we have access to specialist lenders who calculate borrowing capacity using your share of the business's net retained profits.

Not harder, just different. With the right advice and the right lender, it’s entirely achievable.

While 2 to 3 years of finalised accounts is standard, we can place applications with specialist lenders using just 1 year of trading history, provided you have a qualified accountant to verify the projections.

It depends entirely on whether the loan account is overdrawn or in credit. If you have loaned money to the company and are drawing it back tax-free, specific niche underwriters will accept this as legitimate income, whereas high-street banks may penalize it. Our local team can evaluate your accounts to position this correctly.

How can we help you?

Know your budget

Get a quick estimate of your buying power based on your income and budget.

Get mortgage in principle

Secure a lender-backed agreement to strengthen your offer on a property.

See your monthly payments

See what your monthly payments could look like with our easy mortgage calculator.

Find out what you can afford in minutes

Get clarity before you start house hunting

Understanding what you can realistically afford is the first step towards a stress-free home-buying journey. Our affordability tool gives you a quick, realistic estimate of how much you may be able to borrow, based on your income, outgoings, and deposit.

A quick check, with no impact on your credit score

The tool is completely free to use, takes just a couple of minutes, and won’t affect your credit score — so you can explore your options with confidence and no pressure.

Plan with confidence, whatever your next step

Whether you’re a first-time buyer, moving home, or simply exploring what’s possible, this check helps you set a clear budget, focus on the right properties, and avoid unwelcome surprises later on.

Specialist Mortgages for Limited Company Directors in Coventry

Rate match guarantee

You won't find a better deal anywhere else and if you do we will pay the difference!

The problem: How most lenders assess salary, dividends, and director's loans

The solution: Lenders who understand company accounts